Sound samples on this website are taken from our latest CD 'High Wire.' To order a copy of our CD please contact George Laycock
Bactiguard Wire Brass began life in the summer of 2001 when around 20 players met at a church hall in the centre of Warrington as an experiment to see if they could establish a top section band to rival the success of the Crosfields Soap Works Band from a century ago. After a few more rehearsals they decided to give it a go. Since then the band's success has been meteoric, from winning their first competition only four months after that first meeting to coming second in the National Finals First Section in 2006, with many more victories along the way.
The name 'Wire Brass' was chosen mainly because Warrington was at one time predominantly a wire manufacturing town and because our Rugby League team were still affectionately nicknamed the ‘Wire'.
Although the band is very active in the contest world, concerts make up the biggest part of its activities. Churches and small concert venues were its starting point but the band has now progressed through joint appearances with the likes of Fodens and Faireys to being able to draw large audiences at the 1000-seat Parr Hall in Warrington.
Bactiguard Wire Brass also managed to rub shoulders with stars from stage and screen, when invited to perform in the highly acclaimed theatre run of ‘Brassed Off' at the Liverpool Playhouse. Two live CDs, a tour to Malta for the Brass festival and a world ranking of 60 rounded off the first 5 years.
All this was achieved by hard work and determination and with no sponsorship. To progress further, however, a band such as this needs a more secure financial footing. The band is proud and very fortunate to be able to boast that it has obtained the sponsorship of Bactiguard. Bactiguard is part of the Fenchurch group based in Warrington and has a great reputation for service quality and professionalism. The band aims to live up to these same standards whilst carrying their name.
As for the future, to quote the band's conductor, Paul Andrews, "Whilst the first 5 years have been hard work, exciting, tiring, successful etc the hardest part is yet to come. It is my aim to improve the quality of contest and concert performances, continually raise playing standards and ensure that the name of Bactiguard Wire Brass will be synonymous with quality and professionalism. You can all rest assured, it won't be through want of trying."
