Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band

History

The Brighouse and Rastrick Band is regarded by many as the best and most consistent ‘public subscription band’ in the world. In its time the majority of premier band championships have been held by ‘Briggus’ whilst the band has also attracted a formidable reputation for highly entertaining concerts for both the general public and brass band connoisseur.

The band was formed over 125 years ago through public donations given by the townsfolk of the adjacent villages of Brighouse and Rastrick that face each other across the River Calder in West Yorkshire, England.

Today, it still continues to be supported through public subscriptions and its own fund raising efforts. Its amateur members traditionally pride themselves on being financially independent, never having been beholden to any commercial interest, yet they are still regarded as one of the ‘elite’ on the contest and concert platforms.

Since January 1995, the band has practised at their purpose-built hall and music library called West Ridings at Brighouse High School on Finkil Street in the north of Brighouse near the A644.

In 2009 (when conducted by Richard Evans), Brighouse and Rastrick achieved "Most Entertaining Band" at Brass in Concert. In 2010 (when conducted by Professor David King) they won the Regional Championship in Yorkshire, regarded as the strongest region for banding in the world and the National Championships of Great Britain, a competition held at London's Royal Albert Hall, a feat replicated the following year, the Yorkshire Championship title in 2011 and the National Championship title. Along with the contest successes, followers of brass band website 4barsrest.com voted Brighouse & Rastrick and conductor David King 'Band of the Year 2011' and 'Conductor of the Year 2011' respectively. Full results

In 2012 the Band were therefore aiming for a hatrick of wins at both events, only to be pipped to 2nd place at each. With another 2nd placing in Yorkshire and a 4th placing at the National Finals in 2013, it's taken until 2014 for B&R to reclaim the Yorkshire title under the leadership of David King. The Band's Principal Cornet players Stuart Lingard was awarded the 'Best Principal Cornet' for his contribution. A full write up of the competition can be read here.

The Floral Dance

In November 1977, the band reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart with their recording of "The Floral Dance", where they stayed for nine weeks, only surpassed at the time by "Mull of Kintyre" (the first UK single to sell more than two million copies, and third best selling UK single of all time). It was arranged for the band by Derek Broadbent. The b-side was a version of "Girl With The Flaxen Hair", although some copies had a composition by Broadbent entitled "Bachelor Girls" as its B-side. The single also reached #37 on the Australian charts. The corresponding album, The Floral Dance, reached Number 10 in the UK Albums Chart. In 2016, the band performed the number on the BBC's The One Show special Terry Wogan tribute episode.

The Unthanks

After touring the UK with The Unthanks in 2011, including a live performance at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and an appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival, the band released a live album, The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, in July 2012.

Honours

Players

Principal Cornet

Dominic Longhurst

Solo Cornets

Hayley Moore

Mark Bowater

Soprano Cornet

Alan Morrison

Repiano Cornet

Joseph Williams

Second Cornets

Samuel Gibson

Simon Sanderson

Third Cornets

Colin Brook

Flugel Horn

Mike Eccles

Solo Horn

Sheona White

First Horn

Andy Moore

Second Horn

Ian Dust

Solo Baritone

Ciaran Young

Second Baritone

Steve Cavanagh

Solo Trombone

Ryan Watkins

Second Trombone

Ellena Newton

Bass Trombone

Steve Lomas

Solo Euphonium

Philippe Schwartz

Second Euphonium

Daniel Thomas

Eb Basses

Steve March

Will Evans

Bb Basses

Matt Wade

Percussion

Jason Poulston

Jon Kenna

Jonathan Kitchen

Matthew Asher