Our history
Redland Wind Band started as the training band of Bristol Concert Wind Band but in 1996 we split off and became an independent group with our own constitution and committee. Our conductor was Steve Ellis, who has inspired and led us ever since. In 1997 we acquired a guest conductor, the composer Colin Touchin, who has regularly visited us on our training days and weekends away.
We recorded a CD in 2002 and another in 2005, both of which are still available (more details elsewhere on the website).
In 2005 we did our first international tour, to Belgium, where we played in Ghent, the country's third city.
In 2006 we made the national papers and broadcast media when we played at a concert in Grove Park, Weston-Super-Mare. The event coincided with the World Cup and a beach festival, both of which increased the alcohol consumption in the town. A group of rowdy youths with a football started a game around the bandstand, and things became particularly difficult during our performance of the theme from The Great Escape. The football landed in the bandstand and Steve Ellis tried to persuade them to go somewhere else. Then a group of spectators, some of them elderly, also intervened to get them to disperse - which they did. This was spun by a local news agency as "WW2 veterans put yobs to flight", a good story which got picked up and embroidered further by all the nationals. It wasn't exactly true, but all publicity is good publicity so we didn't mind too much. And we still sometimes play the Great Escape music.
In 2008 we did our second international tour, spending a week in and around Budapest - more about this highly successful event elsewhere on the website.
Our usual annual programme consists of an indoor spring concert, followed by our first outdoor concert at Redland Green fair, and then various open-air performances throughout the summer in Bath, Weston, and Bristol Zoo. We usually have an indoor autumn concert, and then a Christmas concert combined with a supper, raffle and carols - usually sold out quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment. There are usually some other concerts too, and social events.
Most years we have a training day in Bristol and a long weekend away in the country somewhere, either to rehearse a forthcoming concert, or else just to enjoy some concentrated playing and playing in small groups for fun.
We rehearse every Monday evening from 7.30-9.30 pm at Redland United Reform Church hall on Whiteladies Road on the corner of Redland Park.