Rochdale Band Concert

On our travels today we stopped off at Rochdale to have a look at the Town Hall before a £16m restore/revamp programme starts.  
We stumbled upon the Annual Rochdale Brass Band Contest being held in the Great Hall.  This is a major contest organised by the North West Area Brass Bands Association and involves 28 bands playing from 9.30am 'till around 8.00pm tonight. Unfortunately Mrs MD had tonight's meal in the oven which meant no delay was allowed in our return to Maison MD - but we did hear them whilst we looked around the entrance hall - where there were stalls selling all things 'Brass Band' from sheet music to instruments (see extra).
As 'Retired Band Parents' it was quite nostalgic to be reminded just what these contests entail...:-)