*
banner

Radio: Touch of Brass

More music to enjoy this week over the airwaves from Martin Upfold and Julie Hedge and their selection box of goodies.

Radio
  More music to enjoy from Martin and Julie

The Touch of Brass programme is hosted by Martin Upfold and co-presenter Julie Hedge is on the air each week on Community Radio Station Swindon105.5.com.

Not only can you tune in each week and listen to a new programme, you can also repeat things on 'Catch Up' too.

Martin Upfold

Martin's family banding roots lie with Pelton Fell Band, now the NASUWT Riverside Band with whom his grandfather and great grandfather both played.

He started to play on Eb bass aged 13, and went on to play with Swindon Youth Band, the Swindon Young Musicians Club, Swindon Concert Brass and Aldbourne Band.

He returned to Swindon Band and continued to play with them under the late Francis Cowley. He also had time to fit in playing with the Wessex RAF Voluntary Band and went on to play again with Swindon Pegasus Brass.

He started to work with Community radio station Swindon105.5 in 2008 presenting 'A Touch of Brass' which you can hear between 5pm & 6pm every Sunday evening.

In 2020 he was diagnosed with Parkinsons but has maintained his programme ever since, much to the delight of listeners around the banding world who listen in every week.

Welcome

Martin welcomes listeners every Sunday between 5.00pm & 6.00pm on Swindon105.5 or (FM)105.5, on the App, Now on Digital,

Go to www.swindon1055.com and click on 'Listen Live', or if you missed the show y, click on 'Catch Up'.

You can also leave a message to get a track played at martin.upfold@swindon1055.com or info@swindon1055.com (putting your message c/o A Touch of Brass) or telephone Swindon105.5 between 10am — 3pm, Monday — Friday on 01793 611555 and leave a message.

Sunday 5th April:

March Opus 99 (Prokofiev)
Band of the Army Air Corps

The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)
Gothenburg Brass Band

Grandfather's Clock (Henry Clay Work)
Foden's Band
Soloist: Glyn Williams

The Eve of War (Wayne)
Black Dyke Band

Don't Leave Me This Way (Gamble/Huff/Gilbert)
You've Lost That Loving Feeling (Spector/Mann/Weil)
The South Notts Band

Death of Glory (Hall)
Harry Mortimer's All Star Brass

The Old Rugged Cross (Bennard)
Grimethorpe Colliery Band

When I Survey the Wonderous Cross (Watts)
Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Intermezzo & Easter Hymn (Mascagni)
St Stythian's Band

Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah (Handel)
Black Dyke Band and Huddersfield Choral Society

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    


Cumbria

Arts Council funding boost for Cumbria

April 2 • Cumbria's Big Brass Weekend secures a third year of Arts Council Funding as it continues to celebrate music, collaboration and creativity.


Philip Jones

Philip Jones celebration at Wigmore Hall

April 2 • Young brass chamber music performers will celebrate the legacy of the great Philip Jones CBE at Wigmore Hall later this month.


Leeds Best of Brass

Rothwell to showcase Pudsey talents

April 2 • Rothwell Temperance make their appearance at the Leeds 'Best of Brass' series in Pudsey later this month.


Thats not banding

Podcast: That's Not Banding — Episode 18

April 2 • The intrepid duo take to the sofa with their look at the banding world...


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray

Saturday 9 May • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ


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


Regent Brass - Living Lines

Sunday 5 July • St Saviour's, Pimlico, St.George's Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 3QW


Thornton Cleveleys Band

March 31 • MD VACANCY. Are you the missing piece to our FULL BAND?. We are a NW 3rd section band looking for our new MD. We are based just outside of Blackpool close to the M55 motorway. Mon+Thurs rehearsals.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • BBb BASS player required following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • SOLO CORNET players required (position negotiable) following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


Dr Brett Baker

BSc (Hons), ARCM, PG Dip
Marketing Lead, Denis Wick & Alliance Products; Artist at Michael Rath Instruments


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd