This is London Magazine May Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 4
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LONDON BAND WEEK RETURNS
London Band Week, the annual
celebration of marching bands, concert
bands and wind symphonies, returns this
summer from 23 to 28 June. This premier
invitational event offers top-quality
performance opportunities for UK-based
community bands and hosts acclaimed
visiting US collegiate and high school
bands, showcasing the vibrant band culture
on both sides of the Atlantic.
This year’s public festival events kick off
with the Live in London series: a series of
free to attend standstill performances set
against the iconic backdrop of Tower
Bridge at Potters Fields Park, SE1,
providing an unique opportunity for
Londoners and visitors to hear some of the
best that US marching music has to offer.
On Thursday 25 June at 12 noon,
Missouri plays London courtesy of ‘The
Big ‘M’ of the Midwest’, Marching Mizzou.
With over 280 musicians, the Show-Me
State is coming in force – expect a big
sound! Later that day, at 16.15, the Liberty
High School Grenadier Band, from
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania returns to
London to celebrate the 40th anniversary of
being the first US High School band to
play the Royal Albert Hall. Resplendent in
their red uniforms, styled after our own
Coldstream Guards, they will bring some of
the best of US scholastic music-making to
Tower Bridge. Finally, the last visiting US
band takes the field on 26 June at 12.00.
The Carolina Band from the University of
South Carolina brings ‘The Mighty Sound
of the South East’ to London for the first
time in the band’s 106-year history.
Heading to the west of London on
Friday evening, the Gala Concert takes
place at the Epsom Playhouse, starting at
19.30. This year’s concert features
The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines,
Collingwood, including the Corps of
Drums. On Saturday 27 June, the festivities
continue with the London Tattoo, a
celebration of marching music, at London’s
ExCeL Centre ICC Auditorium, starting at
19.00. The tattoo features performances
from The Band of His Majesty’s Royal
Marines, Collingwood, the Carolina Band,
the Royal British Legion Band and Corps of
Drums, Romford, the Band of Christ’s
Hospital School, the Liberty High School
Grenadier Band, the Medina Marching
Band, the Scouts and Guides Massed
Bands, and Marching Mizzou. With
outstanding performances from these toptier US and UK bands, and a spectacular
massed band finale, this is an event not to
miss. Tickets are available from £5 via
thelondontattoo.com
On Sunday 28 June, focus shifts to the
events of the first National Marching Music
Day, showcasing the best marching music
from across the United Kingdom and
featuring guest bands from the United
States. With the Palace Parade Review
following the ceremonial route along The
Mall and Birdcage Walk beginning at 13.00
sharp, join the celebration with over 20
British bands from across the tradition.
From Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight, the
parade features traditional youth marching
bands, showbands, marching jazz (kazoo)
bands and more making this a spectacle in
a classic London location.
After the Parade on Sunday, Drumline
London – the annual celebration of the
precision and bravado of outstanding
percussion performance, follows on Horse
Guards Parade at 15.00. With British and
American Bands taking part in a goodnatured drumline battle, showcasing their
skills and showmanship in a bid to win the
prestigious King’s Shield trophy and
bragging rights for the next year, this is a
must-see event.
Visit nmmd.co.uk for more information.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
