This blog is an ad hoc collection of postings about some of the background, sources and news related to research in the history of brass bands, as collated in the IBEW website.
The IBEW is the major reference source on the internet for brass bands history – as well as material and directories relating to the world of brass bands and brass musicianship today.
Gavin Holman created the IBEW in 1997 and the site now contains over 24,000 images of vintage brass bands and documents listing details of over 20,000 brass bands of the British Isles, and much more. A comprehensive brass bands bibliography is only one of many other resources freely available via the site.
There is also an active Facebook group “The History of Brass Bands” where people can post and discuss any aspects of banding history. See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145016798904992/
Contributions and material relating to the brass bands of the past are always welcome to add to the IBEW online resources.
Various documents, articles and books about the history of brass bands are available for download from my Academia site – gavinholman.academia.edu/research
IBEW - the History of Brass Bands 
You may like to know I have a 1907 photo of Albury Brass Band on our website, about half way down:
– The thriving Albury Brass Band or Silver Band, here in 1907, had over 25 members and was active until the First World War.
Congratulations on your excellent indexing work!
Best regards,
Trevor Brook
tb@tbrook.com
Hon Treasurer and Website Editor
Albury History Society
http://alburyhistory.org.uk
Hello, I am a spanish old photos collector. I often sell pictures out of muy preferences.
I have found in Bilbao 2 old photos of a Scottish Band. This message is for the blogger, not to be published.
Regards from Basque Country.
http://www.todocoleccion.net/fotografia-antigua-fotomecanica/glengarnock-primrose-flute-band-2-fotos-decada-1930-enviadas-espana-desde-escocia-banda-musica~x304011918
Thank you for the suggestion, Sadly I am not interested in these photos. Regards, Gavin
Hello, Gavin. I’m hoping you’ll be able to help. I’ve been asked to find a poem about brass bands to be read at a funeral — and I see that you’ve collected a list of poems about just that! Do you have any suggestions about ones which might be suitable? I realise it’s probably a bit of an odd question!
Pippa
Pippa
My apologies – I have only just seen your message, so your request is probably no longer relevant. Here is a link to the full document if you are still interested, though I don’t have any sensible suggestions for suitability.
http://www.ibew.org.uk/GH079-poetry.pdf
Gavin