The Sunday afternoon concert series at Churchtown’s Botanic Gardens is running all through August, bringing a brilliant lineup of local brass bands to the park.
It’s the perfect excuse to pack a picnic and catch some live music on the lawn. If you want a proper seat, chairs are available to hire for a small fee from the Chair Hut. Every penny raised from chair hire goes right back into funding these community concerts so they can keep running year after year.
Concerts run every Sunday (until the end of August) from 2:15pm to 4:15pm. Here is a quick look at who is playing this month and where they come from.
Sunday 2nd August: Brindle Brass Band
Kicking off the month is Brindle, a self-funded community band based just over in Lancashire. They bring together players of all ages and have built a great reputation on the regional contest circuit. They made local headlines a while back after braving torrential rain and howling winds to take first place in their section at the Blackburn and Darwen outdoor contest.
Sunday 9th August: Parr St Helens Brass Band
Parr Band comes from the old industrial heart of St Helens and has been a fixture of Merseyside’s music scene for decades. Operating as a registered charity, they focus heavily on teaching young local musicians and keeping the area’s brass heritage alive.
Sunday 16th August: Southport Salvation Army Band
Our local Salvation Army band carries on a tradition that goes back to the late 19th century. Salvation Army brass groups were originally set up to play along with hymn singing at open-air street meetings, eventually evolving into the full, sophisticated ensembles we hear today.
Sunday 23rd August: Blackley Brass Band
Travelled in from North Manchester, Blackley Band was originally formed during WWII by local Home Guard volunteers and funded by public donations. They used to rehearse down by Crab Village in Blackley and have spent decades proudly keeping their total independence, even turning down corporate sponsorship along the way.
Sunday 30th August: Hesketh Bank Silver Band
Closing out August is Hesketh Bank, formed back in 1895 as a temperance band. Local legend has it they bought their very first set of instruments second-hand from nearby Banks for just four pounds, cheaper than a modern hymn book! They upgraded to silver-plated kit after WWII, but they still keep that original 19th-century bass drum safe in their bandroom.
These concerts are run entirely by volunteers from local brass groups, the Botanic Gardens Community Association, and local residents. If you have fond memories of hearing the bands play when you were growing up and want to help keep the tradition going, the team is always looking for an extra pair of hands to help out at the Chair Hut.
Note: Events are subject to change. For last-minute updates, check with the Southport & District Brass Band Association.