About

Join the 171st British Open Champions, the world-famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band, at Ilkley Christchurch.

2025 British Open and 2022 Brass in Concert Champions

The Brighouse & Rastrick Band is regarded by many as the best and most consistent ‘public subscription band’ in the world. In its time the majority of premier band championships have been held by ‘Briggus’, most recently becoming National Champion Band of Great Britain in 2017, whilst the band has also attracted a formidable reputation for highly entertaining concerts for both the general public and brass band connoisseur.

The ever popular Brighouse and Rastrick Band caught the ears and imagination of the British public with their recording of “The Floral Dance” holding the No.2 position in the British singles chart for 9 weeks. Even though they were held off the top spot by Paul McCartney, they still achieved sales of over a million, earning both Gold and Silver discs. ‘The Floral Dance’ has now become a permanent feature of the band’s programs as the ‘unofficial’ encore. Over recent years the band has been engaged in a number of very successful music collaborations, outside the brass band tradition, including Kate Rusby, BBC Radio 2 Folk award winners The Unthanks and classical actor Simon Callow.

It is still true to say that no other public subscription band has held such high status for as long as the Brighouse and Rastrick Band!