About Pill Festival Band
Generally rehearsals are every Monday evening, except Bank and School holidays.
The band rehearses in three sections, Beginners, Trainee, and Performance, with individual players self selecting one of more sections in which to rehearse.
During performances each piece of music will be played by one or more sections, the purpose of which is to either allow each section to demonstrate their abilities, or to allow the whole band to play together.
Rehearsals & Performances
Rehearsal Times
The band meets up every Monday evening (term time) at the Penny Brohn UK, Ham Green, BS20 0HH to rehearse. The rehearsal timings are:
- 6:00 to 6:50pm beginners session
- 6:50 to 7:00pm short break
- 7.00 to 8.00pm training session
- 8:00 to 8:15pm break
- 8.15 to 9.00pm performance session
Beginners - recent beginners or those less confident.
Trainee - Players who have played for one or more years and who demonstrate improved ability from the Beginners.
Peformance - Adults and talented younger players who can play to level 4 or above, and who enjoy the challenge of regular new pieces of music.
Loan Instruments
The band owns a selection of instruments which are available for loan to band members. Please ask for availability.
Our Story
In 2009 Chris Roach (a villager and renowned folk and shanty singer) provided the enthusiasm, hard work and drive to re-launch the local Music Festival. As part of that initiative Chris held a meeting to propose and instigate a community band. After local musicians and budding players had been contacted, the band engaged a conductor, and regular rehearsals soon followed.
Following the great success of the Festival (including financial success), the band looked at encouraging local musicians, and soon embarked on a program of tuition, primarily aimed at local children but also to include adults. Tuition is provided for free during the ‘Beginners’ section of our rehearsals (see below) but also the band pays/subsidises lessons at the local primary school.
In its early days the band was managed by a number of its members but by 2016 it had grown to a size where it needed a committee, and one of the first actions of that committee was to create a constitution which was adopted in 2017.
Membership of The Band is open to players of all abilities; there are no auditions.
We have a wide range of ability to accommodate anyone from complete beginner upwards.
Although the bands primary role is to encourage the development and performance of music in the local area, it incidentally creates connections and friendships throughout North Somerset and Bristol, and is yet just one more activity in this diverse, and richly cultural community.