What is Bandamonium?
Bandamonium is a non-competing Brass Band festival in West Devon.
Bands play in 6 village locations on the Saturday afternoon before all meeting up in Hatherleigh
Square for massed bands in the evening - see the agenda.
It is totally free for the bands and audience (it's one of our core principles and we're adamant that
we'll stick with that!). Another of our core principals is incredibly important for the bands,
actually it should be the top of the list.... the bands get to let their hair down and have fun!

(That's an order!)

What is slightly different for Bandamonium is we provide the transport. There will be a number of
coaches shuttling between locations during the afternoon for bands and public alike – the lanes
round here can be interesting so this is to try and reduce congestion & also to shift the burden of
cost and make Bandamonium more accessible.
What does a band have to do? Say you coming, pay nothing, stands and drumkits will be at every
location – literally just need players, music and instruments.
Bandamonium is not a competition however currently there are 2 prizes. The Peoples' Choice is
voted for by everyone on-line )https://app.rankedvote.co/rv/l0y2v7jblb4hhh8fs2/vote

) of the pubs & the Best Band by a celebrity & is judged based
on a secret formula…. (It’s the band that has most embraced the Bandamonium spirit that year).
Bandamonium is not a marching competition – but you can march if you want to. At Bandamonium 2

there were 2 bands that marched at a couple of locations.
​
Bandamonium Barbarians & Bands with too few players.
The Barbarians is for anyone that wants to play from anywhere at any standard. At Bandamonium
2 we cross pollinated players from as far a field as Scotland, USA, Poole even Cornwall! Across
the first two Bandamonium’s the Barbarians have had players from over 15 bands making up
their ranks – ANYONE IS WELCOME x

Some changes for 2024 – Bandamonium 3
For 2024 all bands and coaches and even the merch truck will have trackers so everyone knows where you
are! https://www.geotracks.co.uk/live/2866.

Hang on… have I said what happens on the day? For Bandamonium 2 we got all the bands to all
of the 5 locations during the course of the afternoon having started 2 bands at each location. Then
all the bands are dragged back to Hatherleigh early evening for the massed bands. You play what
you want for as long as you want. This year sets were about 20-30 mins, if band numbers increase
that might decrease slightly – but it gives you a blow and you feel like refreshment is deserved.
For Bandamonium 3 this has altered slightly, as we have added a 6th location, starting a little earlier at 11am.

The existing pub locations are village settings and are lovely, Green Dragon in Northlew, Half
Moon in Sheepwash, Kings Arms in South Zeal and the New Inn in Sampford Courtenay. Proper

village pubs. In Hatherleigh we play in the square flanked by two pubs – it is a town (small town)
& had a marquee last year which was lucky.
 
Hatherleigh is where the massed bands take place at the end of the day. In 2024 we will make
more space for the massed bands and be better prepared as it is the highlight of the day.

This was a crazy idea. After 7-8 hours touring round pubs getting a load of
brass players to play together without rehearsal, last year without enough stands or light!!!!

But it’s truly magical. I was lucky enough to listen to the performances and the Amazing Grace was
mesmeric and yes I had moisture in my eyes. At a rough estimate we can increase from the 200
players this year to at least 500-700 before we have to think of knocking down houses to make
space!
 

In Summary
I realise it all sounds like complete pandemonium... hence the name! But if you have any doubts I
urge you to speak to any of the bands that took part last year. Happy to answer any questions,
happy to come along to a practice (location depending!) but it's hopefully as simple as turn up,
play and have fun.
 
Tim Williams
Founder