AUTUMN rain may be drumming against the windows, but joy is bouncing off the walls of the little community centre that’s become home to an extraordinary band of musicians. It’s rehearsal time for Aukestra ahead of a weekend wedding booking in the County Durham village of Edmondsley, and the room is rocking with life as the finishing touches are put to the set-list. Midnight At The Oasis, Relight My Fire, and The Power of Love, come first, followed by a magnificent Niall Rodgers medley of We Are Family, Le Freak, I Want Your Love, Everybody Dance, and Good Times.
(Image: Peter Barron) Before we go into further detail, it’s fair to say that Aukestra is simply a cracking band. Bursting with superb musicianship and vocals, it’s capable of producing a sound guaranteed to get any audience clapping along and dancing. But what makes Aukestra so special is that most of its members are autistic, and their lives have been transformed by the power of music.
“First and foremost, we want to be viewed for being as professional as possible – worthy of being booked on our own merits,” says the band’s inspirational leader, Jak Dixon. “It’s not about disability, it’s about being good – and we never stop challenging ourselves to be better at making music.” The rehearsal is taking place in the Mary Sanders Communal Hall, in Birtley – the humble base for a not-for-profit company that Jak's built around music to help give autistic people fulfilment, social skills, and ha.