*
banner

Dreams can come true for a pound

You can help a fantastic charity this Christmas by showcasing your caroling talents...

dREAMS COME RTRUE
  You can help a great charity cause with your carol playing expertise

Scottish bandsman Brian Keachie is hoping to help raise thousands of pounds for the 'Dreams Come True' Charity this year by asking for a little bit of proactive festive help from the brass band community.

Amazing work

'Dreams Come True' help give children, who have an incurable illness or are in palliative care, a dream of their choice, and over the year's Brian has helped raise over £10,000 towards their amazing work.

Brian's next challenge personal challenge will be to run the Virgin Money London Marathon, but this year he hopes to persuade players to perform a Christmas Carol on Facebook of their choice and pledge £1.00 to Dreams Come True through his Virgin Money Giving Page.

All you have to do is record a performance of a carol of your own choice and post it onto Facebook with a pledge for £1.00 to the charity4BR

Give it a go

If you can help — and can come up with a fun carol that nobody else may have thought of in the process, go to:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BrianKeachie

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Brass Band Treize Etoiles

World Rankings: 2025 End of year update

January 7 • Treize Etoiles shine bright as Swiss stars claim historic top spot in 2025 World Rankings after a stellar season.


Composer Competition

Whelan makes magic to win UniBrass prize

January 7 • 'All Magic Comes at a Price' wins the 2026 UniBrass Composition Competition title.


Joey Wong

4BR Wednesday interview with Joey Wong

January 6 • We meet up with the 22 year old conductor from Hong Kong hoping to become the 2026 National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Conductors Competition winner.


Winter Gardens

North West Regional line-ups announced

January 6 • 75 bands will kick off the 2026 Regional Championships in Blackpool in March.


Newstead Brass - Brett Baker

Saturday 17 January • St Wilfrid's Church, . Kirkby-in-Ashfield NG17 8LA


The Hepworth Band - New Year Concert

Sunday 25 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD9 7ER


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

Saturday 21 March • Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ


Mid Rhondda Band

January 6 • Mid Rhondda Band are currently looking for a trombone player and percussionists to join the team. We are a friendly, welcoming 3rd section band working towards competing in the Welsh Area in March. We also have a variety of events booked for 2026.


The Marple Band

January 6 • Bb Bass and Tuned Percussionist vacancies to join our fabulous band. We are a friendly, ambitious 2nd Section band, starting an exciting new year.


Christchurch Vintage Brass

January 6 • Bb Bass required for our friendly non contesting day time band. We rehearse Monday afternoons from 13:30 in Southbourne near Bournemouth with refreshments afterwards. MD Steve Chislett.


David A. Stowell


Conductor and composer


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd