About Save Our Brass Bands
Brass bands exist in every corner of the UK, with over 30,000 people of all ages and standards taking part in weekly activity – rehearsing, performing and providing entertainment for their local community.
But we risk losing this forever.
Brass Bands saw their main source of income disappear in an instant when they ceased being able to perform in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Months later, we still don’t know when normal performances will be able to take place. A significant loss in income over the Summer months, paired with necessary expenditure needed to make rehearsal spaces Covid compliant means that many Brass Bands are in a perilous financial situation.
Without urgent support, we could lose our nation’s amazing Brass Bands. Please help us to make sure they survive this crisis and will be there to be enjoyed by future generations.
Why are we Crowdfunding?
The GUS Band is part of a national initiative launched by Brass Bands England to save the many UK brass bands who are struggling to survive through the COVID-19 pandemic. Brass bands are a core of their local community, and many risk disappearing altogether without your help.
Our main source of income was performing at concerts both locally and at prestigious concert venues throughout the UK. Due to the pandemic we have been unable to perform since March 2020.
While our performances have stopped, many of our outgoings have not. Although we have kindly been offered a rent freeze from our rehearsal venue, we envisage this will need to be repaid and we face a minimum of 8 months of lost income. We are also still incurring other expenses such as maintaining our insurance of the band's instruments and trophies.
Throughout the pandemic, the band has worked hard to put together remote performances, however this has been difficult due to limitations with the recording equipment available to us, as well as software to generate videos to keep our audience entertained.
Your donations will be used to fund:
- Recording equipment for remote performances
- Our rehearsal venue rent and insurance
- Depending on the progress of the pandemic: the implementation of COVID-19 protection (e.g. perspex screens) and signage.
Make sure you check out our rewards section to see how you could benefit from donating!
About The GUS Band
The GUS Band is one of the most famous and historic names in the brass band world.
The band was formed in Kettering in January 1933, known then as the Munn and Felton Band. Just two years later the band were crowned champions of Great Britain - and a brass band legend was born that has lived on for over 87 years.
Thousands have applauded the band in concert, and the Midlanders have dented the Northern pride of Yorkshire and Lancashire, traditionally the home of brass bands, by winning no less than six national titles, the British Open Championships and being proclaimed World Champions.
The band is now facing arguably its most testing year so far, though we are determined to continue the 87 years of outstanding music making that have gone before it, as soon as it is safe to do so.
#SaveOurBrassBands
Please donate, share this page widely and do what you can to help us to make sure our Brass Bands survive this crisis.