The Brighouse and Rastrick Band is regarded by many as the best and most consistent "public subscription band" in the world. In its time the majority of premier band championships have been held by "Briggus" whilst the band has also attracted a formidable reputation for highly entertaining concerts for both the general public and brass band connoisseur. The band was formed over 125 years ago through public donations given by the townsfolk of the adjacent villages of Brighouse and Rastrick that face each other across the River Calder in West Yorkshire, England. Today, it still continues to be supported through public subscriptions and its own fund raising efforts. Its amateur members traditionally pride themselves on being financially independent, never having been beholden to any commercial interest, yet they are still regarded as one of the "elite" on the contest and concert platforms. Since January 1995, the band has practised at their purpose-built hall and music library called West Ridings at Brighouse High School on Finkil Street in the north of Brighouse. In 2009, Brighouse and Rastrick achieved "Most Entertaining Band" at Brass in Concert. In 2010 they won the Regional Championship in Yorkshire, regarded as the strongest region for banding in the world and the National Championships of Great Britain, a competition held at London's Royal Albert Hall, a feat replicated the following year, the Yorkshire Championship title in 2011 and the National Championship title. Along with the contest successes, followers of brass band website 4barsrest.com voted Brighouse & Rastrick and conductor David King "Band of the Year 2011" and "Conductor of the Year 2011" respectively. In 2012, the band were therefore aiming for a hat trick of wins at both events, only to be pipped to second place at each. With another second placing in Yorkshire and a fourth placing at the National Finals in 2013, it has taken until 2014 for B&R to reclaim the Yorkshire title under the leadership of David King. The Band's principal cornet players Stuart Lingard was awarded the "Best Principal Cornet" for his contribution.
"The Floral Dance"
In November 1977, the band reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart with their recording of "The Floral Dance", where they stayed for six weeks, only surpassed at the time by "Mull of Kintyre". It was arranged for the band by . The B-side was a version of "Girl with the Flaxen Hair", although some copies had a composition by Broadbent entitled "Bachelor Girls" as its B-side. The single also reached Number 37 on the Australian charts. The corresponding album, The Floral Dance, reached Number 10 in the UK Albums Chart. In 2016, the band performed the number on BBC One's The One Show special Terry Wogan tribute episode.
After touring the UK with The Unthanks in 2011, including a live performance at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and an appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival, the band released a live album, The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, in July 2012.
National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain: Winners 2010, 2011, 2017
Yorkshire Regional Champions: Winners 2011
Players
Principal Cornet Kyle Lawson Assistant Principal Cornet Dan Robson Solo Cornets Dave Karran
Bethan Plant Soprano Cornet Rob Westacott Repiano Cornet Jamie Cooper Second Cornets Samuel Gibson
Hayley Moore Third Cornets Natalie Morrison
Ian Broadbent Flugel Horn Mike Eccles Solo Horn Andy Moore First Horn Trevor McCormick Second Horn Ian Dust Solo Baritone Mike Cavanagh Second Baritone Steve Cavanagh Solo Trombone TBC Second Trombone Charlotte Horsfield Bass Trombone Steve Lomas Solo Euphonium Chris Robertson Second Euphonium Daniel Thomas
