2024 - Moving into our fourth half-century...

In 2024 our Open Day at the bandroom will be on Saturday 14th September, as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival. We'll also have our usual mix of outdoor and indoor performances with a concert at Waterfoot's Boo Theatre on Friday October 18th. As dates are confirmed they will be listed here and on our facebook page (facebook.com/waterbandrossendalelancs/).

Water Village Band hope that you will be able to come along and hear us at one or more of these events, and to support the events themselves and the hard-working people who have organised them. And, of course, if you want to book a good community brass band for your event, just use the Contact page to get in touch and discuss your needs!

Open Days.

In June 2018 Water Band held a successful Open Day to show visitors the bandroom and give them a chance to ask questions, have a go at playing an instrument, and take a look at our 'wall of history'. Oh, and there was tea and cake as well. We continued these Open Days in 2019 but had a break during COVID Lockdowns. We intend to make them a regular event every few months with the next one on Saturday 14th September as part of Heritage Open Days. Keep an eye out for other dates being published here and on our facebook page (facebook.com/waterbandrossendalelancs/)​.

Past events:

​Here's a selection of events from the past few years to highlight the type of community activity we undertake - and which we enjoy!

2019:

  • The summer months saw Water at local events including The Clog Market in Rawtenstall, and New Kirk Fair in Newchurch. Further afield we took part in Colne Gala, now an annual fixture for Water which we thoroughly enjoy.
  • In October we were proud to hold our first public concert for several years. In collaboration with Rossendale Ladies Choir, St Anne's (Edgeside) Community Choir, and a visiting choir form Rossendale's German twin town of Bocholt, we performed our own concert selection to a packed audience at St Mary's Church in Rawtenstall.
  • November - two Remembrance Sunday services for the band to attend, at Lumb Baptist Church and Trickett's Memorial Ground in Waterfoot.
  • December saw the Band play at 20 different events with a Christmas theme, including the annual Newchurch Walking Nativity in Newchurch village, private Christmas parties, Rawtenstall Christmas Lights Switch-on, Rawtenstall Christmas Markets, and, of course, Christmas Day Morning around Lumb and Water (we even got a mention on BBC Radio 3).
  • Keep an eye on this page and on our facebook page (facebook.com/waterbandrossendalelancs/) for updates.

2016 - A review of Water's 150th year:
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1866 - 2016. What an achievement! We had to celebrate. On top of our usual annual commitments the band set about adding extra events into our calendar. It took some work, and an awful lot of energy, but the general feeling was that it was well worth it, and we kept the honour of all those past members of Water Band alive. Here's a list of events we attended in 2016:

