Originally formed as Cwmparc Temperance Drum and Fife Band in 1893, the band became an all brass band a year later and changed their name to Cwmparc Silver Band.  They later began receiving financial support from the Ocean Coal Company, who operated the Parc and the Dare collieries in the locality.  Subsequently the Parc and Dare Workmen’s Silver Band was born.

It is proudly noted that much of the band’s early funding came from the miners working at the collieries who each contributed one penny per week from their own wages.

With the contraction of the UK mining industry came the closure of the two collieries, and the band’s main source of financial support soon ceased.  Since that time the band has been dependant wholly on its own resourcefulness to support itself, through concert engagements and competition success.  The continuation of the band has also been further assured through the adoption of a policy of training young brass players in the Parc and Dare Junior Band.

Building on its enthusiastic and outward looking policies, the Parc and Dare Band has become one of the leading combinations in the banding world. Its success in competition is legendary with dozens of championship first prizes to its credit. These successes include being the National Representative for Wales on over twenty occasions, attaining the title of Champion Band of Wales on no less than fourteen occasions, and representing the country at the European Championships four times (being placed fourth twice).

The early 2000’s marked a landmark achievement for the band, where they won the First section Welsh Regional Brass Band contest 2 years running, 2004 and 2005.  In 2004 the band came runner-up in the First section of the National Championship of Great Britain brass band contest.

The band’s success continued into 2006, with the band again attaining the right to represent Wales at the Finals of the National Championships of Great Britain, this time competing in the Championship section at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Over the next few years, Parc and Dare Band continued to compete in contests across Wales, however in 2013, the band found itself in the Second section. In 2014, the band represented Wales at the Second section at the National Brass Band Finals and was awarded a credible 4th place. The band went on to to place 2nd in the Brass Band League 2015, and in 2016 Welsh Champion First Section Band of Wales and represent Wales at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

Parc and Dare have continued to develop and win trophies to work their way back into the first section in 2015.  

In 2018, the band was once again promoted to the championship section, however after not competing for the year, the band once again found themselves in the first section.

In 2019, Lewis Wilkinson took up the conducting baton and the band were placed 5^th in the first section at the Welsh Area Brass Band contest in February 2020.  

Following a break due to Covid and Lewis relocating back to the North-East, Dewi Griffiths was appointed as the band’s new Resident Conductor and Nigel G Seaman as it’s Musical Director. The band is hoping to continue to grow in strength with the collaboration of Dewi and Nigel, with the aim of once again performing in the Championship section in the future.