The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) has welcomed the Lerwick Band as the latest addition to their ever growing membership.

Based in Shetland, they also gain the title of being the northerly brass band in the UK, geographically in line across the North Sea with Bergen — home to the likes of Norwegian banding giants Eikanger and Manger Musikklag.

Embraced

SBBA told 4BR that they are delighted with the band’s decision to join the association, after fully embracing the support and opportunities membership offers.

SBBA is also hopeful that the band will introduce a new youth set up into its organisation once the necessary infrastructure has been out in place – helping to further expand its musical commitment to the Shetland community.

Latest success

Lerwick’s addition is the latest success story in SBBA’s country-wide development plans to welcome new bands in outlying regions of the country. Indeed, Kirkwall Town Band, based in Orkney, is already a member of SBBA.

The history of brass banding in Lerwick goes back as far as 1863 and the current MD, Drew Robertson, was in the band that flourished in the 1950s.

Flourish

With important internationally celebrated cultural events playing a major role in attracting tourists to the area it is hoped that the band will now flourish once more.

Earlier in the year, Bon Accord Band visited the islands of Orkney and Shetland as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration tour, where they performed with Kirkwall Town Band in Orkney and welcomed the members of the Lerwick Band when they visited Shetland.

With important internationally celebrated cultural events playing a major role in attracting tourists to the area it is hoped that the band will now flourish once more4BR

Heart warming

A SBBA spokesperson told 4BR: "The success of such collaborative initiatives is a heart-warming reminder of the friendships and unity that can be derived through brass band music, and a clear indication of the important role SBBA is committed to playing in support of Scotland’s brass bands."

They added: "SBBA welcomes the Lerwick Brass Band to its membership and looks forward to developing initiatives in the future which offer support to all bands in similar outlying areas."