Past Concerts and Events - 1890s

Details of concerts by the band before the 1970s are very limited. Unfortunately early band account books, which would have provided some pointers to non-charity concerts simply by recording a payment, were mislaid during a bandroom move a number of years ago. Concerts listed here are from the chance appearance of a document detailing the event. (Local paper cuttings, old programmes, Gravesend Corporation minutes etc.)
This page also details some musical events attended by other bands, but which may be of interest to the reader.

1890	Date	Venue	Time
1891	Date	Venue	Time
1892	Date	Venue	Time
Sat	13/02/1892	Advertisement in "The Era" that Gravesend Town Band wanted a "First-class Cornet Player".
1893	Date	Venue	Time
1894	Date	Venue	Time
Wed	25/04/1894	Corporation Of Gravesend Whole Court minutes line 53 shows - "Gordon Recreation Ground (Sunday Music).—The Town Clerk reported he had received an application from the Gravesend Town Band and Gravesend Excelsior Band to be allowed to play in the Gordon Memorial Grounds on Sunday afternoons during the summer months. The applications were referred to the Paving, Lighting and Works Committee."	10.00
Wed	27/04/1894	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving, Lighting, And Works Committee minutes line 59 shows - "Gordon Memorial Ground (Sunday Music).—After consideration of the subject by the Council the Committee recommended that the Gravesend Town Band and Gravesend Excelsior Band be permitted to play in the Recreation Ground during the summer months on alternate Sunday afternoons."
Sat	22/09/1894	Article mentioning Gravesend Town Band on p6-7 in the Essex Standard
1895	Date	Venue	Time
1896	Date	Venue	Time
	1896	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - Gravesend and Milton Choral Society was granted the use of the Town Hall for weekly rehersals on a Tuesday evenings as long as it did not "interfere with Municipal meetings or purposes".
Fri	13/03/1896	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving, Lighting, And Works Committee minutes line 53 shows - "Music.—Read an application from the Gravesend Borough Band to be allowed to play on the Promenade on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings during the summer months. The consideration of the application was deferred until similar applications from other bodies had been received."
	24/04/1896 ********	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving, Lighting, And Works Committee minutes line 31 shows - "Music.—With reference to the application by the Gravesend Boro. Band, for permission to perform selections of sacred music on Sunday afternoons and miscellaneous music on Wednesday evenings on the promenade, referred to in former minutes, the Town Clerk was directed to intimate to the Secretary that the Committee would not be averse to permit such perfomances if they were rendered by a band selected from the best members of bands now existing in the Borough."
	//1896 ******** -----PICT2248?-----	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving, Lighting, And Works Committee minutes line 43 shows - "Gordon Grounds.—A letter having been read from the Gravesend Town Band, which had been strengthened by several members of the Borough Band, requesting permission to perform selections of music on the Promenade on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons, the music to be suited to the day, the Committee recommended that permission be given during the pleasure of the Council, and invited the bandmaster to attend their next meeting to confer on the subject."
	19/06/1896	Corporation Of Gravesend Paving, Lighting, And Works Committee minutes line 65 shows - "Gordon Grounds (Music).—Read letters from the Bandmaster, asking that an enclosure should be arranged in which the performers could play without being unduly pressed by the children and the public generally, and that the Council should reconsider their decision with regard to collections on Sunday. It appeared that under the present system five performances had realised only 17s. 1½d. net. It was referred to the Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Alderman Cooper, and Councillor Archer to inspect the band-stands in the Terrace Gardens and on the Kent and Essex Estate, and report to this Committee, and meantime the Town Clerk was directed to inform the Bandmaster that the subjects referred to by him are under the consideration of the Committee."
1897	Date	Venue	Time
	1897	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - "On Monday the 21st day of June, 1897, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon precisely." The whole court gathered "To seal a humble address to Her Majesty on the occasion of her having attained the sixtieth year of her reign, unprecedented alike for its length and for its glory." The Mayor unveiled a Statue of Her Majesty, which he had presented to the Corporation, in front of the Municipal Technical School in Darnley Road. "The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors then, attended by the Bands of the 7th Battalion of the Tower Hamlets Militia and 1st Kent Artillery Volunteers, marched through the town to the Mayor's Paddock by Milton Church".
Sat	22/05/1897	Article mentioning Gravesend Town Band contesting on p7 in the Reading Mercury
Sat	04/09/1897	Band contest, Lower Dolphin Ground, Dolphin Hotel, Slough. There was a very strong wind, and clouds, but no rain. The band tent was damaged, and poles lifted out of the ground on a number of occasions. Gravesend Town Band had 21 musicians and played first of seven bands, they were conducted by Mr. R. J. Mark. The test piece was "Gems of Victorian Melody" and their second selection of their own choice was "Smiles and Tears". Adjudicator Mr. G. T .H. Seddon of London placed Aylesbury Printing Works 1st, Slough and Chalvey 2nd, North London Temperance 3rd and Feltham 4th. The other bands were not placed: Gravesend Town, Midland Railway Locomotive, Uxbridge and Hillingdon. 2 expected bands did not attend: Willesden Junction, Woburn Sands.	Afternoon
Wed	08/12/1897	Corporation Of Gravesend Whole Court minutes line 50 shows - "Town Band.—His Worship also stated that the Town Band had purchased some £250 worth of new brass instruments, which they wished should belong to the Town to be used by the members of the Band. The scheme they proposed was set out in a print which had been circulated amongst the members of the Court. The Band propose to open a Banking account, and they have asked the Mayor, with an Alderman and a Councillor (Mr. Alderman Butchard and Mr. Councillor Penney) to allow their names to be employed for such account. If no member of the council had any adverse view to express, then those gentlemen proposed to accede to the request so made to them."
1898	Date	Venue	Time
Sat	18/06/1898	Band contest, promoted by the Gravesend Town Band, on the Football Ground. The bands assembled at one o'clock at the Jubilee Clock Tower and played to the contest ground. Gravesend Town Band was in the second section. Northfleet Temperance was in the first section which was won by Rushden Temperance Band. Mayor Mr. G. M. Arnold presented the prizes. Rushden, conducted by Mr. H. Baker, gave two concerts on Sunday - afternoon and evening, on the promenade.
Wed	23/11/1898	Corporation Of Gravesend Market Opening Sub-Committee minutes line 10 shows - "Market Opening.—It was resolved to recommend the Town Council to proceed in state from the Town Hall up High street and so round to the Market accompanied by the Volunteer Band." "Volunteer Band" most probably refers to the 1st K.A.V. Band.
1899	Date	Venue	Time
	1899	Various Corporation Of Gravesend Committee minutes show that - Tenders were invited "for the supply and fixing of a new or second-hand band stand at a cost of about £100" for the Gordon Promenade, advertisements being placed in the "Builder," "Kent Messenger," and two local papers. A tender of £98 was accepted from Mr De Wardt to build the band stand. "The Secretary of State for War consented to the Band Stand being erected on the Gordon Promenade on condition that the same be considered as "an encroachment."" The Choral Society used the Town Hall for practice during the winter months.
Thu	17/05/1899	Corporation Of Gravesend Watch Committee minutes line 22 shows - "Market (Music).—The Chief Constable suggested that printed notices should be displayed in the Market Place during the performance of the Town Band, reminding visitors that it was a promenade concert, and requesting them to keep moving to the right."
Thu	18/05/1899	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall And Market Committee minutes line 4 shows - "Market (Music).—The application of the Gravesend Town Band for permission to play in the covered Market, next Sunday evening, was granted on the former terms."
Sun	21/05/1899	Concert, Covered Market, Gravesend.
Mon	25/09/1899	Corporation Of Gravesend Town Hall And Market Committee minutes line 9 shows - "Market (Music).—With reference to the application of the Gravesend Town Prize Band, referred by the Council, it was recommended that it be acceded to on the following terms :— The Band is to be allowed to play in the Market on such Wednesday evenings as the Market is not otherwise engaged. The Market is not to be closed against the public, nor is any charge to be made. The Band is not to play after 10 o'clock p.m. The concession is to be only during the pleasure of the Committee."

In reference to the Army bands based and playing in Gravesend the following may be of interest...
1st K.A.V. is 1st Kent Artillery Volunteers (No. 1 Company at Gravesend).