Bandamonium Yorkshire

​​​Bandamonium Yorkshire 2 Brass Band festival weekend 4th - 6th September, 2026
Bandamonium Yorkshire is a non-competing Brass Band festival in West Yorkshire
centred around the small picturesque town of Kirkbymoorside & hosted by
Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band.

For bands to sign up all they have to do is let us know and agree to let their hair
down and have fun. It is free for bands and audiences alike. There currently is no
limit to the number of bands, but West Yorkshire is only so big so please get in touch
sooner rather than later, we’re pretty approachable.

What happens on the weekend?
Friday - Somewhere from 7pm, Brassy entertainment.
This will be new for Yorkshire and there are plans in the working. Watch this space.
Sat - Bandamonium Yorkshire from 11am – 9:00pm
More details below
Sun – TBC Church service supported by Brass with anyone who wants to play..

 

More about the main day, Bandamonium Saturday. Depending on the number of
bands there might be more locations and operational arrangements, but let’s go
through what 2025 looked like and when changes come along we’ll communicate
them.

There are 5 beautiful locations (subject to change):

•  Kirkbymoorside Market Place

•  Helmsley Market car park

•  The Royal Oak, Gillamore

•  The Coach House Inn, Rosedale

•  The New Inn, Cropton

​​

Bands are allocated a start point at 11am and depending on where they are staying
we’ll assist getting them to the start points. We then ferry the bands round for the
afternoon on provided transport with each band going either clockwise or anti
clockwise round the loop.
We have trackers for the bands and coaches so you can always see where they are
or are not!

At the end of the day everyone is brought back to Kirkbymoorside Square for the
massed bands performance at 7/8ish. Audiences, supporters and shoppers (?) are
more than welcome to use the coaches to move around the locations – but bands
come first in case there’s a squeeze.
Bands play for as long as 20/25 mins at each place & can play what they like there
are no restrictions (brass instruments maybe with spoons and accordion added by
special dispensation), they don’t have to play the same at each place it’s 100% up to
them.
At each location there will be seats, stands and a drum kit so in theory bands only
need to bring their instruments and music

Bandamonium is not a competition however currently there are 2 prizes. The
Peoples' Choice Award is voted for by everyone on-line 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.
​
Bandamonium Barbarians - Bands with too few players.
The Barbarians is for anyone that wants to play from anywhere at any standard &
everyone is welcomed. Just message us and come along. The music is not difficult
and is classic Brass Bandy, we’ve had learners and old timers, young and not so
young – the Barbarians demonstrates the Brass Band family at it’s best.

Merchandise – will be available for purchase & is encouraged. From our luxurious
hoodies to the annual collectable T-shirt, hats, T towels and whatever else Mrs W
can put her hand to.

So day starts at 11am and the massed bands are back in Kirkbymoorside at 7/8pm.
Travel round with your favourite band, stay in one location, move around randomly –
the choice is yours!