What is Bandamonium?

It's Free Brass Banding fun for all!

We are a Brass Band Charity with our mission being:
                                           "To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and
                                appreciation of, the art and science of brass band music in all its aspects by
                                any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public
                                events."
After 4 years of the Bandamonium festival in West Devon, we're a fully fledged charity, have our board of Trustees and are relentlessly pursuing our objective of getting brass bands back to the masses & to reinvigorate the movement. We love brass bands and our principle route to Brass world domination as we start our mission is through our event, Bandamonium.

Free to both bands and audiences the original Bandamonium is based in West Devon with our

host band Hatherleigh Silver Band. The day takes bands around various locations before meeting up at the end of the day to join together for a magical (and loud) massed bands performance. Simples.
As part of the event we have had an open to all band called the Bandamonium Barbarians who have been amazing and created a movement of their own such that in the last half of 2024 we went to two Devon carnivals and have been seen out and about Carolling. Their 3rd Whit Friday trip is on the calendar for 2026.
It all sounds incredibly organised and all in control…..  venues are or are right by pubs and nothing quite goes to plan – hence the name, it’s complete pandemonium…. err Bandamonium…..

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In Sept 2025 we also completed our 1st Bandamonium Yorkshire - hosted by Kirkbymoorside Town Band. This was amazingly well received so who knows what will be in store for 2026 when we return on 5th Sept.

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Just have to also reach out to our founding sponsors without whom we would have struggled to keep Bandamonium going. Geneva Instruments and their CEO Vince Eckerman have embraced our concept and through their support enabled us to keep to our free to all ethos & in Devon Dartline coaches have taken the impossible plans and made them happen…. I mean in 2025 with 23 bands that was c. 150 concerts and band movements throughout the day! Perrys coaches in Yorkshire also did us proud- even if they had no idea what they had let themselves in for! All ran like clockwork. 

There will be more & more Bandamonium’s around the country if you want to help, have ideas, want to be a host band, would like to be a sponsor please get in touch.

We’re also thinking up a theme for the 2026 Bandamonium Composition Competition after this year's winner- the extraordinarily ethereal  'Ebb Tide' score-  composed and conducted at the Devon massed band concert by Nick Bramald. There will be more details on the website in due course.
So… look out for our next event, don’t think too much just come along and have some Brassy fun!!!!

 

Tim Williams
Founder

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