2025 Round up!

It’s been a very busy year for all our bands! Below are just some of the highlights, and we are already busy planning for 2026!

• January: Both Boro’ Brass and Littleborough Brass Band were back in action straight after Christmas, supporting the Burns Night Evening hosted by St. Andrew's Church.

• February: Littleborough Bass Band performed at the North West Regional Championships in Blackpool, coming 3rd in the 4th Section performing the test piece "I, Daedalus" and securing promotion to the 3rd Section for 2026.

• March: We held another popular themed concert, 'Legends of the 80s', with all three bands performing and featuring lots of fancy dress, neon, disco lights and classic 80s themes! Keep an eye out for the next themed gig in Spring 2026.

• April: Littleborough Brass Band successfully defended their Holme Valley contest titles, placing 1st overall in Section C and winning the 'Best Hymn Tune' award.

• May: Littleborough Brass Band kicked off the "Bands in the Park" season in Hare Hill Park. Later in the month, Boro’ Brass supported the ‘Notes of Comfort’ concert hosted by the Ladies Circle, which raised £564 for their chosen charity Sue Ryder. Our Training Band also performed at Rochdale Town Hall, representing brass banding as part of a larger celebration of Lancashire heritage and culture.

• June: Littleborough Brass Band had another successful Whit Friday in Saddleworth, winning the 4th Section 1st prize at four contests and placing 2nd at another! They marched to a specially arranged version of Pitbull’s ‘Timber’ by Adrian Woodhead, with Boro’ Brass members joining in on the street march. Later, members supported the Armed Forces Day event at Springfield Park even performing the march ‘Slaidburn’ while being transported on the park’s miniature railway!

• July: Players from both main bands performed at the Co-operatives UK Conference at Rochdale Town Hall. The delegates were dancing, and the Mayor was played out to the ‘Fanfare from Rocky’! Littleborough Band also supported the annual Littleborough Rushbearing Festival, which was also the final concert for our Musical Director Ashley Higgins. Ashley stepped down to focus on playing, taking a seat once again at Hammonds Band.

• August: After auditions and a summer break, Littleborough Brass Band welcomed Max Stannard as our new Musical Director.

• September: We hosted our most ambitious fundraising quiz night yet, recreating classic 90s gameshows like ‘The Generation Game’ and ‘The Crystal Maze’. All three bands played at the first 'Proms in the Park' (moved inside to the Coach House due to rain!) which saw Max Stannard make his concert conducting debut with the band. A small ensemble also played a lunchtime concert at the Coach House.

• October: Back contesting, Littleborough Brass Band placed 2nd in the 4th Section at the Rochdale Contest with the test piece ‘Hollywood’. Our flugel player, Sarah Holland, also won the Best Soloist prize!

• November: We proudly performed for the Remembrance Sunday parade and service in Littleborough. The evening before, we held our annual Remembrance Concert with all three bands and the weekend after played for Rochdale Football Club’s commemorative match. Christmas started early with caroling at Gordon Riggs and the Jolly Josh Christmas Fair, while later in the month players were out at multiple light switch-ons and fairs including Littleborough’s switch on! We also ended up playing on a miniature railway again!

• December: A very busy festive season for the association once again! We played carols in the centre of Littleborough every weekend and truly appreciated the support from the people of Littleborough (and the mince pies and brews from the Village Bakery!). Highlights included playing for Rochdale AFC Xmas match, supporting the Mayor’s Civic Carol Service at St. Chad's, and hosting our popular Christmas Concert, featuring Max’s new arrangement of ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters and multiple soloists performing. We also visited Falinge Park High School, Healey Primary School, Bamford Green, Stansfield Place, and the Chatty Cafe in Shaw. We wrapped up the season with ‘Carols Around the Bandstand’, carolling for last minute Xmas shoppers in Tesco and a final Carol performance for a packed Hare Hill Park on Christmas Eve!

🎵Looking Ahead to 2026:

Littleborough Band returns to the Regional Championships in Blackpool on March 1st (now in the 3rd Section!). Boro’ Brass and Littleborough Band will play for the St. Andrew's Burns Night again in January, and plans are underway for another themed concert in the Spring, check our Facebook page and website for updates!😊