The Brass Band Hall of Fame

At the same time as the Industrial Revolution in Britain developed in the 19th century, the brass band evolved as a musical genre. Over the past 175 years or so many men and women helped to shape what became one of the largest amateur music–making activities in the UK and, eventually, throughout Europe and beyond.

Mining and steel communities, towns and villages in Scotland established their own amateur bands, mirroring the situation in other parts of Britain.

A historical insight into UK brass banding is documented in a new book The Brass Band Hall of Fame which has just been published by band historian Tim Mutum, a lifelong brass band advocate and researcher.

After extensive research and talking to some of those involved, Tim has put together this book as a comprehensive record of nearly 140 composers, players, conductors and entrepreneurs who made the brass band movement a musical force.

Some notable references in the book to Scottish musicians include Willie Barr, Walter Hargreaves, Bert Sullivan, John Wallace and Peter Wilson. Bands mentioned include Scottish CWS, Wishaw Iron and Steelworks, North British Loco Works Band, Tullis Russell Mills, Kirkintilloch, Bo'ness & Carriden and Broxburn.

From pen portraits to more extensive articles and illustrated with 70 photographs, The Brass Band Hall of Fame provides an invaluable historical insight to who’s who in the world of brass bands as well as being a source for future research.

Published by Bad Goose Publishing, the book is available to purchase from Amazon either as a paperback priced at £14.99 or as a Kindle priced at £5.99 here.