Author Archives: Gavin Holman

As part of the Women Make Music campaign supported by the Performing Rights Society, the Harrogate Band is featuring the works of female composers and arrangers of brass band music in its concerts throughout the year. The band has a proud … Continue reading →

As with the previous post on poetry, cartoonists have found the world of brass bands an inspiration, both in comment on the brass band movement itself and also as reflections on the contemporary political and social scenes.       … Continue reading →

Over the years several bands have been immortalised in poetry. From those lauding their heroes to the ones which are critical or even insulting. From the earliest days poets have found something in the music of the bands and the … Continue reading →

I was sent an interesting dinner menu by Geoffrey Hosier celebrating the 78th birthday of John Henry Iles, and in honour of Frank Wright on his departure to Australia and New Zealand. The dinner was held at Manchester on 17th … Continue reading →

I was recently sent a picture of Professor Mugger-Swaggers Band from Batley. Though not a true brass band, it was interesting as an example of the “comic” bands which were active in the 1890s and 1900s, formed to entertain the … Continue reading →

Thursday 6th September 1888 The strains of the Band of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion South Wales Borderers were telephoned from Newport to Ebbw Vale, where a bazaar was being held in aid of the funds of a church. To make matters … Continue reading →

  Of the many brass bands that have flourished in Britain over the last 200 years very few have documented records covering their history. This directory is an attempt to collect together information about such bands and make it available … Continue reading →