Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band to Bring Magical Original Story to Life in York

Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band to Present the Bear and the Band at the Yorkshire Museum

The Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band are a brilliant, forward-thinking band who are committed to finding new ways to reach new audiences and support access to music for people of all ages.

Their latest innovative performance will feature the band offering a live, specially curated soundtrack for an original animated story called Bear and the Band.

Home-grown Story and Music

An extraordinary piece of York history is being brought to life in Bear and the Band, a family production combining live storytelling, animated film and brass band music in the very gardens where its story began.

Inspired by real events from 1831, the production tells the story of a bear who once lived in York Museum Gardens before being sent to London, travelling there on top of a stagecoach.

Now, nearly two centuries later, Bear returns to the gardens for another adventure, with a story written by Martin Watts and brought vividly to life through a unique combination of art forms.

Award-winning creative designer and filmmaker Andy Burns provides the animated film, while Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band supplies the live music, adding an atmospheric and energetic musical dimension to the storytelling.

The result promises to be an immersive experience for audiences of all ages, blending history, animation and the unmistakable sound of live brass in an adventure full of excitement, suspense and heart.

While Bear and the Band is a family production, its appeal extends beyond younger audiences. As the production's description puts it, the adventure is particularly suited to “bears, children, fighters against injustice, and grown-ups who have not completely grown up”.

With its unusual historical inspiration and live musical accompaniment, Bear and the Band offers a chance to discover a little-known story from York's past in a fresh and imaginative way, celebrating the power of storytelling and live performance.

For brass band enthusiasts, it is also an opportunity to experience a band in a different setting, with Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band helping to bring this remarkable tale to life.

"Its so exciting to be part of this initiative, Sarah and Martin and the animator Andy have worked tirelessly to create an immersive enchanting experience, it so lovely to see the audience of all ages totally captivated. It's wonderful to be bringing brass music to different audiences and in different ways"

Jeanette Kendall, Principal Cornet Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band

Event Details

Date: Saturday 24th October 2026

Time: 7:00pm

Venue: Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR

Tickets: Adults £8 | Children £4

Find out more and purchase your tickets here.