What is Hammonds Band?

Updated

Hammonds Band is a brass band based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. According to its official website, it describes itself as "one of the country's premier brass bands" and has performed in venues throughout the UK, Europe and across the world. It was founded in 1855 and currently performs under the direction of Morgan Griffiths.

Origins and History

The band's history comes from two distinct parts of its past, which together explain its present name:

  • 1855 – The Saltaire Band: The band was founded as the Saltaire Band by Sir Titus Salt, as one of the amenities for workers at his recently opened mill.
  • The Hammonds Sauce Works era: The band later had a long association with Hammonds Sauce Works, performing under the baton of the legendary Geoffrey Whitham.
  • Present day: Drawing on both of these traditions, the band now performs as Hammonds Band.

Who Leads the Band

The band's Musical Director is Morgan Griffiths.

What the Band Offers

For anyone looking to engage the band, the website states that two different ensembles can be provided:

Ensemble Description
Full band Includes percussion
Smaller group An 8 to 10 piece group, suited to smaller venues

Booking the Band

To book the band, the website directs enquiries to the band manager via the contact page.

Recent News Highlights

The site's featured news items give a sense of the band's recent activity:

  • 16 Dec 2023 – New Euphonium lead at Hammonds
  • 21 Jul 2022 – Adam Warburton joins Hammonds on Solo Trombone
  • 26 May 2022 – The 'New Look' Hammonds Band embark on an exciting new series of recordings
  • 19 Nov 2021 – Kirsty Abbotts makes contest debut with Hammonds Band

The website also features a "Our Latest Album" section and a "Where to hear us" section for those wanting to follow the band's recordings or attend a performance.