There are 584 marching bands in Northern Ireland, yet their existence and activities are unreported apart from news of flashpoint tensions and riots. This book reveals the inside story on the most dynamic Irish cultural phenomenon of the early twenty-first century. It argues that in many respects the Blood and Thunder bands fulfil a role in Northern Ireland similar to the GAA in the Republic, by espousing their culture, passing on traditional skills and instilling local pride in young participants who compete against each other over a season that extends from March to October. Woven around the diary of an outside observer with an 'insider's viewpoint' during the 2009 Blood and Thunder band season, the book focuses on the prize-winning Castlederg Young Loyalist Flute Band and examines the cultural, historical, social and political nature of Blood and Thunder bands.