Live...
2026 Regional Championships
London & SC (Stevenage) and North of England (Durham)
21-22 March 2026
Birmingham hosts National Youth Championships
March 28
If you are anywhere near Birmingham today, get along and enjoy plenty of fantastic brass band performers.
Withington returns to Grimethorpe
March 28 • Allan Withington will lead Grimethorpe Colliery at the British Open and Albert Hall National Final, as contesting connection with Carlton Main comes to an end.
Trombone stars add to Adams artist line-up
March 28 • Tom Challinor and Jonathan Pippen have become Adams Artists.
Warm welcome for Lawson at Welsh champion
March 28 • It's a been a long journey to get to his first rehearsal for Kyle Lawson at Cory — and its straight into concert action too.
Podcast: Smith & Grezzy's Big Chat Brass
March 28 • The duo give their opinions on what they see as the dilution of adjudication standards.
Wobplay highlights added
March 28 • You can enjoy a packed menu of recent brass band performances from the contest and concert stages thanks to Wobplay.
New principal at Yorkshire Champion
March 28 • Hepworth has announced the signing of Oliver Tattersall as their new principal cornet.
Woodbridge 180th set for special musical tribute
March 28 • A free 180th anniversary concert in the heart of London will see Woodbridge Excelsior Band celebrate with a brand new work from composer Alan Fernie.
Kirky set to commemorate Keeper of the Flame
March 28 • Fund raising is well under way to help Kirkintilloch Band commission a lasting musical tribute to Peter Fraser MBE.
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...
Take 5: A quintet of female works to be enjoyed on more than the one day a year
March 5 • 8th March marks International Women's Day. The 4BR Editor picks five compositions by female composers that deserve to be celebrated in performance all year around.
Interpreting the post Covid Area numbers: What's your answer?
February 28 • Are we really combating the decline of our competing numbers with the small sustainability changes and choices that are being made at the Regional Championships? Check the recent numbers and see what you think.
Beware shifting sands: The need for banding to read the warning signs
February 21 • Brass Bands England very nearly paid the price for not heeding the warning signs of shifting financial sands — but their close call can instil optimism for the future.
The Regional Championships: The bedrock of British banding
February 20 • As competitors prepare for the series of regional qualifying contests, Tim Mutum explains how they came about by hard work and persuasion, and why, 60 years ago, the whole thing nearly came crashing down.
Concert: Strike up the Band
February 14 • Ian Bousfield inspires as well as thrills with his display of consummate musicianship in Cardiff.
Concert: Brass Across Borders
February 4 • A fine night of music making in honour of a popular bandsman is enjoyed by a packed cross border audience in Manchester.
Concert: Brighouse & Rastrick Band
January 31 • Displays of compositional craftsmanship, ensemble quality and solo excellence round off the RNCM Festival.
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brass Band Treize Etoiles | 1,011.29 |
| 2 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 999.68 |
| 3 | Cory | 915.46 |
| 4 | Foden's | 790.99 |
| 5 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 788.12 |
| 6 | Flowers | 676.02 |
| 7 | Brass Band Willebroek | 638.58 |
| 8 | Black Dyke | 634.73 |
| 9 | Valaisia Brass Band | 612.47 |
| 10 | the cooperation band | 540.01 |
Brass Bands England - 2026 National Youth Brass Band Championships
Saturday 28 March • King Edward's School, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UA
The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA
Contest: Whit Friday March Contests
Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3
The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern
Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD
Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships
Friday 5 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015
Chinnor Silver
March 27 • We are a friendly progressive 1st Section band who need a couple of seats filled.. Bb BASS and PERCUSSIONIST are on our wanted list so if you are looking for a new banding challenge get in contact. We rehearse on Wednesdays and have good realistic diary.
Newport Borough Brass Band
March 27 • After a respectable 4th place in the 2nd Section at the Welsh Area Contest, we are looking for FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable) 1st BARITONE, 2ND TROMBONE and Bb BASS players to come and join us on our journey under the baton of Martin McHale BEM.
East London Brass
March 27 • PERCUSSION - ELB are the look out for a percussionist to complement our existing section. We have a sensible diary of contests and concerts and are ambitious to keep progressing as a band.
David W. Ashworth
RSCM, ABBA Exec Member, NABBC PRO.
Conductor, Band Trainer and Adjudicator