Who we are
THE BAND
Founded in Kettering in 1933 as the Munn and Felton's Works Band. Based in Northampton today, and still aiming high.
Our story
“WE ARE GOING
TO AIM HIGH”
In January 1933, Fred Felton called a reporter from the Northants Evening Telegraph to his factory in Kettering to tell him: “We are going to form a band and we are going to aim high.” Two years later, the Munn and Felton's Works Band were champions of Great Britain.
Ninety-three years, several names and a great many trophies later, that remains the standard. The band competes at championship level, records commercially, and plays for audiences across the country — while staying rooted in the town it calls home.
In June 2026 the band travelled to Cornwall for the 100th West of England Bandsmen's Festival at Bugle and lifted the Royal Trophy as champion band — the first time since 1955.
The Royal Trophy, Bugle 2026.
Musical Director
CHRISTOPHER BOND
Described as “an extraordinary young man, from whom music pours with delightful generosity” by the BAFTA-winning actress Miriam Margolyes, Christopher is a composer, conductor, musical director and educator, and a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
His music has been performed across five continents, with commissions from Cory, Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe and Flowers, and broadcasts on BBC Radio 2, 3, 4 and Classic FM. His works have been set as test pieces at the UK Regionals and at the national championships of France, Switzerland, Ireland and Australia.
In 2012 his Royal Diamond Jubilee Fanfare was performed in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The players
MEET THE MUSICIANS
Twenty-nine players, most of whom have been round the block a few times. Open any name to read how they got here.
Behind the band
MEET THE TEAM
A championship band runs on the people who aren't on the stand. To book the band, Andrew Rigby is the person to speak to.
Hear them for yourself
COME TO A CONCERT
Reading about a band is no substitute. Concert halls, churches, bandstands and contest stages across the country — most of them with tickets on this site.
See what's on