The GUS Band

MORE

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

About 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.

Listen to the Band

Discover our newest performances and recordings

Emaneff March

T. J. Powell

Malaguena

Composed by Ernesto Lecuona, arr. Mark Freeh

Jealousy

Trumpet duet featuring James and Thomas Fountain

Composed by Jacob Grade, arr. John Iveson

To listen to more of our music and see our videos go to the Media page

Latest News

See what’s happenning in the world of GUS

The GUS Band’s 90th Anniversary: Concert Review

Brassing Around’s Elise Hale remarked “months of build up, ticket sales, advertising, all long awaited to this afternoon- and well wasn’t it worth the wait!” and she was not wrong. An organising committee of four current GUS players as well as their Musical Director Christopher Bond toiled for months to bring The GUS Band, a reunion band of over 50 former GUS players, four guest soloists and three former conductors together in a sparkling display of musical virtuosity that placed the heritage and history of the band right at the heart of the day, and reassured everyone present that the future of this famous band is in good hands.
The current GUS band opened their set with Edward Gregson’s “Fanfare for GUS” and followed this up with a classy performance of a staple of the GUS repertoire in Jubilee Overture by Philip Sparke, written for the band for its 50th Anniversary.
More recently, the Fountain name has become synonymous with the GUS Band, with Gary Fountain a former soprano cornet player with the band, and brothers Thomas and James both having both occupied the principal cornet seat as recently as 2022. Expectations were understandably high when James Fountain took to the stage to give his account of Charivari by John Iveson, and the audience were not disappointed. The Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra performed with such virtuosity and searing technique that it is easy to understand how he has reached the pinnacle of professional trumpet playing. His brother Thomas, recently announced as the new Principal Trumpet of the BBC Philharmonic gave a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Christopher Bond’s Song of the Night Sky. The quality on display left you in no doubt that between them the brass band world, and GUS, has nurtured two greats. Amazingly, they are both still in their 20s! What an exciting future these men have.
The whimsical Celebration by Gordon Langford (another piece written for the band’s 50th Anniversary) was followed by the band’s professional conductor Dr David Thornton taking to the stage with current Principal Euphonium George Bruce. Reset as a duet, both players gave a remarkable show of lyrical and technical authority in Endearing Young Charms. Fittingly, GUS and Euphonium Legend Trevor Groom was sat a few rows back in the audience, taking it all in.
BBC Young Musician of the Year Jordan Ashman was next up, and Jordan later remarked to Brassing Around that he “loved being back with GUS; playing with the band that started my musical life off!”. And what a life it’s been so far, with Jordan showcasing “Strawberry Therapy” on the vibraphone. Arranged for brass band by his dad Darren (another GUS alumni), he gave an “effortless performance” played with “confidence and style”. It went down very well with those watching in the audience.
Christopher Bond’s aptly titled “Journey to the Past” gave way to the return of Thomas and James to perform Martin Cordner’s Synergy. A nod to their salvationist background, they both gave an “electric” performance that gripped the audience from start to finish.
GUS closed the first half with the finale from Sand and Stars, fresh from their recent win at the Dr Martin’s Contest in early September. Set in the same decade as the band’s inception, it left nobody in any doubt of the band’s ambitions for the future- a return to the pinnacle of elite banding, the British Open.
A short interval gave the audience chance to explore the exhibition of GUS history that had been curated by current Principal Cornet player James Screaton. It featured an array of pictures, trophies (including the Open shield and Nationals trophy kindly loaned to the band by Foden’s), banners and other memorabilia that contributed to the sense that everyone present was experiencing something special.
The second half, expertly compered by Dr David Thornton, saw the 50-plus reunion band take to the stage. Boasting seven basses, five trombones, three soprano cornets as well as an army of cornets and horns, baritones and euphoniums, it was immediately obvious that the audience were in for a treat. Earlier in the day, it was remarked upon that the top three cornet players on the front row (James Fountain, Thomas Fountain, and Ben Godfrey) were all fighting over who sat on the end chair as none of them wanted to!
Melvin White (conductor of the band in the late 90s) led the band through Strike up the Band and Little Lisa (written by Stanley Boddington for his daughter, Lisa), and was followed by Chris Jeans (conductor of the band 2018-2022), who began his set with Here’s That Rainy Day, a Mark Freeh arrangement from the band’s iconic album Freeh-way. Following this, the band’s Chairperson David Elliott-Smith presented Chris with a gift in recognition of his years of service to the band, both as a player and conductor. Chris closed his short set with another Mark Freeh arrangement of Surrey with the Fringe on Top, featuring the current and reunion band’s Euphoniums and Baritones. Chris Jeans gave way to the inimitable John Berryman (former principal cornet and conductor) who took the band through Gilbert Vinter’s Lisbon Carnival. The playing of the reunion band was unsurprisingly of the highest order, and there was an
 air of anticipation following John’s final piece March to the Scaffold as the current band lined up in the wings to join the reunion band for a massed-band finale.
The massed band opened with the march Emaneff (a play on the band’s name at the time, Munn and Felton; M and F), and this was conducted by Christopher Bond. David Thornton returned to the stage once again to take the band through Bramwell Tovey’s Remembering Jutland, a poignant piece written in memory of Tovey’s grandfather who took part in the first world war Battle of Jutland. Bramwell Tovey was the inspiration behind the band’s famous win at the 1988 British Open on Contest Music. Remembering Jutland provoked a moment of reflection for Bramwell Tovey and for all those associated with GUS no longer with us.
The culmination of the day came when John Berryman returned to the stage to conduct Pines of Rome. According to Elise, “The climax of the piece was fantastic, and there were goosebumps everywhere. Boasting an insanely loud sound, the band had ability to make it sound so classy with an intense sound from the trombones. It was absolutely immense. What a performance”.
Breathless from the Pines of Rome, John Berryman gave no introduction to the encore Malaguena, but led an energetic and spritely performance of Mark Freeh’s well known arrangement. By the end of it, the audience were on their feet cheering for more.
There are few brass bands with such a rich history surrounding it, and the three guest soloists in James and Thomas Fountain, and Jordan Ashman, exemplify everything great about GUS; its nurturing of youth to create soloists of international renown and its relentless focus on the securing the future of the band for generations to come. Even those former players not featured as guest soloists have all individually contributed to so much to the brass band movement, and each of them will tell you the special place that GUS has in their heart. All in all, it was a great way to celebrate 90 years of GUS.
This review features elements of Elise Hale’s review of the concert for Brassing Around, and extracts are included with Elise’s kind permission.

