About

Wells City Band is considered one of the oldest brass bands in the country. Formed in 1839 the band has been serving the community of Wells, its surrounding villages, and towns for over 180 years. Across three centuries Wells City Band has been performing annually at the City’s important civic occasions such as The Royal British Legion Remembrance Concert and services, Mayor’s making ceremony and concert, Jubilee and other national commemorative events, carnival parade as well as in local care homes, schools, summer concerts on the Wells bandstand and traditional carolling.

As well as community and charity work being at the heart of Wells City Band’s annual calendar they also give many concerts of their own, a spring and Christmas concert at the prestigious Cedars Hall, Bishops Palace, Wells Town Hall, St Cuthberts Church occasionally combining with other musical ensembles including choirs, brass bands, and youth ensembles. Performances are also given across the county of Somerset.

Wells City Band has within its organisation Wells City Brass Academy which provides a wonderful learning opportunity for beginners of all ages, players under grade 4, or those returning to playing after a break. Wells City Band is a non-contesting band with its ethos firmly set in serving its communities, providing a platform for individual musical development whatever the standard of each player and providing music for all occasions.

2023 saw the band embark on new high-profile performances among others, opening the bill for international artists Texas and The Lightning Seeds at The Glastonbury Extravaganza at Glastonbury Abbey, a tribute concert to the great English trumpet player John Wilbraham who in his later years played with the band regularly. 2023 saw the exciting step of the band returning to its historical traditional uniform colours of maroon and black.

The band is open to all ages to join, carrying on the long tradition of young people performing alongside adults of all generations in enjoying quality making music and developing their brass playing potential to the full in the friendly and supportive ethos Wells City Band has built its reputation on for nearly 200 years.