Massed brass band raising money for charities.

For many years Ray and Linda Somers attended workshop weekends run by the Central Band of the Royal British Legion, where music was made with somewhere in the region of 90 fellow enthusiasts. Music was chosen to challenge and entertain, and the weekend was always thoroughly enjoyable but never finished with a concert.

In September 2016 Ray and Linda attended a concert in Godalming given jointly by Farnham Brass Band and Haslemere Town Band and realised that there are many smaller non-competing brass bands who might also enjoy, and benefit from, working together. And so the seeds of Big and Brassy were planted and the idea of a massed band weekend was born.

They also had a great desire to be able to raise funds for both local and musical charities.

Bring these three things together and you have a weekend filled with music, for people to belong to a unique band, to make friends and enjoy opportunities not normally available to them; and to bring it to an amazing climax with a spectacular massed brass band, charity concert. Charley Brighton wowed us all with his virtuosity on the euphonium and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was had by all. All profits from the first concert were donated to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham.

But we needed a name! We are a BIG band and we are a BRASS band – and so Big and Brassy was born.