The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow Reed Band was formed in 1956 when the Kinneil Band made the decision to become an all brass band, leaving the woodwind players without a musical home. The Band made its first public appearance in May 1956 and since that time has given sterling service to the community.
It is rightly proud of its honoured position as the Burgh’s official band and the principal musical ensemble at the historic Riding of the Marches celebrations in June. Throughout its history, the Reed Band has been at the forefront of all local celebrations, none more so than in October 1989 when it led the torchlight procession marking the 600th anniversary of the signing of the Burgh Charter and provided the accompanying music for the fireworks display in the Peel which followed.
Linlithgow Reed Band is one of very few civilian bands in Scotland which has a military configuration, in that it includes reed, brass and percussion instruments.
To highlight this uniqueness and heighten its profile, in 1993 the band designed and purchased classic military band tunics. The new uniforms were worn for the first time on Marches day 1993 and the distinctive hats appeared at the Marches in 1998.
The band has made two recordings, a tape in 1989 entitled “First Tuesday after the Second Thursday”, and a CD in 2015 entitled “Marching On”. Both feature a mixture of marches and concert pieces.
The band have undertaken several foreign tours – most of these being visits to West Lothian’s twinning district of Hochsauerland in North West Germany.
Today the band has over 100 members over three ensembles – Beginners Band, Training Band and the main Reed Band. We offer lessons from complete beginner to more advanced, and a number of instruments are available on loan. If you are interested in joining the band, please contact our secretary, Karen Crook.
Long Live the Reed Band!
The band has a number of documents to help with the governance of the band.
Linlithgow Reed Band 