An award-winning Wigan band returns for a local Last Night of the Proms
The award-winning Pemberton Old Wigan Band will be on home soil for a spectacular and patriotic concert later this month
St Michael and All Angels Church in Swinley will host an evening of music and celebration on Saturday September 26 when the Pemberton Old Wigan Band returns for the church’s annual Last Night of the Proms concert.
The band brings an impressive record of recent competition success.
Winners of the 2025 British Open Spring Festival Senior Cup and the Championship Section at the 2025 Red Admiral Entertainment Contest, Pemberton also secured third place at the 2026 North West Regional Championships.
The concert will feature popular and patriotic music, culminating in audience participation, flag-waving and the traditional Last Night of the Proms finale.
Whether you are a longstanding brass band enthusiast or simply looking for an enjoyable evening of live music, everyone is warmly welcome to join this celebration at the heart of the local community.
Tickets cost £12 and the music begins at 7.30pm. For tickets and inquiries phone 07792 414964 or 01942 235900 or in church.
The Pemberton Old Wigan Brass Band is one of the oldest and most respected brass band organisations in the North West of England, with roots stretching back to the Victorian era.
It was formed around 1877 in the Pemberton area of Wigan, during the great expansion of brass band culture in Britain's industrial towns. Like many Lancashire bands of the period, it emerged from a community shaped by coal mining, engineering, and local industry. Historical records show the band participating in national competitions as early as 1895, under conductor William Rimmer.
By the early 20th century, Pemberton Old had established itself as a leading brass band. One of its greatest achievements came in 1903, when the band won the prestigious British Open Brass Band Championship, performing music from Caractacus by Edward Elgar. This victory remains a landmark in the band's history.
After the Second World War, the band continued competing and performing locally. Like many traditional brass bands, it experienced periods of rebuilding and changing fortunes but in 1995 it took over the running of Wigan and District Brass and incorporated the name of its hometown, becoming the Pemberton Old Wigan Band as it is known today and has enjoyed many successes since.