Big Band Floorshows

The Band of the South Australia Police has long been hailed as a world standard military band, though many have also enjoyed its Concert, Stage and Rock band formats. The Band has had guest appearances by well known singers such as Normie Rowe, June Bronhill, Sir Thomas Edmunds, Brian Gilbertson, Garry Stirling and Catherine Lambert.

Band members who have also showcased their vocal talents include the original crooners Des O'Reilly and David BurviII-Holmes, rock legends Todd Martin and Neil Conaghty, Penny Mansell(nee Wilksch), Sue Pederson, Roger Downton and the Dixie King, Derek Dalton. They have attracted wider audience appeal while still specialising in their chosen musical instruments.

In 1996, the Band decided to employ a full time vocallist as part of its member profile.

The new combination of vocalists available to the Band has allowed for many different concepts and floorshows to emerge. For example a dynamic trio - comprising Natalie Hamden, David Burvill-Holmes and Todd Martin - performed popular jazz for Concert Band, as well as each being polished soloists in their own right. They also drafted the talents of Craig Menzel to form an acapella Billy Joel style quartet.

With such a rich diversity of vocal sounds, different band groups have enlisted vocalists as part of their line-ups. The Stage Band, particularly, has adopted a contemporary sound with various floorshow acts and is now a major attraction at Police Band appearances.

The latest Stage Band 'floorshows' include:

Blues Brothers - 1996

Todd Martin as 'Jake'

David Polain (DP) as 'Elwood'

Natalie Hamden as 'Aretha'

Elvis Presley - 1997-1998

Todd Martin as 'the King' !?#@*

Diana Ross and the Super Supremos - 1998

Natalie Hamden as “Diana”

Grease - 1998

Natalie Hamden as “Sandy”

Todd Martin as “Danny”

Frank Sinatra - 1999

David Burvill-Holmes as 'Ol' Blue Eyes'

Listen to David perform "Come Fly With Me"

Blues Bros. 2000

Todd Martin as "Jake"

David Burvill-Holmes as 'Mack'

David Polain as 'Elwood'

Diane Dixon as 'Aretha' their "Soul Sister"

Dusty Springfield Tribute - 2000

Diane Dixon as "Dusty"

Natasha Rush, Catherine Scholz, Nicole Meinel as "The Springettes"

Listen to the Girls perform "Song of a Preacher Man"

The possibilities are endless. If there is demand for any vocal oriented group within the Band it will be formed, for not only do members focus on meeting audiences' needs, but they rise to the challenge of tackling new musical directions. The Police Band is sure to continue turning heads with its movement toward entertaining new audiences and taking on more innovative musical and vocal influences.