*
banner

Get ready for the elevated experience of Kinky Toots

The innovative creative partnership between Freckleton Band, BBE and director Jamie Sophia Fletcher clicks its high heels in Blackpool next week

Kinlytoots
  The show will be held at Blackpool Tower next week

There is still time to book your ticket to see a fantastic 'first' in the world of brass banding, when Freckleton Band will present 'Kinky Toots' at Blackpool Tower on Thursday 14th March.

Celebration

It's the exciting culmination of the first Brass Bands England 'Elevate' project which has seen the north west band link up with theatre director Jamie Sophia Fletcher for what is described as "a celebration of brass bands, drag cabaret and queer culture."

Fronting the event at The Fifth Floor venue within Blackpool Tower will be two leading drag artists in the UK, Len Blanco and Donna Trump. Doors open at 7.30pm with the show starting at 8.00pm.

Performers

Len is a drag king, musician, comedian and performance-maker from Cardiff, best known for their satirical ex-boyband character and his original pop songs. He is also a lover of the unruly and improvisation whose work is about querying and challenging the gender binary through singing, pointing, laughing and winking.

Meanwhile, Donna is a singer, lip-syncer, and comedian who describes herself as 'a child who has been let loose in the toy box — imagination has no bounds and the way you connect things is so bonkers that it makes sense only to the few sometimes!'

She is influenced by theatre practitioners such as Bertolt Brecht and Antonin Artaud — causing a reaction, emotion or retaliation is something that is important in her drag.

Excited

Speaking about the initiative, BBE's Chief Operating Officer Sarah Baumann has said: "We're so excited that the very first Elevate partnership has kicked off to such an exciting, diverse start.

Witnessing the creative collaboration between Jamie and Freckleton has been fantastic, and seeing their ideas come to life will make for a terrific night of entertainment."

Witnessing the creative collaboration between Jamie and Freckleton has been fantastic, and seeing their ideas come to life will make for a terrific night of entertainmentBBE

Age appropriate

Age guidance: All under 18's must be accompanied by an adult. Some language and subject matter will not be suitable for young children — for older children the accompanying adult should decide on whether the event is suitable to attend, accompanied by an adult.

Tickets:

https://www.bbe.org.uk/civicrm/event/info/473?fbclid=IwAR2JuPCJAGXXBB1aBfDqfIYJhN_J_SXYV0HfdirXWUORXY4TKtF4kmXW6kU

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    


Civic Hall

Report & Result: 2026 Midlands Regional Championships Second Section

March 15 • Harborough Band claims the last Midlands title on offer for this year as they are joined in York by Leicestershire Co-op.


markham

Results: 2026 Welsh Regional Championships

March 14 • Cory reclaims the Welsh title as Parc & Dare, Markham & District, City of Cardiff (M2) and Gwaun Cae Gurwen claim section honours.


Pendennis

Results: 2026 West of England Regional Championships

March 14 • Flowers reclaim Area title with section wins for Lympstone, Lanner & District, St Pinnock and Pendennis Brass in Torquay


Shine

Ready to shine? NYBBGB offer audition skills workshops

March 14 • There are a trio of FREE audition skills workshops on offer from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain to help young player's skills sets.


Regent Hall Concerts - Slide Effect Trombone Quartet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Welsh Guards Band Septet

Friday 20 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Enderby Band - Around the World in 80 Minutes

Friday 20 March • Wycliffe Rooms, George St, Lutterworth LE17 4ED


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

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


Longridge Band - Spring Concert

Saturday 21 March • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET player (position negotiable). We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 15 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester.. . . Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a BBb BASS player.. . . We rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.


Linthwaite Band

March 14 • We are a welcoming 4th section contesting Band with a vacancy for a kit player. Our calendar is filling up with various contests and engagements to fulfil through the year.


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd