Yorkshire Brass Bands
Brass bands and Yorkshire have had a long association. Dating back to the coal mines and steel works and before the tradition has continued to this very day and still has an enthusiastic following.
No more is this in evidence than at the annual Whit Friday contest held at Saddlewoth and Tameside, where Brass enthusiasts from all over the UK and beyond line the streets for many hours to watch bands of all abilities compete for cash prizes and the honour of winning the village titles.
There are many well known contesting bands that have been around for years, Brighouse and Rastrick have been in existence for over 125 years and are probably best known for their number 2 hit single Floral Dance with Sir Terry Wogan. Their main rivals include Black Dyke from Queensbury, Bradford and Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Barnsley.
The Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association is an organisation devoted to the promotion of Brass Bands and Brass Band Music throughout Yorkshire and the Humberside Region of England. It is a Member of the British Federation of Brass Bands, the National Federation of Music Societies (Making Music) and of the Yorkshire Tourist Board. You can view their site at http://www.yhbba.org.uk/
Yorkshire bands have a great rivalry with the bands of Lancashire and the two counties arguably host the vast majority of bands in the UK today