Sparklyland Reviews

*9/7/04* The Harrogate Band

http://www.harrogateband.org

What a fantastic site!!! Detailed information and presented in a purely professional format. I really like the main menu- infact the whole site is very well done and a credit to all involved.

The site is also home to the 'IBEW' - Internet Bandsman and Everything Within- the original banding news and information site. IBEW is a free service to bands including engagement listings and free mini webpages. The site hosts original features including 'Brass Bands Genealogy' and 'Extinct Brass Bands'.

"Definately one of the best banding sites around"

*9/7/04* Thornes Music

http://www.thornesmusic.freeserve.co.uk/

Thornes Music are a music publishing company based in Shropshire . Through the site you can view, listen (via scorch) and purchase the full catalogue. The site is nicely designed- all the information is easily accessible and the fact that all music can be listened to is a good selling point. I am not too sure about the fading between pages or the flash intro. Saying that the flash introduction is quite tastefully done.

"A site that does what it sets out to do with some nice facilities- scorch and credit card payment"

*9/7/04* The Wigston Band

http://www.wigstonbrassband.com/

Homepage of Wigston Band, south of Leicester . The Band currently competes in the 1st Section of the Midlands Regional Championships. The Bands site is simple but keep well updated and contains come interesting information about the band. The sites design is clean and tidy and has good colour coordination giving the site a good theme throughout. It would be nice to see a trophy cabinet and some fuller information about the players - that is the main thing we are really interested in ;) I personally would have chosen a different text for the menu and main titles on the site, going for something a bit more simple, thus having a good clear look on even a low resolution screen. Finally some improvements in graphics would spice up the site- I'm not too sure about the mouseover images on the player page- some consistent player photos would help give the site a more professional edge.

"On the whole I really quite like the site - it's kept updated, nothing to flashy, no gimmicks just simple and reliable".

*9/7/04* Lanner Band

http://www.lannerband.org/

Lanner Band from Cornwall are celebrating recent successes accumulating in a promotion to the championship section for Jan 2005. Unfortunately I was dissappointed with the bands website- the colours are very bright and the dreaded animated gifs appear on the homepage. The site is also lacking in depth of information. Band websites don't need to be complicated. A few simple rules need to be followed - keep it simple (don't design a site you don't have time to update), chose a sensible colour scheme and keep away from flashy animated gifs! Some simple improvements would include - no animated gifs, a calmer colour scheme and further information on player profiles, contests, past and present MDs and engagements.

Click here for archived reviews