HISTORY

In September 1996 a group of experienced brass band players who started their playing careers in the Ashton-Under-Lyne brass band  decided to pool their talents in an effort to reform the now defunct town. A date was set for the first rehearsal and two weeks later the band was once again making music with 20 players around the stand.

In December 1996 the band entered the grading contest for the North West Area Brass Band Association which was to take place in February of the following year. The band took First Prize at the North West Area Brass Band championships in February and First Prize at the regional qualifying contest  for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain held the following month.  In April the band entered the Tameside Open Championships and again won First Prize.

In September 1997 The band attended the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain held at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham and came away with First Prize as was crowned the Champion Band of Great Britain Third Section. The band was promoted to the top section. The first outing in the top section was a little disappointing with the band being placed sixth but taking heart from the knowledge that they had beaten four top section  bands

In March 1998 the band once again competed in the regional qualifying contest for the National Championships of Great Britain, this time in the second section. The band returned to its winning ways and took First Prize with another invitation to compete at the national finals, this time to be held at the Harrogate conference centre In September.

The band went to Harrogate and went on to to take First Prize by a margin of three clear points. The last contest of the year was the Pontins Championship where the band again took First Prize The band went on to compete in the First section at the regional qualifying event held at the winter gardens in Blackpool.

In March 1999.The band once again took First Prize with a convincing four point margin. This meant the band was invited to represent the North West area at the National championships. Only two weeks later they took part in the second Tameside Open Brass Band Championships and gained its first First Prize victory competing against championship graded bands, a milestone that has gained the respect of some of the countries most prominent brass band personalities  

On the 9th September 1999 the band won First Prize In the first section of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and created history by becoming the first band to win three successive promotions and three national titles. The band continued to progress to this day and since gaining 2nd place at the Grand Shield Contest have competed twice in the British open Championships at Symphony Hall in Birmingham .

Ashton Brass Band continues to be successful and have progressed to the Championship Section. Ashton Band are the only Championship Section in Tameside.