Longridge 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.
We are a community brass band based in Longridge.
Since March 2020 we have been unable to rehearse and perform. Two concerts were cancelled in March with only a few hours notice due to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic. Much of our income comes from concerts, especially around the Christmas period.
We are committed to paying monthly expenses such as the upkeep of our bandroom and insurance policies. Your donations will help to keep the band alive and contribute to our ongoing expenses.
Why are we crowdfunding?
"All the bills and nothing in the tills." That is how Longridge Band feel at the moment. Concerts cancelled, non of our usual carolling jobs and no marching jobs.
There is nothing more we would like to be doing than earning our keep and playing for our public, but we aren't allowed to at this point in time.
We can't wait for the day we can get back to normal and pay our rent, insurance, bills and other expenses. It is still uncertain to when this time will be. Please support us in anyway you can.
About Longridge Band
We are probably one of the oldest surviving brass bands in the region. Newspaper records show that we played at ‘Goosnargh Club Day in 1845, but church records say that in the mid 1700’s the ‘band needed new reeds’, so we have been part of local history for many many years, and desperately need to be around for many more years to come.
We are very much a local band, and our supporters are tremendous. I’m sure many folk can remember as a child watching the band play carols round the tree on Christmas Eve. In fact, Christmas doesn’t start until Longridge Band has played at its annual Christmas Concert. Our banding calendar is (in normal times) a busy one, we are very proud to lead the procession on Longridge Field Day, as well as on Remembrance Sunday. The 2012 Preston Guild was led by us too. We entertain throughout the year with our many concerts at the Civic Hall and Ferrari’s, as well as many other events we play at; 2018 WW1 Street Party, Brassed Off at The Palace Cinema, Hoghton Weavers etc..On a more personal level, we have played at weddings, parties, birthdays, and funerals, as well as many of the band playing on VE Day, and on Thursdays through the first lockdown.Longridge Band work hard behind the scenes so that we can provide a local band to be proud of. Out of five sections, we are second to top (First Section) but have been in the Champion Section in recent years - no big sponsors - no financial backing.
The band rehearse in the same band room we’ve rehearsed in for more than a hundred years. It’s not The Ritz, but it's where we are from. In 1914, the band played a send off to ten young men; eight returned to climb the band room stairs to play once more. We are local, we stay local.Although history is important, the future cannot be ignored. Longridge Youth Band gives our youngsters the chance to learn to play in a group of like-minded musicians and they will be our future. The next generation of banders, keeping Longridge alive with that sound only a brass band can give.Imagine a silent Field Day or Christmas Eve. It doesn’t bear thinking about. Longridge Band needs to live on and not be resigned to local history books. Keep Longridge sounding great!
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.