Carlton Main Frickley Colliery 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.
As for all Brass Bands, 2020 has been a year where many people have had a huge part of their daily life placed on pause. Brass Bands aren't just a hobby they are a Community where people build relationships that become as strong as Families.
In August 2020, Carlton Main Frickley joined forces with Mode for...Director, Tabby Kerwin to become Mental Health First Aid advocates with 4 members of the Band becoming certified as Mental Health First Aid Trainers. With the changes taking places in people's usual lives due to COVID-19 including the loss of Brass Bands the impact on people's Mental Health was becoming more and more important every day.
Working in partnership with Mode for...and organisations such as Mind and Mental Health First Aid England, Carlton Main would like to continue to build and spread the awareness and importance of people's Mental Health both in a Music setting and all aspects of life.
As Brass Bands are still placed on pause Carlton Main would like to turn the attention to 2021 and projects to continue to support these fantastic causes. One of the main projects will be producing a CD where profits will be split to support both the Bands return and future, the Charity Mind and also funds towards supporting and assisting more people to become certified Mental Health First Aid Trainers.
If anyone can donate to help support our project we can only thank you so much and we can't wait for to show you what we can do in 2021!
About Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
The South Elmsall Village Brass Band can be traced back to humble beginnings in 1884. In 1905, the band was adopted by the local Frickley Colliery, which in turn was to become owned by the Carlton Main Coal Company and by 1923 the band became known by its present name. During the Bands long and successful history, it has both competed and triumphed at many of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Most notably, the band has held the titles of European Champions, National Champions, British Open Champions, Granada TV Band of the Year, BBC Best of Brass Champions, Yorkshire Area Champions, Spring Festival Grand Shield Champions, French Open Champions and British Open Quartet Champions.
The bands more recent achievements include being crowned Yorkshire Champions in 2013 and 2015. This partnered with 3rd place at the prestigious British Open Brass Band Championships in 2011 and being crowned the Champion Band of England and Scotland at the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013. The band added another title to its collection in 2016 by winning the Grand Shield securing an instant return to the British Open. In 2017 the Band represented England at the World Championships in Kerkrade, Holland, achieving the highest honours of distinction finishing in a fantastic 3rd place. In June 2018 the band were crowned French Open Champions claiming both the March Title and the French Open Champion Band. 2018 and 2019 saw the band achieve their highest ever finishes at the World’s ‘Leading Brass Band Entertainment Contest’, Brass In Concert, finishing in 2nd place against 11 of the best bands from across the World. This has led to Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band being firmly established as one of the top 10 ranked Brass Bands in the World.
The band has built a reputation as one of the finest concert bands in the country through a combination of innovative programmes partnered with quality of performance. In 2015 the band took up the position of the feature band of the Gary Clarke Company with his ground breaking contemporary dance production and National Theatre Award Winning, COAL. This position saw the band tour both the UK and Europe throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018. The band have continued this role in Gary Clarke’s sequel, Wasteland, with tour dates throughout 2019 and 2020. With regular appearances on the BBC’s flagship programme Songs of Praise and performances with the World renowned Rambert Dance Company in 2015 and 2016, the band is currently experiencing one of the most successful periods in their history.
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.
#SaveOurBrassBands
Please donate, share this page widely and do what you can to help us to make sure our Brass Bands survive this crisis.