The final Band Supplies — 4barsrest World Rankings of 2024 see Foden's Band clinging on to its narrow lead to top the table for the second year in succession. Brass Band Treize Etoiles' remarkable year, which saw it become the first non-UK band ever to top the Rankings in September, having won the European and British Open championships, sees the Swiss band finish in second place, with Cory having to settle for third, despite regaining the Brass in Concert title in November.
It's been a busy autumn contesting season as ever, with Flowers taking the National title to the West of England for the first time an undoubted highlight. There were national title successes also for 3BA Concert (Germany), 1st Old Boys (Northern Ireland), Brass Band Oberösterreich (Austria), De Waldsang (Netherlands), Lyngby-Taarbaek (Denmark), Gota (Sweden), Valaisia Brass Band (Switzerland) and Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium), while Milnrow became the first English band in almost 20 years to capture the Scottish Open title in Perth.
Other contests held since the last update were:
West Wales BBA Festival — won by Tylorstown;
Rochdale Contest — won by Newstead Brass;
Stanley Brass Band Entertainment Contest — won by Leyburn;
Oxfordshire and District BBA — won by Kidlington Concert;
Siddis Brass — won by Eikanger-Bjørsvik;
Wychavon Festival — won by Hepworth;
SWBBA Torquay — won by City of Cardiff;
Borders Entertainment — won by Annan Town;
Durham County BBA — won by Cockerton Prize Silver;
Scottish Challenge Shield — won by Kirkintilloch;
Wessex Winter Contest — won by Medway;
SEWBBA Autumn Festival — won by Parc and Dare;
NEMBBA Autumn Contest — won by Thoresby Colliery;
Leicestershire BBA — won by Ratby Co-operative;
US Open — won by Five Lakes Silver Band;
SEWBBA Autumn Festival — won by Parc and Dare;
Gloucester BBA — won by Lydbrook and Wessex BBA — won by Medway.
Best performers
It's also time to look back on the best performers of 2024 in terms of the most ranking points gained across the year. These were:
2023 2024 Band Total +/-
8 2 Brass Band Treize Etoiles 1,202.20 638.82
9 4 Flowers 989.86 630.35
17 10 Brass Band Willebroek 288.84 181.54
16 12 Burgermusik Luzern 230.25 121.54
58 17 Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan A 124.57 107.46
18 13 the cooperation band 183.36 86.22
35 19 Brass Band Schoonhoven 116.72 77.33
6 6 Eikanger-Bjørsvik 750.86 60.68
23 16 Manger Musikklag 136.80 55.27
25 20 Krohnengen 115.98 47.32
Disappointing year
At the other end of the scale, although it's worth pointing out that they have to be highly ranked to be on this list in the first place, the bands having the most disappointing contesting year in 2024 were:
2023 2024 Band Total +/-
1 1 Foden's 1,265.59 -494.10
2 3 Cory 1,135.50 -289.75
3 5 Black Dyke 861.38 -199.93
4 8 Tredegar 633.57 -179.46
5 7 Brighouse and Rastrick 652.77 -84.47
11 23 Hammonds 88.04 -78.84
13 21 Whitburn 106.54 -57.84
7 9 Valaisia Brass Band 533.32 -54.35
19 29 Fountain City 49.78 -42.08
20 31 Paris Brass Band 47.27 -40.51
Ten best new entries
54th Brøttum Brass Norway 22.02
101st Jackfield Midlands 7.92
105th Brass LT Lithuania 7.27
115th Blackburn and Darwen North West 6.30
127th Brass Band Kortrijk Belgium 5.02
130th Kidlington Concert London & SC 4.96
134th Horsham Borough London & SC 4.69
149th Brass Band Emmental Switzerland 3.81
152nd Skelmersdale North West 3.77
154th Brass Band de Douai France 3.75
Looking forward to 2025
As we enter 2025, with six bands within one major title of becoming number one, the World Rankings are at their most competitive in almost 20 years. We'll get started again at the French National Championships in January, before the UK regional contests kick off in February. The first 'major' of the season will be in Stavanger in May, with the European Championships returning there 16 years after its previous visit.
Which band will top the table this time next year? It's clearly impossible to say, but it is worth noting that, only two years ago, Brass Band Treize Etoiles was ranked number 25!
Current standings
1. Foden's
2. Brass Band Treize Etoiles
3. Cory
4. Flowers
5. Black Dyke
6. Eikanger-Bjørsvik
7. Brighouse and Rastrick
8. Tredegar
9. Valaisia Brass Band
10. Brass Band Willebroek
To view all ranked bands go to:
www.4barsrest.com/rankings
