We are Thrapston Town Band, a sociable and friendly brass band based in East Northamptonshire, near Kettering.

We’re a busy band, and in 2020 under the baton of our MD, Nathan Waterman, we rejoined the contesting scene as a 4th Section band. As it was our first contest in over 28 years, we came a highly credible 13th out of 21, and are currently ranked 11 in the Midlands area.

We perform concerts across the East Midlands and UK, and are especially active in Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire. We are also available for fetes, fairs and charitable events.

We trace our origins back to the earliest days of the brass band movement in 1850’s England, and continue to serve the community of Thrapston and the surrounding area today. The Band has an ethos of making music and brass playing accessible to people of all ages through its weekly tuition programme.

There are currently around 40 members of all ages ranging from 8 to 80+.

Rehearsals are normally every Monday and Thursday in our air-conditioned band room at the Dodson & Horrell factory just outside Thrapston (NN14 3JW), near Kettering.

However, due to the COVID-19 situation, we are currently rehearsing twice a week in an outdoor location in Woodford. Please look at our updates on this website and on social media for the very latest information.

Monday: Main Band – 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Thursday: Academy Band – 6:45pm to 7:25pm / Main Band – 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Band news…

We’re back!

Oct 7, 2020

Since lockdown in March, band activities have been severely curtailed. We’ve had fun on Zoom, we’ve produced some distanced videos, and had a very short-lived return to small group rehearsals in early July, before the government put bands back on lockdown again....

We’re still monitoring the situation

Sep 21, 2020

Coronavirus continues to keep the band from playing as a full ensemble. We constantly follow the Government guidelines, and also the guidance of Brass Bands England (BBE). It has recently been announced that bands like ours can return to rehearsals in a small way,...

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (October 7th 2020)

We are pleased to advise that the Band has returned to twice-weekly rehearsals.

In order to do this, we adhere to strict guidelines laid down by the UK Government and Brass Bands England (BBE). The Committee has conducted all the mandatory risk assessments, and all the Band Members were consulted ahead of the decision to return being made.

Attendance is purely voluntary. There is no pressure for any member to return if they are not comfortable. The rehearsals are outdoors in a covered location in the village of Woodford near Thrapston.

Any band members wishing to join the rehearsals should first register their interest with Tracey, our Band Secretary.

We are also accepting enquries for the Band. Please contact the Band Secretary:
thrapstontownband@gmail.com

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Nathan Waterman
 
 
Nathan’s first brass playing was on Cornet aged 12 at Thrapston Town Band. Within months he moved onto Tenor Horn which remains his instrument to date.  Nathan has played for many top bands including; Brighouse & Rastrick, Desford Colliery and most predominately The GUS Band which he joined on Principal Horn in 1991 and from which position he will retire after his 14th appearance at the National Brass Band Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in Oct 2019.
 
Nathan has been a featured soloist on tours of America, Canada and Europe. Also on shows such as ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ and ‘Listen to the Band’ on BBC Radio 2.  He has played alongside brass legends such as Maurice Murphy, James Fountain, Rod Franks and John Wallace, and singers like Madonna, Laura Wright and Faryl Smith.
 
Nathan has been fortunate enough to have played under many amazing Conductors such as Bramwell Tovey, Russell Gray, Howard Snell and feels especially lucky to have been mentored by the great John Berryman, a close friend.
 
Nathan enjoys teaching, band training, arranging and conducting.
 
Nathan lives in Kettering with his wife, Carly and two beautiful Daughters, Eleanor and Hazel.