Saturday 6th September 2025 saw Ryedale come alive with the sound of brass as the very first Bandamonium Yorkshire took place – and what a day it was!

Hosted by Kirkbymoorside Town Band in partnership with Bandamonium, the event brought together bands from across the region for a roaming festival of music, with performances in Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley, Rosedale Abbey, Cropton and Gillamoor.

Swinton & District Excelsior Band were proud to be part of this new event, which proved to be every bit as fun, lively, and wonderfully chaotic as promised. Starting at 11:30am, bands travelled from venue to venue by bus, performing half-hour sets throughout the day before coming together for a spectacular Massed Bands Finale in Kirkbymoorside at 7:30pm.

The atmosphere at each stop was incredible – with locals, visitors, and brass enthusiasts turning out in numbers to enjoy the music (and in true Bandamonium style, many of the venues were conveniently placed next to pubs!).

A fantastic line-up of bands took part, including:

• Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band

• Swinton & District Excelsior Band

• Stape Silver Band

• Tees Components Brass

• Kirkbymoorside Bantastics

• The open-to-all Bandamonium Barbarians

A Winning Day for Swinton

As if a brilliant day of music and community spirit wasn’t enough, Swinton Band were absolutely thrilled to be voted the winners of the Bandamonium People’s Choice Award. This award was voted for by audiences across the day and reflects the warmth, energy, and entertainment that our players brought to every performance.

Looking Ahead

The band would like to thank everyone who came along to support us and the other bands, as well as the organisers, hosts, and volunteers who made Bandamonium Yorkshire such a success. Special thanks go to Geneva Instruments for their sponsorship and support.

Bandamonium has shown just how much brass banding can bring communities together – and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

?? A day of music, laughter, friendship, and a fantastic award to cap it all off – Bandamonium 2025 is one we’ll never forget! ??