The Sands Band

  Whether it's the Runaway Train or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - or even the Rail Replacement Bus service - we have transport to delight you this Summer.   First up are train tunes (and lots more besides), at Kents Bank Station on Saturday 2 August.  We shall be playing during the afternoon at the Friends of Kents Bank Station Summer fete.   Or if your preference is for road transport, we shall be at the Classics Over Sands car show the following weekend on Sunday 10 August, starting around 1.45 p.m.  That's on the Memorial Playing Fields, Yew Tree Road, Grange-over-Sands.  (see: https://classicsoversands.org/)     See you there!   

  No, it's not a refresher course on the alphabet.  It's an invitation to the Allithwaite Bowling Club ceilidh at the Allithwaite Community Centre on 26 July 2025.  Come and join the dancers keeping on their toes to music by Grange-Over-Sands' very own Sands Band.  Don't worry if you have never been to a ceilidh before.  Dave Rogers, our caller, will explain how it all works and will call the steps for every dance. All the details you need are on the poster.  Do come along - it will be fun! 

Summer is here and the Band is looking forward to a busy season of gigs and ceilidhs in and around Grange during July and August.  You can get a sneak preview of what they are by checking the "Calendar" tab on our website. And before that?  New tunes!  Alison, our brilliant leader and Musical Director, has arranged some Spanish music for us to play.  But not just that.  She has gone above and beyond, taking up a new instrument to help us get that authentic Spanish sound. Find out what Alison's new instrument is when you come and join us at one of our Summer gigs.  More information about those nearer the time.  Watch this space!  

Well, maybe we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves but we are really looking forward to playing springtime music at the Fell Church in Grange including - you've guessed it - the May Song!  We shall be there on Wednesday 7 May at 2.00 p.m.   Do come along if you can.  The Fell Church, 49 Grange Fell Road, GRANGE-OVER-SANDS   LA11 6AN.  Free admission! If you haven't visited the Fell Church before you are in for a treat.  It's a gem!  Discover its history and soak up the ambience as you listen to our spring programme.  There will be an opportunity afterwards, should you wish, to make a donation to the church.  

Welcome March and the beginning of Spring! The month starts with St David's Day so we're marking it with a Welsh tune. It's called "Morfa'r frenhines" which we (not being fluent in the language) understood to mean "The Queen's march". That seemed odd as it's a waltz but it's a good tune and we like playing it.  But now we stand corrected.  Morfa doesn't mean march at all! A Welsh morfa is a saltmarsh, just like ours here in Grange. So maybe The Sands Band becomes Band Morfa if we travel south and over the border? Click on the video to hear the tune.

We're optimists in the Sands Band and we think the end of February is (well, almost) the beginning of Spring!  So come and join us for a Spring ceilidh on Friday 28 February at Grange Methodist Church, 6:30 to 9:00pm.  Light refreshments will be provided.  No tickets and no set charge – donations welcome.  All dances will be called; no experience or partner needed, just a willingness to have fun, join in or simply enjoy listening to the music . Grange Methodist Church is a brilliant venue for ceilidhs and loads of other events, right in the town centre.  Sadly, the building is in need of major renovations and these are not cheap.  So the proceeds from this ceilidh will go towards the church's "Open for Community" building redevelopment fund.  Please be generous.  Dance, have fun - and GiftAid your donation if you can!