A Thursday evening in November 1990 bought to fruition an ambition for two Hereford musicians, for on that evening the Big Band Sound was heard once again in Hereford for the first time in 25 years. Mansell Burgess and Les Causer met by chance in the latter part of 1990, and the conversation inevitably turned to music.

Each declared his ambition to revive the sound of Big Band Swing in Hereford, and to encourage local musicians to enjoy being part of a Big Band once more, or to enable those who had never experienced that Big Band Sound to savour the satisfaction.

It was decided to go ahead and contact all ex-members of The Paramount Big Band and The Russ Allen Orchestra which were being enjoyed locally throughout the 1950s and 1960s. A few members were found, and persuaded to dust off their kit and have a go. Soon, the word got round, and telephones were buzzing with calls from people who had never played in saxophone or brass section. The Hereford Big Band was formed, and soon grew to 12 members, each one paying a weekly donation to enable a practice room to be hired, and arrangements to be purchased.

Very soon, ex-musicians who no longer played were turning up on practice nights, to sit, listen and reminisce, and at the end of the evening, making donations of a small sum of money, to enable The Hereford Big Band to continue, and continue it has.

Now preparing to go into its 21st year, The Hereford Big Band continues to grow and thrive. Since its formation, the Hereford Big Band has evolved and established itself as the foremost amateur band of its kind in the region. Its membership is made up of semi-professionals and enthusiastic amateurs from all age groups, some travelling over 50 miles a week to attend rehearsals, and currently numbers approximately 30 players, incorporating a full complement of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, a complete rhythm section, male and female vocalists.

The Hereford Big Band rehearses on a Thursday evening throughout the year, now under the leadership of Musical Director Andi Licqurish. The members continue to make small contributions towards the band to provide uniforms, music, and P.A equipment.

The band plays a wide repertoire of arrangements from the Big Band and Swing era, including music by Glenn Miller, Ted Heath, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and charts made popular by contemporary artists such as Jools Holland, Brian Setzer and The Phil Collins Big Band.

The Vocalists add material drawn from the libraries of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and The Rat Pack, as well as modern performers such as Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum and Harry Connick Jr.