Sound of brass to fill streets as marches return
GREAT to hear that the Whit Friday Marches will be back bringing the sounds of brass bands from all over the UK and many from abroad, including USA to Tameside once again. June 10 is the magical date when things begin to really get back to hearing bands playing with gusto and dare I say, abandon!
The Friends of Tameside Brass Band Contests will organise the 2022 Whit Marches Contest over 11 venues. Those bands who will be ‘rarin’ to go can start planning their route as the villages involved are Broadoak, Carsbrook, Denton Cricket Club, Dukinfield Albion, Droylsden, Dukinfield Tame Valley, Heyrood, Hurst Village, Mossley, Stalybridge Labour Club and Stalybridge Celtic.
Bands will have to compete in at least six contests to have the chance of being crowned champions in the various sections. This is great news after the cancellations of the event due to the pandemic.
The event is supported by Tameside Council and the organisation of the contests is carried out by a dedicated group of volunteers across the borough. Councillor Leanne Feeley of Tameside Council, who is an Executive Member for Culture, said: “The contests are an integral part of our borough’s heritage and I’m delighted the council will be renewing its support for them.
“By offering the overall Tameside prizes we help brass bands of all levels while making sure our residents have the opportunity to see and hear some of the best brass bands in the country.” (Thanks to 4BR)
The Whit Marches is really a wonderful experience and young inexperienced players can find themselves rubbing shoulders with stars of the brass band world.
I recall playing with the Langley band at the last venue we played at just after midnight and we waited to play after the famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band and waiting behind us was Black Dyke Band. What an experience!
■ It seems that suddenly from not being able to get together and play, bands are finding that everything seems to be happening at once.
The Welsh Open Entertainment Championships took place on February 20.
The first bout of the qualifying Regional Area contests began in earnest on Saturday, February 26 at The Core at Corby Cube for The Midland Regions 1st and 2nd Sections and on the Sunday for Section 3 and Championship. The 4th Section takes place on March 4 at the same venue. They, like the West of England, lost their usual venue and had been struggling to find alternative venue.
Also on Sunday, February 27, at the Blackpool Winter Gardens it was the turn of all sections in the North West Region of England.
This will be quickly followed by the Yorkshire Area taking place on Saturday March 5 for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Sections and on the Sunday for the 1st and Championship Section at Huddersfield. On March 12, the Scotland Area takes place at Perth for 3rd, 2nd and 1st Sections with the 4th and Championship sections on the Sunday.
On March 19, the London and Southern Counties Area takes place at Stevenage for 2nd and 1st Section and the Sunday for 4th, 3rd and Championship sections.
The North of England Area also takes place on the same weekend at Durham with the 4th , 2nd and 1st on Saturday and 3rd and Championship on Sunday. Again on the same weekend, the Wales region also takes place with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sections at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, on the Saturday and 4th and Championship Sections on the Sunday.
Finally after much searching for a venue, having lost their spot in Torquay, the West of England Regional Contest will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse in the Centaur Hall.
Saturday April 2, will see the 4th, 2nd and 1st Sections and the Sunday will see the 3rd and Championship Sections competing.