Articles & features: 2013 / UK
2013 All England Masters International Championship - Retrospective
Chris Thomas looks back at the 25th Masters - won by a band and MD that found the essential character traits of classic Eric Ball.
2013 Whit Friday - Retrospective
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks back on day when some red hot playing kept players both young and old warm around Tameside and Saddleworth.
2013 All England Masters International Championship - As it happened
All the action from the 2013 All England Masters International Championship - as it happened.
2013 All England Masters International Championship - 25 years of the Masters
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks at the Masters - and congratulates the organisers for being able to stick two fingers up to their critics...
2013 All England Masters International Championship - Preview & Prediction
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to looking back with Eric Ball's annual meeting of gay friends in Kettering...
The Greatest Free Show on Earth - The Whit Friday contests in Saddleworth & Tameside
Malcolm Wood looks forward to the greatest free show on earth this weekend - the Whit Friday contests in Saddleworth and Tameside.
4BR Interview - Stephen Roberts (Part 2)
Chris Thomas continues his in depth conversation with composer Stephen Roberts - the man behind this year's British Open test piece.
The Best of Banding - How local banding partnerships can work
Jeremy Dibb provides 4BR with his personal experience of how partnerships between local community bands can work well.
2013 Spring Festival - Grand Shield - retrospective
Chris Thomas looks back on a contest that certainly lived up to its unpredictable nature as Milnrow claimed an emotional victory.
2013 Spring Festival - Senior Cup - retrospective
Malcolm Wood looks back on a contest that was won in considerable style by a Woodfalls Band that certainly mastered the key problems of a tricky test piece.
2013 Spring Festival - Senior Trophy - retrospective
John James looks back on a contest won by Newtongrane - a band that has been on a high and low journey of its own of late.
2013 European Brass Band Championships - Retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at a possible defining victory for Cory at the European Championships in Olso.
2013 Spring Festival - Preview to Blackpool
Malcolm Wood sets the scene on a weekend of hard graft, hard drinking and hard luck - with only two bands making a getaway from it all on the Golden Mile...
2013 Spring Festival - Grand Shield - Preview & Prediction
The hardest brass band contest in the world to win will come down to who knows most about the musical habits of a ginger cleric...
2013 Spring Festival - Senior Cup - Preview & Prediction
A touch of Italian carnival splendour stands in the way of the bands hoping to claim their place in the Grand Shield.
2013 Spring Festival - Senior Trophy - Preview & Prediction
A classic piece of mature Eric Ball will test the bands as they hope to take the first step on ther own journey to the British Open.
2013 European Brass Band Championships - Oslo Preview
Has the plan for never ending European banding expansionism finally come to an end in Oslo?
2013 European Brass Band Championships - Championship Section Preview & Prediction
Could home advantage be the deciding factor this year in Oslo?
2013 European Brass Band Championships - Championship Section Runners & Riders
11 of the very best bands will lock horns to see who can be crowned the 2013 Champion Band of Europe.
2013 European Brass Band Championships - Championship Test Piece Review
4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look at an intriguing take on Norwegian pond life from the pen of Stig Nordhagen.
4BR Interview - Tine Thing Helseth
4BR's Malcolm Wood meets the Norwegian trumpet star who has just about everything in life planned out to perfection.
Percussion Problem Solver - Being prepared
In the first of a new series Gavin Pritchard gives helpful advice on how to be prepared for the expected and the unexpected on the contest stage.
Neglected Gems - Seascape with High Cliffs
Chris Thomas puts forward the case for a timely reappraisal of a forgotten European test piece.
2013 National Youth Championships of Great Britain - Retrospective
Malcolm Wood looks back on the National Youth Championships - where a gold medal was fully deserved for Brass Bands England as well as well as for the very best competitors.
2013 National Youth Championships of Great Britain - Introduction
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks forward to a wonderful day of competition at the RNCM in Manchester on the weekend.
2013 Australian National Championships - Retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back on the 2013 Yamaha Australian National Championships in Perth - and a result that revealed its bikini lines more than most.
2013 Welsh Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at the top section action at Swansea.
2013 North of England Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks back at the top section action at Darlington.
2013 London & Southern Counties Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR's Peter Bale looks back at the top section action at Stevenage.
2013 Midlands Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR's Chris Thomas looks back at the top section action at Bedworth.
2013 North West Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospecive
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks back at the top section action at Blackpool.
2013 Scottish Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR looks back at the action in the top section at Perth.
2013 West of England Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back on the action in the top section at Torquay.
2013 Welsh Regional Championships - Previews & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the battle of the Welsh bands in Swansea on the weekend.
2013 North of England Regional Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks forward to what promises to be an enjoyable weekend of contesting in Darlington.
2013 London & Southern Counties Regional Championhips - Preview & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the competitive action at Stevenage this weekend.
2013 Midlands Regional Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action at one of the most closely contested regional championships in the country.
2013 North West Regional Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks forward to the unique atmosphere of the banding action at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Mother's Day.
2013 Scottish Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action unfolding in Perth this weekend as the countdown to the 2014 European Championships begin...
2013 West of England Regional Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the battles for supremacy in Torquay this weekend.
