SPIRITEDLY proving that strings aren't actually essential to play Johann Strauss, this popular local band were back in Christchurch for their 12th New Year's concert, whirl-ing us off to the winter warming ballroom magic of Old World Vienna.

And once again the proceedings were direct by Royal Marine Lt Col Chris Davis, OBE - Top Brass right down to his spurs - but engagingly fond of down to earth jokes too.

The few non-Strauss Viennese favourites included Franz Lehar's, Girls Were Made To Love And Kiss, performed on the trombone by Peter Harley, Mozart's vibrant overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and his Kyrie from the Great Mass, with a compelling euphonium solo from Stephen Didcott.

The rest was a splendid selection of polkas, mazurkas, marches and of course, waltzes, from the king himself, who, on a visit to London even put his own arrangements to the music hall hits, Champagne Charlie, and That Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze.

To finish there was an exuberant, James Last swing-style Trish Trash Polka before waltzing down that ever Blue Danube and the audience heartily handclapping the band off with the redoubtable Radezky March.