2008 Australasian Open - Introduction and Schedule

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands (FABB) will hold the inaugural Australasian Open amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Tweed River and Kirra Beach.

The Federation of Australasian Brass Bands (FABB) was established as an independent private company in 2006. 

From its website www.fabb.com.au, the main objective of the company is to reignite Brass Bands to the wider community by ensuring that the highest standard of music is achieved and delivered to a public audience as well as a television audience.

A refreshing new approach to brass banding, the FABB introduced the the banding community several new initiatives.  In 2007, the FABB announced its intention to run the inaugural Australasian Open Festival.  Features include a panel of three adjudicators - rather a rarity in the brass band contesting scene in the Southern Hemisphere; substantial prizemoney - another rarity; and a clean, simple approach to governing rules and regulations.

The registration system is entirely electronic where individuals register online via the FABB website and are issued with ID cards.  The card is scanned using its barcode at the contest and the player is identified by photo ID.  The system also allows the FABB to monitor one of the few rules it actually has.  This being players may chose to perform with any band, but can only perform once in any particular Championship event.  Those events being the Australasian Open Champion (Test Piece) and the Australasian Entertainment Champion (a 30 minute concert program).

Top bands from across New Zealand, Japan and Australia were invited to take part in this years event.  After a couple of 'thanks but no thanks' and 'yes we're coming, no we're not' replies from bands, the lineup for 2008 is 2 bands from NZ and 5 from Australia. 

The bands are:
Brisbane Brass
Brisbane Excelsior
Footscray-Yarraville City Band
St Mary's District Band Club Brass Band
The 'Trusts' Waitakere City Brass
Warringah Concert Brass
Woolston Brass

Where is it?.....Wow!!

On the coastal border of Queensland and New South Wales lies a sensational spot where the Tweed River meets the ocean - this place is called Tweed Heads and perhaps more commonly thought of as the most southern end of the famous Gold Coast.

Arguably, there has never been a better location for a band contest.  Fingers crossed the weather maintains the warm, sunny conditions such as those today - maximum of around 25 degrees celsius, with the water temperature not too much colder than that.

Competing bands have the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, depending on their rehearsal schedules of course, with the contesting component of the weekend occuring on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The Twin Towns Club, located on Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, is connected to the Twin Towns Resort via a walkway.  The Club has multiple bars, restaurants, cafes and gaming rooms whilst the 4.5 star resort boasts swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym and lots of other areas to hang out so it won't seem at all like you are actually at a band contest!

Not to be too distracted by the sun, surf and sand - down to the serious stuff...

THE SCHEDULE
Friday 24 October
7.30pm Opening Function, Stars Room Level 5, Twin Towns Club (by invitation only)
9.00pm The Draw
Saturday 25 October
1.30pm The "Yamaha" Australasian Open Championship, The Showroom, Level 5
Sunday 26 October
1.00pm The "York" Australasian Entertainment Championship, The Showroom, Level 5