As part of the Burbage Works project, Burbage Band performed their ‘Musical Journey’ concert twice, once in Buxton as part of the Festival Fringe (awarded best large ensemble), and once in Stoller Hall Manchester. These performances were professionally recorded with multiple cameras and microphones.

These unique brass band performances, combined live music and narrated audio-visual storytelling, documenting the history of brass bands through the eyes of Burbage Band of Buxton. They featured premieres of new brass band compositions, a researched chronological story, poetry, historical instruments, historic photographs, several special guest performers, videos and music from the 1860s through to contemporary popular tunes.

Burbage Brass Band is a village band established by a local quarry owner in 1861, when they played for local dances and community carols, much as they do today. The band has stayed together, performing through two world wars and a pandemic, making them one of the oldest continuously playing brass bands in the country.

Burbage band has a great reputation around their local area with a full schedule of sold out concerts, as well as continuing with traditional local engagements for the community, and finally made the move into the city with their first Manchester-based Concert.

Musical Director, Steve Critchlow, celebrated his 40th year with the band in 2024, and this special project marks his achievement by looking back over the band’s long history. The performances combined the story, narrated by local poet Philip Holland, and a visual display of historical images illustrating the changing brass band movement, with live performance of traditional music and new compositions by accomplished composer and band member Sam Pollard.