About Blackburn & Darwen Community Band
Blackburn & Darwen Band are a local brass band that’s been in existence since 1840. In the late 1970’s, they formed a Junior Band to encourage young people to start to learn a brass instrument, and since then, several 100 players have passed through their ranks, leading on to a professional career or simply to enjoy music.
More recently, as more adults start to learn, they changed the name to Community Band, which is flourishing. Under the baton of Alan Thomas, each person is encouraged and guided to improve their performance, which then means a better standard. Both Bands, one a high-quality championship band, regularly play at events throughout the Borough and are an integral part of the culture of Blackburn with Darwen.