Rayleigh Brass
An innovative brass band based in Essex, UK
An innovative brass band based in Essex, UK
21st June 2025
Well, the thermometer kept going up, 'Laurel and Hardy' made a guest appearance, and Cantare sang. Rayleigh Brass are so thankful that, on a night when a barbecue and a cold beer may have seemed more appealing (why didn't we get an invite?!), you still came out to see us at Highlands Methodist Church.
Both Cantare and us, are so grateful and look forward to seeing you again soon.
We'll leave you with the words from our final joint item:
'Imagine all the people, Livin' life in peace'
John Lennon - Imagine
Please see our engagements page for details of future concerts.
Find out more about our musical director, Bob Bearman, by viewing his new profile page
The band has been established in South Essex for over one hundred years and at the moment has almost full membership. We play a varied programme to a high standard and have a reputation for a progressive and changing repertoire of music. We play mainly concerts but also perform at fetes and other functions.
The band is able to deliver high quality and entertaining concert programmes at the same time as maintaining a very friendly and inclusive atmosphere. We do not enter contests like many bands, but seek instead to broaden the appeal of the band beyond the traditional brass band image, playing a wide and challenging repertoire, at the same time trying to relate to our audience.
Rayleigh Brass acknowledges its role in the community, and has raised funds in the past for BBC Children in Need and local charities, and is always willing to consider appearing at charity fund-raising events. In the weeks preceding Christmas the band fields several groups each day at locations throughout southern Essex, playing carols for shoppers and at social functions in order to raise funds to donate to local charities.
Further from home, the band has played on several occasions in Ypres, Belgium, culminating in a moving experience for the band and audience when they performed at the remembrance service at the famous Menin Gate - the monument to the many thousands who lost their lives in the First World War at Flanders Fields.
We rehearse on a Thursday evening at Battlesbridge Free Church. Please contact Kevin Hall on 01245 323441 or info@rayleighbrass.com if you are interested in joining the band or would like further information.
Rayleigh Brass playing under the Vulcan bomber at Southend airport.
We are proud to support remembrance day and play every year at the Burnham-on-Crouch Annual Service of Remembrance.
The band at its first post-lockdown performance at Priory Park in Southend.
Watch our lockdown recordings on YouTube