About Hawk Green Band
Hawk Green Band is a friendly, sociable, brass band based in Marple, Cheshire. We currently compete in the 2nd Section. We enjoy a busy concert schedule throughout the year, playing at a variety of locations and competing at various contests across the North West and other parts of the country.
Our MD
Neil Hewson is our musical director and since joining us in November 2010 has acquired a formidable reputation as an entertaining master of ceremonies at all our concerts. There are rarely empty seats at Hawk Green Band’s Christmas concerts!
He is also a popular band trainer, making rehearsals entertaining whilst working us hard and getting the best out of all our players.
The band has competed four times at the national finals under his baton and has risen from the 4th to the 2nd section. In 2023, Hawk Green Band were North West 3rd section champions.
Rehearsals
We rehearse twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (8pm – 10pm) at The Charles Ingham Bandroom in Marple Memorial Park, Marple. If you’d like to come down for a blow or are interested in a vacancy, please get in touch with us via the Contact us page.
A little bit of history
Hawk Green Brass Band was established in 1982, but was originally called Marple Brass, which later became The Marple ‘B’ Band. The band was renamed Hawk Green Band in 1997.
The band was intended to be the feeder band for The Marple Band, but established itself as a band in its own right and began entering contests and competitions as far back as 1987, when it came 7th at The NWABBA Buxton Competition (in the section then called, ‘C’ Division) as Marple ‘B’ Band.
After winning its first competition in the 4th section, the Pilkingtons contest at St. Helens, in 1988 under the guidance of Peter Christian, the ‘B’ Band became ever more successful and developed into a thriving organisation with its own character, supporting the community and playing in concerts and contests.
The band has competed in all the sections except the Championship section, moving up and down as fortune dictated. It has represented the North West in the finals of The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain a total of six times – in 1990, 1995, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2023.