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4BR Review podcast: Episode 4

4BR Editor Iwan Fox and colleague Chris Thomas look back at the European Championships as well as chatting about plenty of other things — from the Spring Festival to Maurice Murphy...

4br review
  The latest 4BR review podcast is now out

Welcome to the latest episode of the 4BR Review Podcast — where 4BR Editor Iwan Fox and colleague Chris Thomas chat about what is, what has and what will be going on in the brass band world.

We offer our views and opinions on events, topics, new releases and just about anything else that comes to mind.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j_yOnrywEo

Europeans

On this episode, we look back at the recent European Championships in Stavanger where Brass Band Willebroek claimed the title for a fourth time to discuss whether or not the event is in need of a musical as well as structural overhaul?

Back in the UK there was also the British Open Spring Festival which took place in Blackpool.

As always, we will discuss latest releases and concerts that took our fancy as well as recommend a couple of books and old LPS to get your hands on.

Review opinions

We look at concerts by David Childs, the forthcoming Elgar Festival and a new release from Onyx Brass and John Wilson.

Then there is the new Radio 3 programme 'Brass Banding with Hannah Peel', the 'Amersham Story' on Wobplay and Mike Lovatt's latest release, books by David Hirst on the Victorian Era at Black Dyke, and Russell and Elliott's 'Brass Band Movement', whilst our LPs choices come from the 1980s with Besses o'th' Barn and Yorkshire Imps.

Watch out for

Please subscribe to enjoy all what we have to offer — with a new major interview coming up in the next week as well as plans for a live hour long podcast too.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j_yOnrywEo

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jOHN gILLAM

Death of John Gillam

May 4 • The death has been announced of the hugely respected player and administrator.


British Open

Result: 2026 Spring Festival Grand Shield

May 3 • Milnrow claims the Grand Shield honours to return to the British Open with Hepworth joining them.


British Open

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.


2026 Spring Festival

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.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 3 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


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


Bilton Silver Rugby Band

May 3 • The band requires an Eb bass player for our First section band conducted by Jack Fisher. . We have a varied and expanding programme of events throughout the year, including our very well attended, themed concerts.


Bilton Silver Rugby Band

May 3 • The band requires a Cornet player (Position negotiable) for our First section band conducted by Jack Fisher.. We have a varied and expanding programme of events throughout the year, including our very well attended, themed concerts.


Wellington Silver Band (Somerset)

May 2 • Bb Basses. With Colin Dance now appointed as our MD and our other Bb Bass leaving due to work commitments, we have openings for two Bb basses. We are a friendly community (4th section?) band with a variety of gigs including our own Proms in the Park.


Stan Lippeatt

BA, LRSM
Conductor, adjudicator, tutor


               

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