Bradwell Silver Band

Introducing audiences to the joy of brass bands

The Bradwell Silver Band has been in existence for nearly 125 years, started by railway workers who lived in the North Buckinghamshire villages of Bradwell and Statonbury. Today, the award-winning band plays at many local events, including the Ironbridge Festival of Brass in Shropshire, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and the annual tradition of playing on Christmas morning in the streets of New Bradwell.

With a Senior Band that meets twice weekly, and a development brass group made up of learners aged 8 and older, the Bradwell Silver Band needed a website where they could inform the public, engage new musicians, and display their accomplishments. The site also needed to be affordable, so that funds could be better spent on music, instruments, and tuition, but without sacrificing performance and reliability.

Krystal's charity hosting joins the melody

When Luke Wilson took over the role of website administrator for the band in 2022, he knew he wanted to redesign and update the entire site. The site had been with Krystal for many years now, but they hadn’t been aware of our free hosting for charities. When the band became a charity, they contacted Krystal, and were able to move to a free Amethyst hosting plan, saving them £70 a year.

Through our hosting plan, Luke was able to quickly install WordPress, set up a Divi theme, and have the new Bradwell Silver Band website up and running quickly. With the new website, it was easier for the band’s committee to discuss, organise, and post information, including the band’s history, upcoming shows, and their competition standing. It also made it easy to link to the band’s Soundcloud page, giving people around the world a chance to hear them.

Marching into the future

As the Bradwell Silver Band quickly approaches its 125th anniversary, the website is going to be an invaluable resource, promoting events, launching fundraisers, and telling the band’s story. It will also provide them a perfect place to showcase their accomplishments in Regional and National Brass Band competitions. And as more young people discover the joy of a traditional brass band, Bradwell Silver Band will be there to provide them with the opportunity to learn how to play, free of charge.