On Tour in Gent, Belgium : May 2023

Tonbridge Castle, Kent : July 2022

In Concert with Chris Thomas : October 2021

In Concert with Owen Farr : September 2018

On Tour in Leiden and Amsterdam, Holland : May 2018

50th Birthday Party, Staplehurst : Sep 2015

On Tour in Ghent, Belgium : May 2013

Pantiles Bandstand, Tunbridge Wells : July 2008

On Tour in Leuven, Belgium : May 2008

Leeds Castle, Kent : Sep 2007

St. Dunstans Church, Cranbrook : June 2007

Pantiles Bandstand, Tunbridge Wells : July 2008

Bringing Music to the Masses since 1924


Cranbrook Town Band

The Town Band is comprised of about 30 regular brass players who live in Cranbrook and the surrounding areas.

The history of the Town band goes back to the 1920′s. It has enjoyed mixed fortunes over the years and the present band was re-formed in the 1960s. Since that time it has gradually grown in membership and the standard of playing has progressed steadily.

Current membership includes people of many different ages and professions.

Cranbrook Town Band is self supporting; it’s main income is obtained from concert performances throughout Kent & Sussex during the summer months. It does however take the time to support other organisations and has links with many charities, the British Legion and various churches. In addition the band does what it can to support music in schools and promote brass band music throughout the country.


Junior Band

Junior Band

We have a training band for those just starting their journey into brass music. Pupils at a number of primary schools in the area receive lessons from the training band’s musical director and attend rehearsals before the main band on a Thursday evening.

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The Hymn Tune Cranbrook

The Hymn Tune Cranbrook

Was written in 1805 by Thomas Clark. The tune was used to accompany the Carol, While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night in the 19th century but is now better known as the folk song Ilkley Moor bah’t ‘at.

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Raising Funds

Raising Funds

Help us raise funds for free when you shop online. “easyfundraising” is a brilliant way to raise money, simply shop online from over 2,700 retailers and they’ll give a donation to the band every time you buy something, at no extra cost.

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Musical Director

Musical Director

The present Musical Director is Ian Lanceley. Since his appointment in November 1986 the band has responded extremely well to his enthusiastic teaching and has undoubtedly improved under his leadership.

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Vacancies

Vacancies

We welcome all players regardless of age or ability and we often have players join us for a rehearsal or two while on holiday in the area, or players who have picked up their instrument for the first time in years come along for a blow. So why not do the same.

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Concert Bookings

Concert Bookings

The band enjoys playing a variety of music and has a wide repertoire. Concert programs often include many different musical styles:- TV/Film Themes, Jazz, Classical, Rock and pieces specifically written for brass band.

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Latest From the Bandroom

Cranbrook Town Band and Cranbrook Choral Society combined once again to present a Christmas concert in Cranbrook’s St. Dunstan’s Church on Saturday, December 16th. The church was delightfully decorated and jam packed with a congregation looking forward to a festive mix of...
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Two years on from our fantastic concert with Trombone Maestro, Chris Thomas (See report), it was time once again to feature a guest soloist for our annual fundraiser concert supporting Demelza. This year we were very excited to announce that our guest for the evening of t...
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The band were delighted to play at the wedding of our own flugel player Emma Pettifer and her other half of 10 years, Charles Barsley on Sunday 10th September. Emma joined the band way back in 1999 with her father Dave, and has played her way up through the back row posit...
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The band were lucky enough to appear at Tonbridge Castle again this year and despite the very windy conditions, gave a concert which was thoroughly enjoyed by the sizeable audience. On the day, Solo Horn player Alan Smithers was incapacitated with a sore back which necess...
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The band was delighted to perform once again for the Friends of St. Dunstan’s.  This year it was during the afternoon of Sunday 25th June and the temperature in the church was hovering around a sweltering 28o C. The Senior Band and the Training Band both performed excelle...
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On a very hot Saturday afternoon where temperatures were reaching the high 20s (Degrees C) the band were lucky enough to be playing under a marquee so were mostly out of the direct sunshine.
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Photo Gallery

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CTB Online Media & CDs

The Hymn Tune Cranbrook was written in 1805 by Thomas Clark a shoemaker and Freeman of the City of Canterbury. The tune was used to accompany the Carol, While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night in the 19th century but is now better known as the folk song Ilkley Moor ...
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We have a number of players who publish to Soundcloud – a website allowing us to easily record and upload music tracks and share them privately or publicly to friends. So if you haven’t use it before, why not have a look and listen to our recordings, a selecti...
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We have a number of YouTube clips featuring musical performances from many of our recent concerts. You can view the clips from our web site by selecting the concert or track below. Alternatively you can visit YouTube and Soundcloud and search for files uploaded by ctbonli...
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In 2008, the band spent two exhausting but enjoyable Sundays, the 8th and 15th June, recording the music for our latest CD. Comprising of many favourite numbers from the year’s concert programme, “Let Us Entertain You” will both excite and relax you with...
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Cranbrook’s famous St. Dunstans Church provided the ideal recording location when the band decided to follow the success of their first recording with a compilation of Brass, Classical and Popular music.
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In 1992 the band decided to put some of their favourite pieces onto a recording to commemorate a recent run of contest successes and help raise band funds. Tapes and CDs were quickly sold out as the band promoted their first recording throughout the summer concert season.
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Rehearsal Venue

  • Fowlers Park, Rye Rd, Hawkhurst, Kent. TN18 4JJ, UK
  • Rehearsal Times :7:45 – 10:00pm