*
banner

Line ups announced for Spring Festival

The full list of competing bands and their conductors has been announced by the British Open organisers for the 94th Spring Festival.

British Open scuplture
 

The list of runners and riders who will take part in the 94th British Open Spring Festival at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday 26th April have been announced.

Tickets will be available on the day with adults £12.00 and concessions £7.00.

Judges

The adjudicating team comprises: Derek Broadbent, Dr. Robert Childs, David Horsfield, Mike Kilroy, Allan Ramsay and David Read MBE.

Bands are reminded the contests are organised in accordance with the rules of the British Open Brass Band Championship.

For further information go to: www.thebritishopen.net


Bands are reminded the contests are organised in accordance with the rules of the British Open Brass Band Championship4BR

The Grand Shield:
Opera House
Test Piece: On Alderley Edge (Peter Graham)

First Prize: £800 and Grand Shield
Second Prize: £600
Third Prize: £400
Fourth Prize: £300

First Half Draw: 9.30am
Start: 10.30am

Aldbourne (David Johnson)
Burry Port (Nigel Seaman)
Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West (Jef Sparkes)
East Yorkshire Motor Services (Alan Morrison)
Flowers (Paul Holland)
Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)
Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea)
Marsden Silver (Glyn Williams)
Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley)
Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Stig Maersk)
Redbridge (Alan Duguid)
Reg Vardy (Stephen Roberts)
Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
Thoresby Colliery (Brian Grant)
Tongwynlais Temperance (Steve Sykes)
Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) (David Hirst)
Whitburn (Ian Porthouse)
Woodfalls (Dr Nicholas Childs)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Mark Bentham)

The Senior Cup:
Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: English Heritage (George Lloyd)

First Prize: £600 and Belle Vue 100 Guinea Challenge Cup
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200

First Half Draw: 9.00am
Start: 10.00am

Ashton under Lyne (Philip Chalk)
Aveley & Newham (Melvin White)
Blackburn & Darwen (Huw Thomas)
Bo’ness & Carriden (Bryan Allan)
Camborne Town (John Berryman)
Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Felling (Stephen Malcolm)
Fishburn (Joseph Cook)
Kingdom Brass (TBA)
Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Ernest Ruddock)
Mount Charles (Tom Davoren)
NASUWT Riverside Brass (Ray Farr)
Newtongrange (Lee Skipsey)
Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles)
Skelmanthorpe (Martin Hall)
Staffordshire (Leigh Baker)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies)
Wakefield Metropolitan (Michael Howley)
Wingates (Paul Andrews)


The Senior Trophy:
Spanish Hall
Test Piece: Les Francs Juges (Hector Berlioz, arr. Frank Wright)

First Prize: £600 and Senior Trophy
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200

First Half Draw: 10.15am
Start: 11.15am

Bournemouth Concert Brass (Major David Barringer)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter)
Dalmellington (Richard Evans)
Drighlington (Jim Davies)
Easington Colliery (Chris Bentham)
Freckleton (Paul Dalton)
Friary Guildford (Chris King)
Hatfield Colliery (Stan Lippeatt)
Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (John Ward)
Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson)
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan)
Lochgelly (TBA)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Medway (Melvin White)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
Regent Brass (Paul Archibald)
Spal Automotive Sovereign Brass (David Maplestone)
St Dennis (Darren Hawken)
Unison Kinneil (Craig Anderson)

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    


Youth Champs

Birmingham hosts National Youth Championships

March 28 • If you are anywhere near Birmingham today, get along and enjoy plenty of fantastic brass band performers.


Withington

Withington returns to Grimethorpe

March 28 • Allan Withington will lead Grimethorpe Colliery at the British Open and Albert Hall National Final, as contesting connection with Carlton Main comes to an end.


Adams

Trombone stars add to Adams artist line-up

March 28 • Tom Challinor and Jonathan Pippen have become Adams Artists.


Welcome

Warm welcome for Lawson at Welsh champion

March 28 • It's a been a long journey to get to his first rehearsal for Kyle Lawson at Cory — and its straight into concert action too.


Brass Bands England - 2026 National Youth Brass Band Championships

Saturday 28 March • King Edward's School, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UA


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


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


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 5 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Chinnor Silver

March 27 • We are a friendly progressive 1st Section band who need a couple of seats filled.. Bb BASS and PERCUSSIONIST are on our wanted list so if you are looking for a new banding challenge get in contact. We rehearse on Wednesdays and have good realistic diary.


Newport Borough Brass Band

March 27 • After a respectable 4th place in the 2nd Section at the Welsh Area Contest, we are looking for FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable) 1st BARITONE, 2ND TROMBONE and Bb BASS players to come and join us on our journey under the baton of Martin McHale BEM.


East London Brass

March 27 • PERCUSSION - ELB are the look out for a percussionist to complement our existing section. We have a sensible diary of contests and concerts and are ambitious to keep progressing as a band.


Alwyn Green

LRAM, LTCL
Conductor, composer, arranger, adjudicator, teacher and soloist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd