*
banner

World Rankings: August update

Foden's Band tops rankings after thrilling spring and summer contest season.

Foden's Band
  Foden's Band on their recent tour of South Korea

Foden's Band retains its place at the top of the Band Supplies — 4barsrest rankingsfollowing a very busy spring and summer contest season that saw Switzerland's Brass Band Treize Etoiles retain its European Championships, Oldham (Lees), Amersham and Ebbw Valley scoop the honours at the Spring Festival in Blackpool and Wellington Brass confirm its position as New Zealand's leading band at their recent Championships.

The other contests taking place since the last update were:

Flemish Open — won by Brass band Schoonhoven
NWBBA Buxton — won by Ratby Co-operative
Fife Brass Band Festival — won by the cooperation band
Holme Valley Contest — won by Unite the Union
European Championships Challenge Section — won by LT Brass
Northern Counties — won by Lochgelly
Oslo Brass Festival — won by Brøttum Brass
French Open Championships — won by Flowers
Dutch Open Championships — won by Brass Band Schoonhoven
Bugle Contest — won by Camborne Town

With plenty of points on offer at the major autumn contests in the UK and a plethora of national events around Europe, there is plenty of scope for change throughout the top 200. Indeed, there are ten different bands that, in theory at least, could be the number one at the end of the year!

Next update will be at the end of September, by which time we will know which band will be the 2024 British Open Champion and the winners of the Lower Section Finals at Cheltenham.

Top 10 bands

1. Foden's
2. Cory
3. Eikanger-Bjørsvik
4. Brass Band Treize Etoiles
5. Black Dyke
6. Tredegar
7. Brighouse and Rastrick
8. Valaisia Brass Band
9. Brass Band Willebroek
10. Flowers

To view all ranked bands go to:
www.4barsrest.com/rankings

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


bbw

Brass Band World: May issue out now

May 16 • The latest issue of the magazine is now out — packed with a comprehensive look at the banding world.


Imogen Whitehead

Whitehead to premiere new flugel concerto

May 16 • Imogen Whitehead will give the world premiere of a new flugel horn concerto by Gabriel Jackson as part of her residency at the Ryedale Festival this year.


Band Supplies

Brilliant finance deals from Band Supplies

May 16 • If its a Sterling euphonium or a Smith Watkins cornet you are looking for this Summer then make sure you get in touch with Band Supplies.


Plumridge

Plumridge to become new principal cornet at Grimethorpe

May 15 • Hannah Plumridge is to become the new principal cornet of Grimethorpe Colliery Band as she ends a decade with Cory on a personal high.


Harlow Brass Band - SPRING CONCERT - AN ANIMATION SENSATION

Saturday 16 May • St Andrew's Methodist Church. The Stow. Harlow. CM20 3AF


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 17 May • Dorchester- Park Bandstand DT1 1RG


Newstead Brass - Mansfield MVC - Brass and Voices

Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Cambrian Brass

May 16 • We're always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining a friendly and supportive band, whether you're returning to banding or looking for a new challenge.


Delph Band

May 15 • We are seeking an enthusiastic and musically skilled Associate Conductor to lead and develop our band alongside our current Musical Director Phil Goodwin. . Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10pm at Delph Band Club.


Tintwistle Band

May 15 • We have a vacancy for a soprano cornet, and with lots of exciting engagements coming up we would love to get this seat filled!. We rehearse every Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom in Tintwistle, under the baton of our superb MD, Jim Henson.


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd