Manchester towns host Whit Friday brass band contests

Brass band contests that date back to the 19th century returned to Greater Manchester for their annual events.

The Whit Friday Band Contests kicked off in Tameside and Saddleworth today, with thousands of keen brass fans arriving across the towns and up to 50 bands expected at the busiest venues.

The contests are open to all and competitors marked by a nearby judge, who gives a blind score for each. Awards - including best band, best youth band and best soloists - are handed out at each contest.

"It's an incredibly important day for the bands and community," Phil Goodwin, Delph Band conductor in Saddleworth told BBC Radio Manchester earlier.

"We bring together everyone and it's not just our local village - people travel now from all over the world to come and witness this," Goodwin continued.

"We've got children whose parents are still playing in the senior band, and we've got grandparents here too still playing.

"It is incredibly important to keep the tradition alive."

Whit Friday Contests take place each year on the first Friday after the Christian holiday of Pentecost, a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the 49th day after Easter.

As the holiday was a popular time for baptisms, when children would dress in white, the day became known as Whit(e) Friday - and was an opportunity for newly baptised children and church congregations to display their faith by marching through the streets.

The parades would be led with banners and brass band music.

In Saddleworth, event organisers said the traditional contests began when brass bands were created by the owners of the local mills and factories in the 19th century.

At this year's Saddleworth and Oldham event there were 11 venues across the villages of Delph, Denshaw, Diggle, Dobcross, Friezland, Greenfield, Grotton, Lees and Springhead, Lydgate, Scouthead and Austerlands and Uppermill.

More information about each is available on The Whit Friday Saddleworth website.

According to the event organisers in Tameside, The Whit Friday Brass Band competitions date back to at least 1884 - when contests were held in Stalybridge and Mossley, before branching out across the Yorkshire border, in Uppermill, a few years later.

The competition took off in the 1980s with more prize money and venues added to the roster.

In this year's competition, the venues were in Broadoak, Carrbrook, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Heyrod, Hurst Village, Top Mossley and Hyde Central and Stalybridge.

Contests began at around 16:00 at each venue - with bands set to play two pieces - a traditional march and a well-rehearsed show-piece.

Winners will be announced shortly after close - at around 22:30 to 23:30, organisers said.

More information about each venue is available on The Whit Friday Band Contest Tameside website.

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