If you are a music lover and want to become involved in the local music scene, look no further!

The Kyneton Street Band welcomes anyone to join, even if you have never played an instrument before. Andy Rigby was inspired to form the band for that very reason: to share a love of music with the community and to make it accessible to all. Andy is a freelance musician and instrument maker from Malmsbury. He began the Kyneton Street Band in 2015 as part of the Street Sounds Project by Community Music Victoria.

Andy’s dream was to create a unique marching band that did not require its members to be able to read music or to have previous experience. This is why he chose the marimba as the main instrument. He set about making marimbas that could be used while the musicians walked. Andy recruited new members to play his marimbas and drums, as well as experienced horn players. They learnt and rehearsed music that could be played from memory with the plan that they would perform at local functions.

Andy’s innovative idea was a success. The band continues to welcome new members, whether professional or amateur. Whilst they cannot provide brass instruments, they can teach newcomers to play the marimba or the drums. The musicians in the group come from all over the shire and their ages range from seven to seventy. The band plays from various music genres as well as originals, and attends such events as: the Kyneton Market, school fetes, the Lost Trades Fair, Malmsbury Village Fayre, Geelong After Dark and the Maldon Folk Festival.

If you are a lover of music, we strongly encourage you to go and see the band, or better yet, become involved yourself. The band meet every Tuesday night at 7 o’clock to rehearse at the Uniting Church Hall in Kyneton.

For further information contact Andy Rigby at www.andyrigby.net