York RI Golden Rail Band is a non-contesting brass band based in central York, next to York Station
We are a versatile brass band and undertake a wide range of engagements, from bandstand concerts in parks and gardens across Yorkshire to playing for ceremonial occasions. We have earned a reputation for innovative and entertaining programming and have performed in prestigious venues including York Minster, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York Barbican, Selby Abbey and the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM). We also love playing community concerts, whether it's a Christmas carol concert or to boost your local fete or fundraiser.
In 2024 Golden Rail Band celebrated its 40th anniversary. Find out more here.
For up-to date pictures & videos, please visit our Facebook page and our YouTube channel.
Listen to Golden Rail Band in this From the Bandroom concert, recorded February 2024.
Busy 2025 programme announced!
Golden Rail Band has already enjoyed its first concert of the year back in January 2025, when we were invited to play the National Centre for Early Music for York Residents Festival (above), an event we thoroughly enjoyed and were able to introduce new audiences to brass banding.
Now we're excited to share our forthcoming events for the summer and autumn seasons (check out our
Engagements section for full details). We hope to see you at some of them!
- 17 May: Summer Concert with the University of York Brass Band (Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York)
- 26 May: Poppleton Children's Sports Day
- 14 June: Naburn Gala
- 28 June: Private event
- 29 June: West Bank Park Summer Fayre
- 27 July: Riverside Gardens, Goole
- 2 August: Private event
- 3 August: Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington
- 17 August: Private event
- 6 September: Sounding Brass & Voices with York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir (Joseph Rowntree Theatre)
- 21 September: York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Centenary Concert (York Barbican)
Golden Rail celebrates 40th anniversary in style!
Performing at York Barbican (Credit: Keith Meadley Photography)
Golden Rail Band rounded off its 40th anniversary year with
more ambitious concerts for the autumn and winter seasons.
On Friday 1 November, the band performed a special
anniversary concert at the stunning National Centre for Early Music with
a programme that celebrated the band's railway connections, as well as telling
an original story with narrator Paul Joe Osborne and a soundtrack.
Saturday 7 December saw us kicking off the festive
season in style with Leeds Male Voice Choir for a sold-out concert celebrating
the Spirit of Christmas at Selby Abbey, another glorious venue.
A hectic season concluded with the band playing for
1400 people at York Barbican for the ever-popular Community Carol
Concert on Sunday 15 December - always a wonderful family occasion,
and a real honour for the band to be returning to the Barbican again.
We wrapped, as has become a lovely tradition for the band,
with a cosy carol concert at Stamford Bridge Village Hall on 22 December.
For more news about the Golden Rail Band, go to our News Archive. York RI Golden Rail Band, and York RI Development Band are constituent parts of York RI - a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration number 1165513