Northumberland
Backworth Colliery Band was formed in 1886 among the pits of the Northumberland coalfield. The Backworth collieries’ Eccles Pit, sunk in 1905 and 1906, was the deepest in the coalfield at 1,440 feet, and the band’s first recorded contest win came at Cramlington in 1883.
The band still travels the county for agricultural shows, galas and festivals, weddings, Remembrance and civic occasions.
The band won at Cramlington in 1883 and at Blyth in 1902, competed at Morpeth in 1937 and was placed third at the Northumberland Miners’ Gala contest in 1949. Its Junior Band won cups and merits at the Wansbeck Music Festival. See the highlights on our contests page.
Every booking is priced individually, depending on the event, the location, the music and the number of players. The band is amateur and self-funding, so every fee goes back into instruments, music and the Training Band. Tell us about your event through the enquiry form and we will come back to you with a quote.
