THE SUN shone (despite an ever-changing weather forecast that at one point predicted storms) and the sweet sound of brass echoed through the air as Whit Friday delivered.
They came from far and wide – very far and wide in some cases – to perform as bands showed off their skills.
City of Traralgon Band – which hails from east of Melbourne – flew in all the way from Australia, to soak up the sights and sounds.
While the prize for the most eagerly anticipated performance definitely went to Chav Brass.
Some even had heavyweight political support as the country’s Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, and Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, ked bands to their performance at Stalybridge’s New Labour Club.
And it is fair to say it proved popular with the people as large crowds gathered at several venues.
It was not without its hiccups – one venue panicking as the adjudicator’s caravan only showed up as the first band rolled in.
There was also the odd bit of confusion, one band supposedly playing ‘Knights Template’ rather than Templar.
But those were incidental to a day that saw 11 venues entertain bands that did not disappoint.
After a six-year gap, Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold ground hosted an event and even before the scheduled 4pm start time, a queue had formed.
Leicestershire’s Radby Co-Operative had the honour of being the first to play since 2019, while Onchan Silver – who set off at 5am to travel from the Isle of Man – waited.
As they made their way to the stage, many people’ ears were attracted to a familiar tune, that of Aqua’s Barbie Girl!
At Mossley AFC’s Seel Park ground, star player Obua Mugulula was tasked with helping lead Foden’s to their performance.
And across Tameside, coaches formed a queue while people saw fine performances on stages.
There was little doubt in the overall winners as Foden’s me out on top in eight of the 11 events and clinched the £2,000 prize.
Leyland came second with Rothwell Temperance third, while Macclesfield took the youth crown ahead of HD9.
Locally, Mossley Band took the honours ahead of Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge Old Band.
Area Open Champion: Foden’s
Runner-up: Leyland
Third place: Rothwell Temperance
Youth: Macclesfield Youth Band
Runner-up: HD9 Community Youth Band
First Section: Blackburn and Darwen
Second Section: Middleton
Third Section: Rivington and Adlington
Fourth Section: Darwen Brass
Local Area Champion: Mossley Band
Runner-up: Ashton under Lyne
Third place: Stalybridge Old
TAMESIDE PROVISIONAL RESULTS
BROADOAK
31 competing bands
Leyland
Rothwell Temperance
Foden’s
Mossley
Audley
Ashton under Lyne
Best First Section Band: Audley Brass
Best Second Section Band: Poulton le Fylde
Best Third Section Band: Stalybridge Old
Best Fourth Section Band: Darwen Brass
Best Local Band: Ashton under Lyne
Runner-up: St John’s (Mossley)
Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Youth
Runner-up: Macclesfield Youth
First Band: Foden’s
CARRBROOK
31 competing bands
Leyland
Rothwell Temperance
Valley Brass
Ratby Co-operative
Middleton
Foden’s
Best First Section Band: Valley Brass
Best Second Section Band: Middleton
Best Third Section Band: Rode Hall
Best Fourth Section Band: Queensbury Music Centre
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
Runner-up: Mossley Hollins High School
Deportment: Silk Brass
Youth Deportment: Mossley Hollins Youth
DENTON
32 competing bands
Foden’s
Rothwell Temperance
Leyland
Longridge
Ratby Co-operative
Bum Scratchers
Best First Section: Tyldesley
Runner-up: Blackburn and Darwen
Best Second Section: Allerton Brass
Runner-up: Old Glossop
Best Third Section: Stalybridge Old
Runner-up: Blackpool Brass
Best Fourth Section: Darwen Brass
Runner-up: St John’s Mossley
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
Best Local Band: Mossley
Deportment: Macclesfield Youth
Best Cornet Player: Foden’s
Best Trombone Section: Leyland
Best Youth Cornet Player: Macclesfield Youth
Best Fourth Section Basses: Darwen
DROYLSDEN
28 competing bands
Foden’s
Rothwell Temperance
Silk Brass
Ratby Co-operative
Mossley
Darwen Brass
Best First Section Band: Silk Brass
Best Second Section Band: Besses Boys
Best Third Section Band: Stalybridge Old
Best Fourth Section Band: Darwen Brass
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth Band
First Band: Foden’s
DUKINFIELD TAME VALLEY
34 competing bands
Foden’s
Rothwell Temperance
Leyland
Audley
Blackburn and Darwen
Silk Brass
Best First Section Band: Audley Brass
Best Second Section Band: Allerton Brass
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: Queensbury Music Centre
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
Runner-up: HD9 Community
Youth Award outside prizes: Mossley Hollins
Best Local Band: Middleton
Runner-up: Ashton under Lyne
Third: Mossley
HEYROD
36 competing bands
Foden’s
Leyland
Chav Brass
Valley Brass
Longridge
Ratby Co-operative
Best First Section Band: Valley Brass
Best Second Section Band: Middleton
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: Onchan Silver
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
Runner-up: Mossley Hollins High School
Best Scratch Band: Chav Brass
HURST VILLAGE
31 competing bands
Foden’s
Leyland
Rothwell Temperance
Blackburn and Darwen
Tyldesley
Ashton-under-Lyne
Best First Section Band: Blackburn and Darwen
Best Second Section Band: Glossop Old
Best Third Section Band: Stalybridge Old
Best Fourth Section Band: Darwen Brass
Best Youth Band: Mossley Hollins School
Runner-up: Macclesfield Youth
Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne
First Band: Foden’s
Last Band: Darwen Brass
HYDE CENTRAL
24 competing bands
Foden’s
Rothwell Temperance
Blackburn and Darwen
Leyland
Ratby Co-operative
Rivington and Adlington
Best First Section Band: Blackburn and Darwen
Runner-up: Ashton-under-Lyne
Best Second Section Band: Middleton
Runner-up: Poulton le Fylde
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Runner-up: Stalybridge Old
Best Fourth Section Band: Darwen Brass
Runner-up: St John’s (Mossley)
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
First Band: Audley Brass
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC FC
36 competing bands
Foden’s
Rothwell Temperance
Longridge
Leyland
Ratby Co-operative
Valley Brass
Best First Section Band: Valley Brass
Runner-up: Blackburn and Darwen
Best Second Section Band: VBS Poynton
Runner-up: Poulton le Fylde
Best Third Section Band: Stalybridge Old
Runner-up: Rode Hall
Best Fourth Section Band: Stacksteads Brass
Runner-up: Queensbury Music Centre
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth
Runner-up: Mossley Hollins High School
STALYBRIDGE LABOUR CLUB
35 competing bands
Foden’s
Leyland
Valley Brass
Darwen Brass
Rothwell Temperance
Royal Buckley
Best First Section Band: Silk Brass
Best Second Section Band: Valley Brass
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: Darwen Brass
Best Youth Band: Mossley Hollins High School
Runner-up: Macclesfield Youth
First Band: Ratby Co-operative
TOP MOSSLEY
38 competing bands
Black Dyke
Aldbourne
Rothwell Temperance
Leyland
Foden’s
Elland Silver
Best First Section Band: Elland Silver
Best Second Section Band: Lostock Hall Memorial
Best Third Section Band: Dobcross
Best Fourth Section Band: Queensbury Music Centre
Best Youth Band: Mossley Hollins High School
Best Local Band: Mossley
Runner-up: Ashton
Deportment: TBC