The Felling Band was formed in 1873 as the Heworth Colliery Band and has a long tradition of music making in the Felling and Gateshead area. The band has been self-supporting since 1972, following the closure of the local colliery, at which time the members continued to run the band without financial support.

The membership of the band comprises local schoolchildren, students, teachers and workers from the local industry and commerce. The age range spans from 14 years to over 60 years and represents a good cross section of the local people.

Over the years the Felling Band has supported many local events and charities and has appeared in shows and plays at the Theatre Royal, Sunderland Empire, the Sage in Gateshead and regularly performs a season of summer concerts at Gibside Chapel.

They are a keen contesting band, attending several contests each year, currently competing in the Second Section nationally and Section A in the Durham League.

In 2000, the band qualified for the National Finals (3rd Section), held at the Royal Albert Hall, where they came 12th out of 16 bands.

In 2003 Graeme Tindall took over the Felling Band as Musical Director. Graeme started his conducting career at age 20 with the Lanchester Band where he enjoyed a very successful 7 years as Musical Director. He appeared with them at the 4th section National Finals in 2000 held at the Royal Albert Hall and from there took them from 4th to 2nd section in the space of 3 years. Graeme was then given the opportunity to conduct Gateshead Brass as resident conductor and enjoyed much success on the concert and contest front working alongside many of the Brass Band world’s professional conductors. As a player Graeme held the position of Principal Cornet at Northumbria Police Band for 6 years and is now a registered player with Sellers International.

The City of Durham Light Opera Group was formed in 1977. The membership of the choir is drawn mainly from the Durham City and Chester-le-Street areas.
Their annual programme generally consists of one main show (usually Gilbert & Sullivan or Offenbach) and two concerts - a Summer Concert and a Christmas Concert. Their conductor is Christine English.