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Buoyed by their success at the Welsh National Eisteddfod in July, Crosskeys Silver Band are now targeting top spot at the biggest brass band event in the UK.

The band itself was created in 1902 by a mining community according to conductor, Sion Jones, who joined the band back in 2018.

The band was playing in the fourth section of the Welsh region, which is the lowest ranked section, before taking a punt and entering both the fourth and third section at the Eisteddfod in July.

Sion said: “Coming into the Eisteddfod, we had already won the Welsh regionals in March, so we wanted to test the waters.

“To win both the fourth and third section was a great achievement. Everyone was partying…it was bonkers.”

The band itself is made up of around 30 members, aged between 20 and 65. Sion said how the make-up varies from “students to lorry drivers to engineers to teachers”.

Recent success has promoted the band from section four to three, with the momentum to hopefully challenge the best in the country at the National Brass Band Championships, which will be held across the border in Cheltenham on September 18.

When asked the secret behind the band’s success, Sion said: “Honestly I’d have to say that lockdown helped us a lot.

“When a lot of bands took at least a year off, we kept up with online rehearsals and when meeting outdoors was allowed we practiced in Cross Keys rugby stand.

“I think other bands are scared of us at this point”, Sion joked. He concluded: “Confidence is really high and I can’t wait to see how we get on.”

Chairman of the Crosskeys Silver Band, Michael Gray, added: “My heartiest congratulations, to Sion Jones, and also all members of The Crosskeys Silver Band.”