Since the time of the Knights a band of sorts used to lead the street festa of St Lawrence while the 1827 festa saw the first involvement of regimental disciplined bands. In 1840, with the help of a regimental band director, the club l-Incontro was established in Vittoriosa to train musicians and set up a local brass band. This club appears to have encountered difficulties and closed down. Another club was set up in 1858 and gave public performances as La Vittoriosa or Banda Leone with a 61-piece band. Yet again bad times appear to have affected this club in the 1870’s although it was again reorganised and renamed La Palma in 1882. Further alterations saw the club’s name change to Unione in 1883, Duke of Edinburgh in 1891, and eventually Banda Vittoriosana San Lawrenz in 1976. The band fitted its musicians with facsimile admiral’s uniforms in 1896.

Vittoriosa also has another band club which was named Societa Filarmonica Vittoriosa in 1891. This was renamed as the Duke of York’s Own Band in 1895 and again as the Prince of Wales’ Own in 1901. Such regimental bands appear to have also played in titular feasts in Senglea and Cospicua as well.

Today the Cottonera localities have six band clubs. There they hold music classes for recruits who eventually graduate to bandsmen – enabling them to participate in their clubs’ band marches during the local festa as well as in the other various musical activities that are held throughout the year.