  • Sunday 24th April. Water Band were honoured to be asked to lead the annual Rossendale Scouts' St George's Day Parade in Rawtenstall. We were deputising for The 2nd Rossendale Scout Band who had an engagement in Windsor, playing for the Queen's Scouts' St George's Day Parade! We led the Rawtenstall parade with three marches, and played a selection of hymns as the Scouts and Guides made their way into St Mary's Church for the service.
  • Sunday 15th May. Water Band led St John The Evangelist Church's Whit Sunday Procession of Witness in Higham, near Barrowford. The procession  moved through the village, stopping at five points for a prayer and hymn, before returning to the church for a short Whit Sunday service and the dedication of the Rose Queen. This was our first time leading the Procession which we thoroughly enjoyed.
  • Friday 20th May. Saddleworth Band Contests. No, we didn't compete or parade, just watched and enjoyed the other bands, and picked up some tips. Who knows we may be able to use them in future years?
  • Saturday 21st May. Whitewell Bottom Community Centre (Burnley Road East, BB4 9LB). Water Band enjoyed playing at The Brownie Spring Fair at the Centre. Thanks for inviting us and giving us a chance to play on home turf.
  • Sunday 22nd May. Padiham Churches Whit Walks. Water Band, together with our Valley colleagues BMP Goodshaw Band, took part again in the annual Padiham Churches' Whit Walks. The sun shone and the crowds turned out and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
  • Sunday 12th June. Garden Open Day at Badger Corner, Brockclough Road, Whitewell Bottom. Every year Dawn and Ken Taylor open their 'secret' garden to the public for charity. This year, Water Band were privileged to have been invited along to provide some sunny garden party music and to celebrate our 150th anniversary. Dawn and her helpers, including the TESCO Community Champion, provided afternoon tea, with delicious home-made scones and cakes, and visitors wandered through the magnificent woodland garden which Dawn has created in the clough behind her home. True to form for a British summer garden party the rain poured just as we started to play The Floral Dance which we'd practiced especially for the afternoon! But, it rained on Her Majesty at her party in The Mall, so we were in good company. A great afternoon. Thanks, Dawn & Ken.
  • Saturday 18th June. Colne Gala. Once again Water Band played in the procession at Colne's annual Gala, and afterwards during the Gala field events at Holt House Playing Fields. The procession of floats made its way along the length of Albert Road, with Water Band playing marches along the whole route. Just before the memorial garden for Wallace Hartley (Colne-born conductor on RMS Titanic) we played 'Nearer My God To Thee' in his honour. The field events started at 12.30pm with the Queen & Princess presentations, and Water played a half-hour session to an appreciative audience. For more information about Colne Gala see their facebook page facebook.com/ColneGala/ 
  • Sunday 26th June. Bacup & Stacksteads Carnival. To celebrate our 150th anniversary Water Band  put a float into the procession at the annual Bacup & Stacksteads Carnival (BASCO) as it made its way through Bacup town centre. After the procession we played a short programme on stage in Stubbylee & Moorlands Park whilst the other floats made their way into the park. Since being re-born a few years ago Bacup & Stacksteads Carnival has gone from strength to strength with more floats and walking groups taking part every year. The 2016 theme was 'The 1960s', but Water Band's float celebrated our beginnings in the 1860s! It was a great day for Water Band; we really enjoyed playing on board a carnival wagon for the first time. A big 'thanks' to JJO Ltd, Bacup, for lending their wagon and to driver Dan Connolly for a smooth ride. For more information on BASCO see their facebook page: facebook.com/BacupandStacksteadsCarnival 
  • Sunday 3rd July. The Clog Market @ Rawtenstall Town Square. The Clog Market is a new venture in Rawtenstall, and Water Band performed at the second market on 3rd July. The Clog Market is a 'vintage' market being held on the first Sunday of the month, with vintage, antiques, craft and artisan food stalls. June's market was a great success and Water had a great time playing to the visitors to the July market. www.facebook.com/theclogmarket/
  • Sunday 10th July. Rossendale Traditions Weekend At Whitaker Park. Yes, Lancashire Day is November 27th, but this was a summer's weekend of Lancashire fun, music and poetry held at The Whitaker, the refreshed and upgraded Rossendale Museum and cafe/restaurant in Whitaker Park on Haslingden Road in Rawtenstall. The event covered Saturday and Sunday, and Water Band performed two sessions on Sunday afternoon alongside The Larks Of Dean Quire and Sid Calderbank. And a  reight gradely time were 'ad by all.
  • Saturday 16th July. Rawtenstall Annual Fair. Water Band made a return visit to Rawtenstall Annual Fair as it took place in The Town Square on Bank Street in Rawtenstall. We didn't play that famous music hall song of the same name, but we're sure it was heard during the day ( youtube.com/watch?v=mWYVzb2iOV4 ).
  • Sunday 14th August. Lumb Baptist Church Fun Day.​ Water Band were on home ground - 200 yards from our band room - playing between 1pm and 3pm at Lumb Baptist Church's Annual Fun Day. We played outdoors as the weather was fine, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at a great local, family, event. We even had an appreciative audience.
  • November. To celebrate with friends old and new the band held an open day at the bandroom. This 'Bit Of A Do' saw over 200 people cram into the bandroom one Saturday afternoon to reminisce, join in with playing, and just to listen to the current band. The Mayor of Rossendale came along and presented us with a 'Certificate of Appreciation' from Rossendale Council, and we unveiled our new winter uniform jackets which had been bought using the funds raised by Dawn and Ken Taylor at their Garden Open Day in June. All in all, a reight grand time was had by all. Here's to the next 150 years!
  • Sunday 13th November. Remembrance Sunday. As usual Water Band provided the music for Lumb Baptist Church's service.
  • December 2016. Christmas! As one resident of Lumb said when we played outside her house last December 'Eeeeh; Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Water Band'. Well, we couldn't let her down in our 150th year, so we played Christmas carols around the Whitewell Valley on various dates in December. We played at supermarkets and events in Rossendale and beyond - even as far as Burnley and Blackpool - in fact we logged 28 sessions during the month, which was definitely a record in recent years.
  • Boxing Day. The band's final event of our 150th year saw us playing at Turf Moor, Burnley Football Club's ground. In honour of band members who played there regularly during the 1950s and '60s it was a fitting end to a fantastic year of celebrations.
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