Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band Competition

The annual Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band Contest is being held on Sunday 15 June in the Market Square and continues a tradition that began in 1988 when the band first organised an open air contest which attracted bands from across the North of England.

This year’s event begins at 10:30am when the 4 junior bands which are taking part each play a 15- minute programme of music. There is then a short break before the senior bands play, starting at 12:30pm.

This year, there are 7 bands competing – our own town band along with Pilling, Burneside, Lancaster, Clockface (St. Helens), Eccleston and Giggleswick & Settle brass bands. The competing bands march from Beck Head, along Market Street and Main Street to the town square. After setting up in the square, each band plays a 20- minute programme of music, usually containing a march, an arrangement of a hymn and a selection of other music they have chosen to show off the skills and musicianship of both the band as a whole and individual instrumentalists.

Bands are marked on their deportment whilst marching (but the piece of music they are marching to is not judged) and on their playing in the square. The adjudicator is a well-known authority on band music, and this year we are very pleased to welcome Matthew Ryan, who is a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and Musical Director of Wingates Brass Band, to this role.

To close the contest, after all the competing bands have played but before the results are announced at around 5pm, the massed bands play marches and hymns, conducted by the musical director of one of the competing bands.

In addition to the afternoon’s music, a raffle will also be held during the contest, with prizes very kindly donated by local businesses, organisations and individuals. The band would like to thank everyone for their generosity in supporting the band in this way – it is greatly appreciated.

This is a very enjoyable, entertaining and free event, so we would love to see a big audience gathered in the square to listen to a varied programme of brass band music.

For the latest information please visit the Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band Facebook.