Every year on Whit Friday, dozens of bands descend on the villages of Saddleworth and Tameside in the North of the Peak District to take part in the march contests immortalised in the movie Brassed Off. The contest tradition goes back 130 years and competing bands range from famous names like Grimethorpe, Foden’s and Brighouse & Rastrick to Youth Bands to scratch bands put together just for the day. Some bands are in it to win it and take the evening as seriously as any other contest, some embrace the party atmosphere of the whole event with fancy dress costumes and a pint at every village, most fall somewhere between the two extremes and enjoy an evening of good music making with some socialising and great scenery along the way.
This year scaba is looking to take a scratch band made up of players from our member bands. If you’ve ever wanted to take part but not had the opportunity, now’s your chance!
Players taking part in the event will meet in the Oldham area on the afternoon of Friday 13th June, travel around different contests from 4pm until approx. 10-11pm and stay overnight in a local hotel before returning home on the Saturday.
Interested?
Please contact Norman Every on normanev@hotmail.co.uk with some brief information about yourself including your band, instrument played and age if under 18.