Live...
2026 Spring Festival
Town Hall and Jennifer Blackwell Hall, Birmingham
2-3 May 2026
4BR Review podcast — European and Spring Festival focus
May 5
Plenty of issues to discuss on the live podcast this Wednesday at 7.00pm — and you can have your say.
Spring Festival feedback welcomed by Mortimers
May 5 • If you have constructive feedback to offer on the recent Spring Festival weekend, then the organisers welcome your responses.
Death of John Gillam
May 4 • The death has been announced of the hugely respected player and administrator.
Result: 2026 Spring Festival Grand Shield
May 3 • Milnrow claims the Grand Shield honours to return to the British Open with Hepworth joining them.
Result: 2026 Spring Festival Senior Cup
May 2 • Kirkintilloch claims the Senior Cup honours as Rainford, Tongwynlais Temperance and East London Brass join them in the Grand Shield in 2027.
Result: 2026 Spring Festival Senior Trophy
May 2 • Sandhurst Silver claims the Senior Trophy honours as Sovereign Brass, Unite Scotland Kinneil and Yorkshire Imperial are also promoted to the Senior Cup.
Fleetwood back on demand
May 1 • You can enjoy all 32 performances from the recent Fleetwood Contest on demand
Live stream broadcast from Spring Festival
May 1 • All the action from the 104th British Open Spring Festival is to be live-stream broadcast this weekend.
Brass in Concert draws confirmed
May 1 • The draws for the 2026 Brass in Concert and Youth Brass in Concert Championships have been confirmed after being made in Linz.
Black Dyke Mills Band: Classic Brass
£5.39£5.39
Brass from the Masters - Volume 1
£6.50£6.50
Still Glides the Stream
£11.25£11.25
4BR Review - Episode 16
February 26 • Iwan and Chris look forward to the 2026 Regional Championships - the issues, music and tips for victory...
4BR Review - Episode 15
February 1 • Iwan Fox and Chris Thomas look back at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival as well as forward to the Norwegian Nationals and more...
4BR Review - Episode 14
January 16 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox is joined by Chris Thomas and special guest Dr David Thornton to preview the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.
4BR Review - Episode 13
December 31 • Iwan and Chris announce the long list of nominations for the 2025 4BR Awards. Drum roll please...
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Test piece reviews
April 23 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look at the set-works to be played this weekend from Thomas Doss, Andreas Ziegelback, Otto M Schwarz and Thomas Murauer.
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Own choice selections
April 21 • 4BR finds out more about the own-choice works to be performed by the bands in the Championship and Challenge Sections in Linz.
2026 European Brass Band Championships: Welcome to Linz
April 20 • Increased size and wider vision underpins EBBA's ethos behind its flagship event — but concerns about the direction of future travel remain...
A Laugh Less Ordinary: A musical tribute to Victoria Wood
April 8 • Simon Watts of the NYBBGB talks to composer Andrea Price ahead of the world premiere of her work celebrating the life and laughs of the unique Victoria Wood.
Concert: National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
April 20 • There was nothing ordinary about the spirit of fun and fearlessness on display by the talented youngsters of the NYBBGB in Manchester.
Concert: Amazing Grace
April 19 • Traditional sounds of brass and voice provide a fine reminder of the qualities of hymn singing and march playing in Huddersfield.
Concert: Strike up the Band
February 14 • Ian Bousfield inspires as well as thrills with his display of consummate musicianship in Cardiff.
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 971.10 |
| 2 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 860.34 |
| 3 | Brass Band Treize Etoiles | 822.07 |
| 4 | Cory | 791.88 |
| 5 | Foden's | 711.59 |
| 6 | Flowers | 586.54 |
| 7 | Black Dyke | 547.59 |
| 8 | Brass Band Willebroek | 517.67 |
| 9 | Valaisia Brass Band | 471.82 |
| 10 | the cooperation band | 469.21 |
Regent Hall Concerts - FiveBy5 Trumpet Quintet
Tuesday 5 May • Charlton House and Gardens. Charlton Road, . London. . SE7 8RE
Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band
Friday 8 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ
Wardle Anderson Brass Band - Wardle Junior Blast
Friday 8 May • Milnrow Parish Church, 16 Westward Ho, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3JX
Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray
Saturday 9 May • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ
Regent Hall Concerts - Woodbridge Excelsior Band
Saturday 9 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ
Glossop Old Band
May 5 • Our friendly second section band are looking for a BB bass player to join us for contests, concerts and exciting new projects. Glossop Old Band is situated between Manchester and Sheffield and rich in history
East London Brass
May 5 • Solo Cornet: fresh off the back of our promotion to the Grand Shield, ELB are on the look out for a solo cornet player to complement our existing section. The band is ambitious and has an exciting second half of the year ahead.
Chinnor Silver
May 5 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are meeting again on Monday (11th) at 11am and welcome players of all abilities.. Come and enjoy a relaxed rehearsal mixed genres of music with some very friendly folks with tea and cake. It does not impact your own band and its free
John Durrant
MA LLCM TD CertEd (Dist)
Conductor, Band Trainer, Composer, Trumpet and Cornet Soloist, Arranger, Adjudicator