Brass Band Summer Series: Free weekend concerts at National Coal Mining Museum
Seven bands will be taking it in turns to perform at the museum from Sunday, June 23, to Saturday , July 20..
It will feature ensembles local to the area, including Wakefield and Huddersfield, with others travelling from further afield, as far away as Mansfield and Oldham. For full list amd dates see below.
Uppermill Brass Band, based in the heart of Saddleworth, will be the first band to play, on Sunday, June 23. For or more details on performance timings visit www.ncm.org.uk/whats-on/summer-series.
Summer Series visitors will hear brass banding classics, interpretations of film and show tunes, singalong anthems, and much more – all within the iconic surroundings of the Museum’s original colliery buildings.
The series aims to highlight the importance of brass bands within coal mining communities, demonstrating their ability to unite people and provide a creative outlet for miners.
The long history and evolution of brass banding is also echoed, from the oldest band performing – Dodworth Colliery Brass Band (founded in 1836) – to Grange Moor Youth Training Band, whose young performers are keeping the tradition alive for future generations.
Bands will perform 45-minute sets in the atmospheric Pit Yard, with performances between 11.45am – 4pm.
Visitors are welcome to take along their own camping chairs to enjoy these free performances, taking place each weekend.
The Museum’s Youth Arts Festival, entitled Rock Hard Revolt, takes place as part of the Summer Series on Saturday, July 6. The day-long free event organised by the Coal Camaraderie Youth Panel boasts craft workshops, live music and theatre, and culminates in a placard march.
Lynn Dunning, CEO at NCMME said: “We are thrilled to be hosting a fantastic array of brass bands over the next two months, bringing us into summer in style. Brass banding is a huge part of our heritage and keeps the spirit and stories of coal mining alive for all ages with their unmistakable sound.”
Bands and performance dates are:
Sun 23 June – Uppermill Brass Band
Sat 29 June – Sherwood Forest Brass Band
Sun 30 June – Grange Moor Brass Band
Sat 6 July – Grange Moor Youth Training Band
Sun 7 July – Huddersfield and Ripponden Brass Band
Sun 14 July – Dodworth Colliery Brass Band
Sat 20 July – Hade Edge Band
As part of the museum’s free year-long exhibition, 84/85 – The Longest Year, it is screening two documentary films delving into the subject with The Battle For Orgreave (Yvette Vanson, 1985) on June 23 and Still The Enemy Within (Owen Gower, 2014) on June 29. Both screenings are pre-bookable via the Museum website for £2 - BOOK HERE.
The Museum’s free exhibition, 84/85 – The Longest Year, runs until the anniversary of the end of the strike, Monday, March 3, 2025, with refreshed displays and a supporting events programme throughout the year.
The exhibition focusses on the experiences of miners and their families, giving a voice to three different points of view: striking miners, those that went back early and those that didn’t strike at all.
The Museum, the former Caphouse Colliery, is on New Road, Overton, the main road between Wakefield and Huddersfield.
National Coal Mining Museum’s attractions include underground tours, exhibitions, pony discovery centre, nature trail, adventure playground, café and more.
It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm (winter hours until March 24) and 10am-5pm (summer hours from March27).
Entry to the the museum is free but, as an independent charity, donations are appreciated.
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Tripadvisor: www.tripadvisor.co.uk