I grew up in the disciplined, high-pressure world of brass band contests, but last month, I traded the cornet for the flute to experience something entirely different: my first Irish Traditional music festival. On April 24th, I joined my local branch for the Comhaltas Scottish Region Fleadh near Glasgow, competing in the Senior Grúpa Cheoil.
Not only did we have a great time, but we walked away with 15 medals including Gold in Grúpa Cheoil. That victory secured our spot at the All Britain Fleadh this June. While the path to the finals feels familiar, the atmosphere is a world apart from the brass band championships I grew up taking part in.
Same Road, Different Rhythm
The structure of a Fleadh mirrors the brass band nationals in one way: you have to prove your mettle at the regionals to earn a seat at the “All Britain” level. However, that’s where the similarities end.
- Diverse Categories: The Fleadh features everything from solos and duets to full ensembles, all categorized by age.
- Performance Style: While Grúpa Cheoil and Céilí Band competitions are the closest relatives to a brass contest, the feel is very different. Every entrant plays “own choice” pieces.
- Concert vs. Contest: Solo competitions feel less like a cut-throat trial and more like an exhibition of hard work. The group competitions feel like short concerts rather than a contest.
Breaking the “Box”
The most striking difference is the adjudication. In the brass world, we’re used to the mysterious “man in the box.” At the Fleadh, everything is in the open.
The Adjudicator’s Role: There is no hidden booth. Adjudicators sit right in front of you, often offering live, practical advice as part of their critique. It’s transparent, constructive, and felt surprisingly less intimidating than the traditional closed-box system.
What Brass Bands Could Learn
As I reflected on the weekend, I couldn’t help but think the brass band community could take a page out of the Comhaltas playbook:
- Logistics & Cost: By hosting all contests—from youth to senior—over one or two days at a single site (like a school), they significantly reduce transport and event costs.
- The Family Factor: Because youth and senior events happen simultaneously, the venue was packed with multi-generational families. This created a built-in audience for every competition and plenty of time for socialising.
- Transparency: Open adjudication removed a lot of the tension. I saw no evidence of bias; just a shared love for the music.
Final Thoughts
My first Fleadh was an eye-opener. It managed to be competitive without losing its soul as a community gathering. Having qualified, it will be interesting to see how the All Britain Fleadh shapes up in June.
Hudson.nu 