Blazing Sounds Ilfracombe’s Youth Band
Love music? Fancy learning an instrument? Want to make new friends and be part of a team? Come and join Blazing Sounds!
Blazing Sounds is Ilfracombe & District Youth Band, a friendly, welcoming wind, brass and percussion band for children and young people aged 6–18 from Ilfracombe and the surrounding villages.
Never played an instrument before? No problem! You don’t need any musical experience to get started. We offer tuition to help you learn, and instruments are available to borrow from the band. All you need is a willingness to give it a go!
From clarinets and saxophones to trumpets, cornets, trombones, euphoniums and glockenspiels, there’s a whole world of music to explore. You’ll develop new skills, grow in confidence, make friends and discover the fun of making music together.
We love getting out into the community and sharing our music. You might see us performing on Ilfracombe’s bandstand, at the Christmas lights switch-on, in the High Street at Christmas, or at other special events throughout the year.
Come and be part of something special – your musical journey could start here!
Blazing Sounds was originally formed in 1979 and continues to bring music to Ilfracombe and the surrounding area. Ilfracombe & District Youth Band is a registered charity (No. 1050043).
Band Practices
Come & Join Us
When: Thursdays, 6:15–8:00pm
Where: Pip & Jim’s Community Centre, Ilfracombe
Who: Children and young people aged 6–18
Cost: Just £2 per week
No experience needed. Full tuition provided. Instruments available to borrow.
You don’t need to own an instrument or know how to read music to get started. Come along, meet us and discover the fun of playing in a band!
We’d love to welcome you to Blazing Sounds.
Music for Everyone
Film themes, TV favourites, pop hits, classical masterpieces and traditional band music – there’s always something exciting to play at Blazing Sounds!
Our repertoire has something for everyone. Fancy playing the Imperial March from Star Wars, the theme from Back to the Future, or the unmistakable music of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? How about the fun of Wallace & Gromit and Dad’s Army, or the swashbuckling theme from Zorro?
There’s plenty more to discover! We play upbeat favourites such as Pharrell Williams’ Happy and the lively Yellow Bird, alongside beautiful classical music like Holst’s Jupiter and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
Our music also includes traditional band favourites and pieces with a rich musical heritage, such as Maryland, Purcell’s Trumpet Tune, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Pastime with Good Company.
And that’s just a taste of what we play!
Whether you love film music, pop songs, classical tunes or traditional band music, playing together is a great way to learn new skills, build confidence and have fun with friends.
Already play an instrument? Brilliant! Never played before? Even better! We welcome beginners and more experienced players alike. Full tuition is available, and instruments can be borrowed from the band.
Why not come along and discover the fun of making music with Blazing Sounds?
How to
Join The Band
Ever fancied playing a musical instrument? Why not give it a go!
Whether you’re a complete beginner or already learning an instrument, there’s a place for you at Blazing Sounds. Playing music with others is a brilliant way to develop your skills, build confidence, make friends and have fun!
Never played before? No problem!
You don’t need any musical experience to join us. Our friendly band team can help you get started with an instrument and provide tuition to help you learn and improve. All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to give it a try!
No instrument? No worries!
We have a range of instruments available to borrow from the band, including trumpets, cornets, saxophones, clarinets, trombones, euphoniums and glockenspiels. You don’t need to buy an instrument before you start.
Learn, improve and perform!
Everyone learns at their own pace. Depending on your experience and confidence, you can begin in our Training Band, where you’ll develop your skills and learn to play alongside others. As you progress, you can move into the Main Band, joining fellow musicians for rehearsals and exciting public performances around Ilfracombe and the local area.
Ready to give it a go?
We meet on Thursdays, 6:15–8:00pm at Pip & Jim’s Community Centre, Ilfracombe, and it costs just £2 per week.
Come along and meet us – your musical adventure could start here!
Together, Apart
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued practising on Zoom, and during that time made four videos together. Below is our Christmas video. Next, we have our World Tour Video. Finally, we present our versions of “Summertime” by Gershwin and the Kool and the Gang song “Celebration”. We are very glad to have been able to return to in-person practising again.
