Bandstand

The original bandstand on Lowe Hill was an octagonal-shaped bandstand  built in 1893 and was given to the park by Colonel Gerald Milnes Gaskell of Lupset Hall at the time of the opening of Clarence Park in 1893. However, concerts held at it attracted up to 2,000 people collecting on the hill slopes for the evening band concerts. It was realised that the site was too restricted in size with the danger of crowds being jostled down the slope. In 1924 a scheme for a new bandstand was approved by the Council at the bottom of Lowe Hill. It was opened in 1926 and was designed as an open air theatre, with good sound projection onto a large spectator area on the slope up to Lowe Hill.
In 2013 the Bandstand underwent major refurbishments and was unveiled in May 2014. The newly refurbished Bandstand, while used for band concerts is also suitable for a whole range of performance events. This facility which is owned by Wakefield Council is managed by the Wakefield Music Collective. It is the base for the annual Clarence Music Festival. Please contact Wakefield Music Collective with your ideas.