Bandamonium - A Review

Last month, to great acclaim, the Whit Friday contests returned as players from across the UK (and further afield) descended on Saddleworth and Tameside in the north of England.

At the same time some 300 miles away, plans were coming together for a similar event at the opposite end of the country. Billed as Devon’s version of Whit Friday, Bandamonium aimed to provide residents of the West Country with a taste of the annual event up north. As you have probably worked out by the very fact I use my spare time to write about brass bands, I love a good banding event, particularly if it's a bit different or new and so on Saturday 30th July, I made the journey to Hatherleigh, a small town about an hours drive west of Exeter to see what it was all about. 

Inaugural event

Organised by Tim Williams, bass trombone player in the Hatherleigh Silver Band, the concept of Bandamonium is an intriguing one. Modelled, as mentioned, on the Whit Friday contests the event was a much more relaxed affair, and every effort had been made to encourage bands to take part. Working on a ‘round robin’ system, five bands played at five towns and villages, shuttled there by two buses laid on by the organisers. Rather than march to the stand and play a contest march, the five bands marched before playing short concerts, of around twenty minutes, outside local pubs. Without a formal system of adjudication (no box, no remarks, no problem) the awards were also pleasingly different. Up for grabs this time around were the ‘People’s choice Award’ voted for by the pub landlords, and ‘Best Band’, awarded by a mystery judge to the band who displayed the ‘most Bandamonium spirit’.

Broad field 

Lining up then for this first contest were five bands of varying levels. These were the SW Comms Band (Ch), Hatherleigh Silver (1), Pendennis Brass (3), Okehampton Excelsior (4) and the rugby-inspired ‘Bandamonium Barbarians’ (UG), formed of local players whose bands were not taking part. With an entirely new event, there were certainly different approaches to the contest, with Sombreros, Grease-inspired leather jackets and music ranging from ‘King of the Road’ to ‘Just Dance’ (by Lady Gaga), to that Whit Friday classic ‘Knight Templar’.

Teething Problems

Like all new events there were some teething problems, although nothing that prevented it from being a great day out. At the start of the day some bands were delayed getting to venues and a serious traffic incident on the nearby A30 left Okehampton Excelsior stranded on their coach and Pendennis Brass stranded at the pub for two hours. Needless to say, one band found their circumstances far more appealing than the other. 

A Cracking Idea

As well as Hatherleigh bands also played in the chocolate box villages of Northlew, South Zeal, Sampford Courtenay and Sheepwash, playing in pub gardens or the village square. A cunning plan as once they had finished playing, bands and their travelling supporters, were perfectly located to source liquid refreshment (or a pasty) before moving onto the next village. The largest of the venues (and described to me as 'Bandamonium's Delph') Hatherleigh was also the final port of call for all bands once they had completed the circuit.  As the sun set and evening approached all bands joined together for three massed items, performing Slaidburn, Abide with Me and rounding things off with The Floral Dance. What else would you expect in the West Country? All that was left then was for the presentation of the awards, with the 'People's Choice Award' going to Okehampton Excelsior, and the 'Best Band' to Pendennis Brass.

Annual Event

All things considered then, it was a day well spent. The weather just about held off and I can think of nothing better than sitting with pasty in hand, listening to brass bands ply their trade. Despite of the problems outside of his control I think the organiser Tim (and his team) deserves huge congratulations for getting this off the ground after two years which have hit the banding movement hard. Speaking after the event he confirmed that this year’s competing bands have already signed up for a second go, other bands are keen to follow suit following the success of the inaugural event and a 2023 date has already  been set – Saturday 29th July 2023. Spare weekend? Head to Devon and check out Bandamonium. It’s well worth it.