KERRY HARRISON / NEITHER WORK NOR LEISURE

Neither Work Nor Leisure: Whit Friday Brass Band Contest

As we head further into Autumn and the cold nights draw ever closer, we are reminded of Kerry Harrison’s long-term project ‘Neither Work Nor Leisure’ where he documented a Northern brass band for over 18 months.

‘The highlight of many a Brass Band players year is the Whit Friday contest, where each band hires a coach and sets off across the rolling hills and valleys of the Pennines to compete in as many towns and villages as they can. Inevitably there is a queue of bands at each locations, leading to at least as much time spent in the pub socialising, as actually playing. That aside, it’s a serious business, and the band have been rehearsing their piece for months prior to the day.

Even as the rain poured down, Old Silkstone Band were undeterred, and at the last call of the day, in Dobcross, they played a blinder with only the dim glow of the street lights to light up their music’

You can find more from this series here - https://www.kerryharrisonphotography.com/projects/neither-work-nor-leisure