Easington Colliery Band was founded in 1915. Players with band experience were encouraged by the management to come from the West of Durham to work at the colliery and play in the band. The band was supported financially and run by the joint board of unions, until the start of World War II. The band played for community activities, such as dances, concerts, and competitions. For the duration of the war the Easington Colliery Youth Band became the National Fire Service Band, which was eventually ‘demobbed’ in 1945 to become the Easington Public Band. In 1956 the Public Band and the Colliery Band amalgamated to become the Easington Colliery Band as it is today. April 1993 witnessed the end of an era when Easington Colliery finally closed.
The band is still based in Easington Colliery in the old colliery pay office opposite the Memorial Gardens, which is on the site of the old colliery. The building is the last remaining evidence of the pit.
In 2019, the band was awarded grants from Durham Council and the Durham Coast and Lowlands Development programme to refurbish the bandroom.
It now incorporates the ‘Pay Note Cafe’ as a community based exhibition, meeting area as well as a rehearsal facility. The refurbishment was finished in 2022 when the cafe opened to the public and the band was able to rehearse in their bandroom again.
2022 was a great year for the band, it saw them qualify for the National Championships of Great Britain, the first time in over 30 years and had the distinction of playing at the Royal Albert Hall.
in 2023, the band was delighted to collaborate with Sam Fender on his No. 1 album ‘People Watching’, playing on the backing track of ‘Remember My Name’.
In 2024 the band became North of England Champions, the first time in the bands 109 year history.
Over the Summer period, the band enjoyed performing at Durham’s Gala Theatre in the production of ‘Brassed Off’ with a stellar cast.
Easington Colliery Band will be performing as part of the Sound of Sunday care home programme.