There has been a great response to our great prize - so why not give it a go and get your hands on some very special mutes from Denis Wick.

John Packer Ltd and Denis Wick have teamed up in a fantastic competition to give away £250 worth of mutes.

Easy to enter:

This unique competition is really easy to enter – just follow the link below:

https:/­/­apps.facebook.com/­sweepstakeshq/­contests/­218619

£250 of Denis Wick mutes

To enter simply fill in your name, email and instrument. The winner will receive a set of Dennis Wick mutes of their choice up to a recommended retail value of £250.

Any mutes can be chosen from the Denis Wick range for any instrument or instruments.

Go to: http:/­/­www.deniswick.com/

The prize includes carriage to mainland UK only.

The prize has no nominal value and cannot be exchanged for cash. The winner is picked at random and will be notified by email.

For the first time in nearly half a century, the Australian National Championships will be held in Perth in 2013.

In 2013, and for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Australian National Brass Band Championships will take place in Perth in Western Australia.

Proud

Organising Secretary Wiebe Wilbers told 4BR: "The Western Australian Band Association (WABA) is proud to have been awarded the Yamaha National Band Championships for 2013.

On behalf of the organising committee I warmly invite everyone to join us as Perth hosts this prestigious event for the first time in almost half a century."

Help

4BR understands that the organisation of the event is well under way, with the event’s travel partner Motive Tours, already assisting bands and supporters in finding great flight deals and accommodation.

4BR coverage

With 4BR Director Anthony Banwell, and former Scottish Brass Band Association Development Officer Alan Edmond now living in Perth, 4BR will be making the trip to enjoy the event and catch up with friends.

Anthony added: "It’s a wonderful opportunity for 4BR to cover the Australian National Championships and enjoy what Perth has to offer too. Everyone in the banding community here is excited by the event."

Further information

The Perth website now live, and can be reached at: http:/­/­nationalbands2013.com/

The Facebook site is also now active, and available at: http:/­/­www.facebook.com/­nationalbands2013

The Blue Relay Team of Brass the Baton makes a long journey from Holmfirth to Lincolnshire this weekend.

The Scissett Youth Band recently performed the premier of the ‘Blue Baton Relay’ last as part of their ‘Brass the Baton’ commitment.

Great success

Band secretary Mel Armstrong told 4BR: "The evening was a great success, with Going the Distance providing a strong focal point in the final double act. The church was full and everyone enjoyED the concert."

71 mile trip

This Saturday MD Nigel Armstrong will carry the Blue Baton to the next band in the Blue Relay, to the Silver Sounds Band based in Lincolnshire, by cycling all the way from his home in Holmfirth to Dunston – a 71 mile trip!

Nigel can be seen on route on the A631, A634 and A57 as he takes the opportunity to raise funds for the Scissett Youth Band.

Bands wishing to try and get their hands on the £6,000 prize pot at the Land O' Burns contest better be quick.

The popular Land O' Burns ‘Brass in Concert' contest will take place on August 25th.

Generous

It will be the 19th running of the event, which attracts bands from all over Scotland as well as England, thanks to a very generous prize fund of over £6,000 and a wonderful competitive atmosphere at Troon Concert Hall.

Presented by Dalmellington Band and supported by South Ayrshire Council, the event is open to bands of Championship, First and Second Section status, who will have to try and catch the ear of adjudicator Richard Evans.

Programmes

All bands have to perform an own choice 20 minute concert programme, although it must include one stand-up soloist.

Reigning champion Kingdom Brass (above) will be out to defend its title against a strong field of contenders.

Full information

For full information, a schedule, and to request an invitation form, please contact;

Band President:
Mr Bert Ritchie on 01292550250
07816121334 (mob)


Band Secretary: Mrs Jan Murray; on 01292264194
07751480152

The youth bands of Wigan, Bolton and Astley recently celebrated their musical links with an Olympic theme.

The Royal Northern College of Music recently resounded to the sound of brass, when more than 100 young musicians from Wigan, Bolton and Astley Youth Bands took to the stage to perform in a special Olympic themed gala concert.

Links

Since 2002, David Little, Helen Minshall and Toby Hobson have organised a successful joint annual concert which promotes on-going links between their bands.

Thanks to funding of £1214 from Wigan Council’s Cultural Partnership, this year’s event was a great success.

Once in a lifetime

Gill David, Interim Chairperson of the Cultural Partnership told 4BR: "This is about encouraging, promoting and enjoying what will be a once in a lifetime event. We want communities across the borough to come up with as many fantastic and fun ways they can think of to enjoy the spirit of London 2012."

Enjoyed

This was certainly achieved with the event, with an outstanding performance which was thoroughly enjoyed by players and audience alike.

Traditionally each band performs a 20 minute programme, and there is always a massed band finale of 3 items.

Tribute

This year the bands paid tribute to Roy Newsome, with a moving performance of ‘There is a Green Hill Far Away’ in the presence of VIP guests Murial Newsome, and son, Neil.

Make a concert appearance and get £350 in the process to help the Olympics go with a musical bang.

Making Music and Superact! are inviting brass bands across the UK to get involved in the 2012 Bandstand Marathon and earn up to £350 for their group.

Two weeks left

Bands have two weeks left to register to perform on and run a bandstand as part of the biggest closing event of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Sunday 9 September.

Applications close on Thursday May 31st.

Encouraged

All bands are encouraged to consider leading their local bandstand event as both performers and event programmers. Bands are encouraged to also join together with other community groups for the event, while all the hard work of securing the bandstands and marketing the events has already been undertaken by Superact!

Expenses of up to £350 are available at most bandstands, and training/induction workshops on event programming and management are also provided.

Full details

Full details of how to apply can be found at:
http:/­/­www.makingmusic.org.uk/­our-work/­projects-and-programmes/­bandstand-marathon-2012

Frank teams up with Mark Herman to talk about Brassed Off!

Listen to the Band:
27th June:

Frank Renton meets writer & director Mark Herman as Grimethorpe Colliery Band perform on the 15th anniversary ‘Brassed Off!’ tour.

Recorded in Birmingham Town Hall (which doubled as the Royal Albert Hall in the film) the programme relives some classic moments as the band play the march ‘Death or Glory’, ‘Danny Boy’, the Adagio from ‘Concerto de and the finale to the ‘William Tell’ Overture.

Mark Herman recalls how using a brass band in the film was something of an afterthought and talks about how he went about casting from conductor to soloists to the band itself.