The Lancashire String Band: Social Dance Musicians in the County, 1880-1930

This unique book reveals a fascinating and little known part of Lancashire''s history. Digging deep into the archives of newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the author has unearthed a wealth of information about the county''s dance musicians. During this period, most villages had their own dance bands - referred to as string bands - which played a huge part in the social lives of their respective communities. Although band members were mainly men, many bands did also include women and child musicians, as the wonderful pictures in this book show. These black and white snapshots are complemented by old adverts for the performances in venues right across the region. As well as the many snippets from newspapers, the author has also gathered stories and memories from the relatives and descendants of some of the musicians, bringing this hitherto unexplored aspect of our social history instantly to life. See more