Still Mighty at Ninety!

Still Mighty at Ninety

On 2nd January 1933, ninety years ago this year, a press release in the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph announced the formation of a works brass band at the Munn & Felton shoe factory in Kettering. Just two years later the band were Champions of Great Britain, and so the legend began.

Ninety years later and the band has no less than a World Championship title, two British Open titles, six National Champion titles, and no less than eighteen Midland Champion titles to its name.  Since their first historic championship win in 1935, the band has gone through several name changes, reflecting its corporate sponsors but whatever the name, the high standard of performance has continued to this day and to celebrate these amazing achievements, a special celebratory anniversary concert is to be held to honour all the players that have been lucky enough to literally play a part in this band’s illustrious history.

This momentous concert will be held in the band’s hometown of Northampton on Sunday 24th September and will feature The GUS Band (currently in the Top 20 brass bands in the world), as well as a reunion band made up of over fifty past players of the band before a grand, massed band finale.

Also eagerly anticipated will be the feature of four soloists during the concert.  Three are also former players with The GUS Band, namely James Fountain, now Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Fountain, now Principal Trumpet of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and Jordan Ashman, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2022, while Dr David Thornton, Euphonium tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music is the band’s Professional Conductor, but also one of the most respected euphonium soloists in the world, having played for the likes of the Black Dyke Band and Brighouse and Rastrick.

Speaking of the upcoming concert, the band’s Musical Director, Christopher Bond said “To be able to celebrate the band’s 90th anniversary with such a brilliant event is really very special. The calibre of soloists alone is phenomenal, but in combination with the current GUS Band and GUS Reunion Band, it will be a truly phenomenal way to celebrate the 90-year history of this world-famous brass band”.

Tickets for this event are on sale now at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/thegusband.

Picnic on the Lawn is Back!

Following the success of its inaugural event in 2022, the Picnic on the Lawn is back for 2023! It is one of the most anticipated summer events in Northampton.
Served up by the University of Northampton, this brass and voice spectacular will take place on the Engine Shed Lawn in the grounds of the University and will be led by the Midland’s champion brass band, The GUS Band. The band, ranked in the Top 20 worldwide, are excited to be celebrating their 90th anniversary this year and this will be one of the highlights in their celebratory calendar.

Not only this, the band is being joined by a champagne hamper full of other fantastic Northamptonshire musicians, including the amazing Northampton Male Voice Choir led by Stephen Bell.  The collaboration between the GUS Band and the Northampton Male Voice Choir has now become a regular partnership and for this outdoor musical banquet, they will also be joined by the sensational tenor, Joshua Daniel and the stunning, award-winning ladies Choir, The Decibelles, from Kettering. Completing this fabulous line up is the unbelievable youth brass chamber group, the Youth Brass 2000 Dectet, who will the cherry on top of this evening feast of musical treats.
So, pack your deck chairs, prepare your cucumber sandwiches and book your place for the picnic of the year.  The fun starts early at 4pm with the main concert beginning at 7.30pm offering a mix of classical greats and more contemporary foot-tappers.  We of course will be hoping that the sun will be smiling down on us but if it decides to hide away, there will be undercover places available too.  Don’t forget to include a bottle of fizz in your basket and we’ll see you there for a celebration of the best music that Northamptonshire can offer.

Tickets available at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/a508/university-of-northampton-south-bridge-road/picnic-on-the-lawn-2023-gus-band-spectacular/e-vmbvmq

See our latest video

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!

For any enquiries, please contact us through the webform
Alternatively you can email on our regular email address:

info@thegusband.com

If you have any images of the GUS Band, video or audio recordings, please contact our website administrator at the email address above.

    Please prove you are human by selecting the Tree.

    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