On a recent assignment for Getty Images I was tasked with photographing the Black Dyke Band who are based in a place called Queensbury on the outskirts of Bradford. The band, born many years ago out of a traditional textile producing community in that area with the name of the band coming from the name of the stream that the mill used to supply the water for the process of textile manufacturing.
The band were competing in the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships and were hoping to have a repeat performance of their victory in the competition the previous year. The eventual winner of this competition would go forward to represent Yorkshire at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain later in the year – a very sought after honour and one that generates significant local pride with each of the bands.
My task was to photograph this band during their rehearsals at their band-room in Queensbury before covering their actual performance later that evening at the historic and impressive St George’s Hall in Bradford.
This time, the spoils and the chance to represent Yorkshire went to the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band from South Elmsall near Wakefield.
All images (c) 2013 Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
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