The Ridgeway Singers and Band was originally formed in 2013 as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Dorset’s wonderful Artsreach organisation was heavily involved and continues to support us, for which we owe them grateful thanks. The project has finished, but the group goes from strength to strength.
The initial aim of the singers and band coming together was to revive West Gallery music. We now incorporate other old Dorset songs and music, plus new songs and tunes, written by PHil Humphries, Tim Laycock and other members of the group.
From the beginning we were very lucky to be led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries: two distinguished figures of the local musical scene. However, early in 2025 Tim decided that he needed to withdraw from involvement, at least for the time being, for health reasons. We will miss him, but Phil Humphries, who has always arranged our music and conducted us, has stepped up to sole leadership and has devised the usual sparkling Ridgeway show for our Christmas season 2025.
Our music is nearly all local to Dorset in some way.
We usually perform several concerts in the run-up to Christmas, and others as and when the opportunities arise, so keep an eye on this website and our Facebook page to see what’s coming. If you are interested in joining us, please realise we do not meet regularly, but only when we need to rehearse for performances, and we often have a waiting list. We can be sent an enquiry via our Contact page.
Ridgeway Singers & Band 