Whitburn Band (Registered Charity - SC044829) - the current Scottish and Scottish Open brass band champion - was formed in the heart of the coal mining area of West Lothian in 1870 and originally served as an outlet for members of the mining community to perform at local parades and gala days. 

Its first major contesting impact came in 1954 when it became the first Scottish band to secure a National title by winning the Third section competition in London. Progression to the Championship section followed and in 1968 Whitburn won its first Scottish Championship title.

Success continued during the early 1970s, but following the appointment of Major Peter Parkes in 1978, Whitburn dominated the Scottish brass band scene and became regular prizewinners in the major band contests in England. It made regular broadcasts and performed in many of the finest concert halls in Europe and in 1990 was runners-up in the European Brass Band Championships.

Further successes have followed including a victory in the 1991 British Open Grand Shield. One of the greatest honours in Whitburn’s history was bestowed on the band in 2002 when it was invited to perform in the city of London as part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The band has been Scottish champion 18 times in its history - including three times in the past five years. Whitburn regularly performs at some of the most prestigious competitions in the world including the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held every year at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Next Spring, Whitburn will once again represent Scotland at the European Brass Band Championships, which will be held in Lille, France.

Today, the band continues to make a significant contribution to cultural life in Scotland, performing regularly at major events such as Scotland’s international rugby games, where television audiences numbering in the millions hear Whitburn perform the national anthem of Scotland’s opponents.