The first update of the World of Brass – 4barsrest.com Rankings for 2014 sees little change at the very top, with most of the top bands ‘keeping their powder dry’ before the ‘Area’ contests, which will get underway in Bradford next weekend.

Eikanger-Bjørsvik is the most significant mover, up three places following its fourth successive victory at the Norwegian Championships, while Flowers’ terrific start to the year, with wins at both the Butlins Mineworkers National Festival and the Yeovil Entertainment Contest, sees the Gloucestershire band move up to its equal highest-ever position of 13th (the last time it achieved this position was in 2007, under the PolySteel banner).

Other contests taking place since the last update were:

French National Championships — won by Paris Brass Band;
Brass at the Guild Hall — won by Skelmanthorpe;
GBBA Entertainment Contest — won by Ebbw Valley Brass;
Durham County BBA — won by NASUWT Riverside Concert.

The next update will be at the end of March, by which time we’ll know all the qualifiers for the National Finals at both Cheltenham and the Royal Albert Hall in September and October respectively.

We can also expect considerable movement throughout the top 200 as the thrills and spills of the Regionals throw up the usual surprises!

Top 10 bands

1. Cory
2. Tredegar
3. Foden's
4. Black Dyke
5. Brighouse and Rastrick
6. Leyland
7. Grimethorpe Colliery
8. Eikanger-Bjørsvik
9. Co-operative Funeralcare
10. Fairey

To view all the ranked bands, go to:
www.4barsrest.com/rankings/default.asp