*
banner

Keeping up the entertainment...

Plenty more self-isolation performances from across the globe — from Norwegian inner tubes to a bit of political satire...

Music
  The musical entertainment keeps on coming

More bands, ensembles, friends, soloists and just about anyone with an exhibitionist musical bone in their body has continued to provide isolation entertainment, thanks and help for much needed fund raising initiatives over the past week or so.

Plenty to enjoy from around the world once again — so here's few we have been informed of and found on-line...

Sorry if we have missed any out...

You won't get tyred of these...

The wittiest effort in the battle against appropriate social distancing for us doesn't quite come from a brass band — but the NRK Nordland band, with the best ever use of what looks like the inner tubes from old tractor tyres...
https://www.facebook.com/Nrknordland/videos/245757429866578/

Royston Town Band has taken inspiration from Steve McQueen and his efforts to break free from the self isolated lockdown with a super rendition of 'The Great Escape' — although thankfully none of the players got caught on the barbed wire...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpk1NInwT7Y

Meanwhile, the youngsters of Enderby Youth Band would provided everyone with their vision and sound of 'A Wonderful World'...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3009228282504643&id=245769705517195

Brighouse & Rastrick Band bring the second instalment of their 'Concert in the Living Room' series with their famous signature tune march, 'The West Riding'...
https://youtu.be/-6riJZJQl6A

St Helens Youth Band give us 'The Saints' — made up of around 40 alumni of the band... and there are some familiar 'old' faces in there...
https://www.facebook.com/shybb.org.uk/videos/272340480783214/UzpfSTExMTk4ODA2NTQ4ODkwOTpWSzoyNDYwMzMxNzA0MjI3NDE0/

Freckleton Band has gone retro with their rendition ABBA's classic 'Mama Mia' — now that's we call getting into the swing of things from the MD...
https://www.facebook.com/202451819771575/videos/571588853561088/UzpfSTUxNDkyODQ2NDoxMDE1ODY2MDY4OTU0MzY3NQ/

Worldwide

Across 'the pond' in the USA, Brass Band of Western Reserve have come up with their second isolation recording — this time of the iconic march 'The Washington Post'...
https://youtu.be/vEr8lg7AFz4

And the cornet section of the New York Staff Band came up with this cracking rendition of 'Quicksilver' by Peter Graham...
https://www.facebook.com/NYSB1887/videos/3022311097823670/?eid=ARDl5oQeceVdCzrpxhwhPiVbelgmvsUENp1AfvuHuo4kLai0eI9NnS4VEqKp--1tLfp-EA31mgVqS9Wd

Meanwhile, there is a fantastic performance of 'Enter the Galaxies' from Allen Fan and friends from China...
https://www.facebook.com/allen.fan.106/videos/10157574733627695/

Solos and duets

Cory's solo euphonium Glyn Williams teamed up with tuba player Tommy Tynan and pianist Jonathan Mitra for a wonder rendition of 'The Prayer'...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd1zJNCNywg&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3g0WNCZX1ShU2mBni0ggRA28dDvFum8cH_Sv1WSMeWnpYMta9XPMoANYs

Great to hear from Fendall Hill from New Zealand too — and an innovative mix of reggae and Gershwin called 'A Friend I Have'...
https://www.facebook.com/fendall/videos/10158743290601410/

Brighouse & Rastrick bass trombone star Stephen Lomas even put the full kit on for his performance of 'Sonata Breve'...
https://youtu.be/WS_lBDe8A-Q

And the ever brilliant Jim Gourlay gave us a bit of Eric Ball...
https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/tc3USjpChVjcCv3FVpcCOg/?fbclid=IwAR2-WPIBmnH7VuBlKsXFAjOLQOtux5TPxgLhs3SlcyJX91BhQ20ysilhEiQ

Relaxing guidelines

All this, and with the first signs of a relaxation in lockdown restrictions in the UK — City of Chester Band has taken the opportunity for a social distanced get together.

Thankfully, some of the members of the band have big enough gardens and players took notice of implementing the appropriate guidelines. Hopefully it won't be 'The Last of the Summer Wine' and there will be more to be poured in the coming months...
https://www.facebook.com/944592108938607/videos/247589296508371/?__tn__=%2CdkCH-R-R&eid=ARD-b22ZamIRgabAG9HyWYlDu_eHb1OyezU61RPS5olyRAhXxGsFlnUNzBKCroZFYNcsKvbCBZKUjPLu&hc_ref=ARR7BMHyZ2SOdbdSZD3l900pPTTIT5HfnpotyGNwLwqrWxFBJQoX_GaROexIKdJxG9U&fref=nf&hc_location=group

The Swedes are just a little ahead of us though. Solna Brass are marching in the right direction it seems... https://www.facebook.com/solnabrass/videos/1107057826342480/?__tn__=%2CdkCH-R-R&eid=ARAiDF7uW12KXGV-oDjjtfjmT-QRPAUsHwxaNeAot-0aL1temdSzgDX29WkWDqdp6_MK9Ue48qYsyvKM&hc_ref=ARR5P5vCImP_EKlkQeg0Rb9TgKpWr9gfWphMdaeg4rMXmfTaOtTIJ22LSqqm2VavUL0&fref=nf&hc_location=group

And some political satire...

And for a little bit of satire in these troubled times — something from Strata Brass that wouldn't have been out of place with Ian Hislop and the gang on 'Have I Got News for You'...
https://www.facebook.com/213163432038879/posts/3080853768603150/?vh=e&d=n

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    


Chinnor

New direction at Chinnor

January 17 • Chris Andrews takes the baton alongside a trio of new signings as the band looks forward to making its First Section debut at Stevenage.


webster

Wonderful response to charity concert

January 17 • A concert to help raise funds for a young family man with a close connection to the old banding world has already gained a wonderful response of support.


Review

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.


Finalists

Final beats made ahead of NYBBGB Conducting Final

January 16 • Ammal Bhatia, Megan Bousfield, Tommy Tynan and Joey Wong will head to Tidworth Garrison Theatre in Wiltshire with the aim to become the winner of the prestigious event supported by British Army Music.


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


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


East London Brass

January 16 • CORNET PLAYER - looking ahead to the 2026 contest season, ELB are looking for a cornet player to complete our line up. The band is ambitious and keen to further our successful 2025 season of winning the areas and promotion at spring festival.


Enderby Band

January 16 • Following our 2nd place finish at the LBBA winter contest and recent promotion to the Senior Cup for the 2026 Spring Festival, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET, a BBb BASS and PERCUSSIONISTS to complete our friendly and hardworking team.


Petworth Town Band

January 15 • Petworth Town Band have vacancies for CORNETS, BASS TROMBONE and TUBA. We are a very active band with concerts and engagements planned throughout the year.


Dave Collins

BA (Hons) (Dunelm) I, FSCO
Composer and Arranger


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd