Once part of the band, always part of the story.
It began in 1976.
What started as Toot Hill Dance Band became part of the lives of generations of young musicians in Bingham. Over the years, hundreds of players rehearsed together, performed together, travelled together and formed friendships through the band.
For some, it was an important step towards a life in music. For others, music took them in completely different directions. But whatever happened afterwards, being part of Toot Hill created memories and friendships that lasted long after the instruments had been put away.
Our 50th anniversary brought many of those generations back together.
Players who had not seen one another for years — sometimes decades — found themselves sharing photographs, remembering concerts and trips, laughing about old stories and, of course, making music together again.
It reminded us that Toot Hill Dance Band was never simply a band.
It was an experience shared by generations of people.
The story continues
The name and the faces have changed over the years, but the music hasn’t stopped.
Today, that tradition continues through Bingham Community Big Band.
The band once again brings different generations together to rehearse, perform and enjoy making music — and, importantly, gives another generation of young musicians the opportunity to discover the experience of playing in a big band.
The young player arriving at rehearsal today is becoming part of the same story that began in 1976.
And we think that’s something worth preserving.
Keeping our band family connected
The 50th anniversary also made us realise that we don’t want to wait for another major anniversary before everyone meets again.
Toot Hill Dance Band Lives On has been created to keep that connection alive.
We want to reconnect former players, conductors, families and friends from every era of the band; preserve photographs, programmes, recordings and memories from our history; share what today’s band is doing; and create opportunities for everyone to come together again.
And for those who would like to, there will also be opportunities to help us give today’s young musicians the same chances, friendships and musical experiences that previous generations enjoyed.
You are part of the story
Whether you joined in 1976, 1986, 1996 or much later, whether you stayed for a year or for decades, if Toot Hill was part of your life, you are part of its history.
We’d love you to be part of its future too.
The name may have changed. The generations have changed.
But the music lives on.
