World class music with a proud history and an exciting future
The GUS Band
World class music with a proud history and an exciting future
The GUS Band
World class music with a proud history and an exciting future
The GUS Band
World class music with a proud history and an exciting future
The GUS Band
World class music with a proud history and an exciting future
The GUS Band
The GUS Band is a world-famous brass band, based in Northampton, England. Originally known as the Munn and Felton Works Band, it was formed by Fred Felton in 1933 in Kettering, England. Since then, the band has gone on to establish itself as one of the leading bands, with a string of titles to its name and regular appearances at the National Brass Band Championships in the Royal Albert Hall.
The GUS Band are looking forward to their joint concert with the Brackley & District Band on Sunday 28th September. Brackley & District were awarded a fantastic sixth place at the Fourth Section National Brass Band Finals in Cheltenham last weekend, (14th September) and this combined concert promises to be a spectacular afternoon performance of brass music. The Brackley & District Band is conducted by GUS Band’s very own Principal Bb Bass player, Mark Probert and so it’s only appropriate that the two bands join forces. Meanwhile, GUS has begun their own preparations for the Championship Section National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October and will be performing the test piece, Symphony in Two Movements, (Edward Gregson) at this joint concert. If you would like to hear two brass bands both at the top of their game, then the Brass United Joint Concert at St. Peter’s Church, Brackley will be the one to attend! Kick off is at 3pm and tickets are available from TicketSource or by contacting Jacky on 07970583342.
As the GUS Band prepares to take its summer break, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the year so far and see what the band has achieved over the past seven months.
Our public performances in 2025 began with the Regionals Test Piece Workshop held in Oxford in February, where the band worked through the Lower Section Test Pieces in an open rehearsal format. This was closely followed by a concert in Crawley at The Hawth, a lovely venue to perform in and one that the band has performed at many times now.
With a fantastic Midland Area Championship win in March, ensuring that GUS once again represents the Midlands at the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall this year, we moved into April and a visit to the Kettering Arts Centre with a Night at the Movies and Musicals. There was also a visit to St Peter’s Church in Oundle for another highly enjoyable concert.
The month of May saw the band travel north to the Grand Shield competition at the Blackpool Winter Gardens and there were also concerts at Oakham School and at the Stowe School’s annual Speech Day. Then there was the Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers live performance last month at the Royal Theatre in Northampton, which was a great success and enjoyably different from our usual concert format. Finally, just before we broke for the summer, the band went back into the recording studio with the World of Sound; more on this to come soon.
GUS working with the World of Sound
We sadly had to say goodbye to Noah Blythe on Third Cornet but we wish him lots of success in his new position as Principal Cornet of the Newstead Band. We were very excited though to welcome into the world our Principal Baritone, Sarah Lenton’s new baby daughter, Iris.
Once the GUS Band returns after our well-earned break, we will be straight into a busy schedule with a Last Night of the Proms concert back at the Kettering Arts Centre on 30th August. There’s also a joint concert with Brackley Band at St Peter’s Church, Brackley on 26th September. We’ll then be off to London again in October for the National Finals in London and then a long journey up to The Glass House in Gateshead in November to compete in the Brass In Concert Championships.
As usual, to all our loyal supporters we say thank you for continuing to come and listen to us and please keep an eye out for our forthcoming concert dates and get them in the diary. We’ll see you there!
And a cracking show, too! The techno trousers may have malfunctioned but there was nothing wrong with the two matinee live performances of Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers given by the GUS Band last weekend.
The GUS Band accompanying Wallace and Gromit
In the opulent grandeur of the Royal Theatre in Northampton, the band entertained the enthusiastic and appreciative audiences starting with a rousing opener of the main theme from Star Wars before launching into the film. The devious villain Feathers McGraw tried his best to dupe Wallace into helping him steal a jewel but Gromit saves the day and the film score composed by Julian Nott and cleverly arranged for brass band set the atmosphere and excitement perfectly. After the interval, the GUS Band presented their Wizard of Oz set as performed to great acclaim at last year’s Brass in Concert.
Principle Cornet James Screaton performs
The audience loved it and the whole show was a memorable occasion for all the family, for both Wallace and Gromit fans and brass band supporters alike. To quote Wallace, “all’s well that ends well, that’s what I say” which summed up this memorable afternoon perfectly.
We have managed to stay active over lockdown, and had a lot of fun making several new videos for you to enjoy. To see more of our music videos go to the Media page
The GUS Band, we love to hear from you, whether you’re a supporter of the band, a member of our community, a local arts organisation interested in working with us, or a business who sees the value in partnering with an elite group with deep roots in your community. So please go ahead and drop us a line – we promise you a warm welcome!
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MISSION STATEMENT
The GUS band — creating world class music with a proud history and an exciting future. Serving our community, promoting music education and partnering with local businesses and Arts organisations for the benefit of all.
What people are saying
What do you expect?
Well, it’s the GUS band — what do you expect? They’re one of the best bands in the world!
Paul Fisher
Musical Director, Amersham Band
A refreshing change
This is an attractive, well-planned and produced release, which will be part of my seasonal listening for sure
Paul Hindmarsh
British Bandsman magazine
What a special album
I bought the ’80 Years in the Making’ album and it is such a pleasure to listen to the high standard of musicianship
Doris Smith
Ex bandsman
One of the best brass bands
The GUS Band are one of the best brass bands I have seen — and I have seen many
Paul
Musician
What people are saying
If you would like your brand or company to benefit from an association with the GUS Band — a world-class leader in its field – CLICK HERE
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