2013 Yorkshire Regional Championships - Championship Section retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back on the drama, theatre and ethereal music making that gave Carlton Main their first Yorkshire title since 1999 in Bradford on the weekend.
2013 Yorkshire Regional Championships - Lower Section retrospectives
Iwan Fox and Malcolm Wood look back on the action in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Sections at Bradford on the weekend.
2013 Yorkshire Regional Championships - Preview & Predictions
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action at St George's Hall - and makes his predictions on who he think's may end up in London and Cheltenham.
4BR Spotlight Interview - 5 minutes or so with Exit Brass!
Malcolm Wood catches up with the talented Belgian quartet Exit Brass!
4BR Interview - Stephen Roberts (Part 1)
In the first of two interviews, Chris Thomas talks to Stephen Roberts - a musician of who has made such a significent mark in both the orchestral and banding worlds.
2013 Regional Championships - Harmony, what harmony?
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the action that will unfold over the coming weeks - thanks to a touch of unintended musical irony....
4BR Interview - Bernard Jones OBE
4BR Editor Iwan Fox meets a remarkable businessman who was able to use his success to benefit the great passions of his life.
2013 Action Medical Research Youth Entertainment Championship - retrospective
4BR's Malcolm Wood looks back at a great day of entertainment at Blackpool, where Youth Brass 2000 were pushed all the way to produce their contest winning Glenn Miller magic...
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Elite Division retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back on how an unbreakable desire to remain the champion gave Eikanger their 14th National title in Bergen.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Postcard from Bergen
4BR Editor Iwan Fox wonders if the first signs of contesting cynicism are creeping ino the Norwegian banding culture, despite another wonderful event at the Grieghallen in Bergen.
2013 Yeovil Entertainment Contest - Retrospective
Daniel Wilmott looks back at a commanding victory for Flowers at an entertainment contest short on numbers but not on quaity at Yeovil.
2013 Action Medical Research Youth Entertainment Championship - Preview & prediction
Malcolm Wood looks forward to the brass band entertainment that is guarenteed to make everyone feel better in Blackpool on the weekend.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Introduction to Bergen
All roads lead to the Grieghallen in Bergen this weekend - so don't miss the action even if you have to sit in front of your computer for two days...
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Elite Division preview & prediction
4BR will be in Bergen to witness brass band contesting in the elemental raw.....
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Elite Division runners & riders
10 brilliant bands will battle it out for glory in Bergen on the weekend.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - First Division preview & prediction
4BR casts its eye over the 11 bands hoping to make the step up and join the Elite bands in Norway this weekend.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Second Division preview & prediction
Another cracking contest in store in the Second Division with 13 well matched bands all hoping to gain another step up the Norwegian promotion ladder.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Third Division preview & prediction
There is plenty to look forward to in the Third Division - especially as it may be so difficult to separate the bands out.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Fourth Division preview & prediction
As the Fourth Division enters its second decade of competition, the signs are that the Norwegians have got the contest formula right - thanks to plenty of musical ambition.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - Fifth Division preview & prediction
Norway continues to build on its latest contesting foundation stone with strength in numbers and musical ambition.
2013 Norwegian Nationals - The Winners: 1979 - 2012
Who has won what and when since the Norwegian Nationals started in 1979.
2013 Yeovil Contest - Octagon preview & prediction
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to the entertainment on offer in Yeovil on the weekend.
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Championship Section retrospective
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back on a contest which saw Virtuosi GUS start a new contesting winning chapter in their proud history book.
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Championship Section: Preview & Prediction
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks forward to seeing who will be smiling like a robber the cops can't catch on Sunday night.
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - First Section: Preview & Prediction
The winners here may well have to wait for the SS Carpathia to pick them up to take them to the bar for a celebratory drink after this deep sea marathon...
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Second Section: Preview & Prediction
Which band will welcome coming to grief in the Second Section - as 18 contenders tackle a bit of Victorian deathly celebration.
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Third Section: Preview & Prediction
There may only be a small field in the Third Section but quality always beats quantity...
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Fourth Section: Preview & Prediction
Who will get to grips best with the Pennine/Australian mix and match of Goff Richards colourful Saddleworth musical homage?
2013 Butlins Mineworkers Championship - Youth & Junior Ensemble: Preview & Prediction
Butlins commitment to encouraging the next generation of young brass playes is starting to pay real dividends.
4BR End of Year Reports - The top 20 pupils at the 4BR School
The Headmaster has finished writing his 2012 end of year reports on the 20 top ranked pupils in the 4BR sixth form school.
4BR Spotlight Interview - 5 minutes or so with Andrew Stevenson
4BR's Malcolm Wood spends a few New Year minutes with Andrew Stevenson, Foden's Youth Band's new Composer in Residence.
4barsrest Classifieds
Vacancies
Shepherd Group Band
Shepherd Group Brass Band Require - Solo Trombone. An exciting opportunity has arisen within our North Of England Championshi...
Contests
Hardraw Scar Contest
Date: 8-Sep-2013
Venue: Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw Hawes, North Yorkshire. DL8 3LZ
Concerts
Arrow Valley Brass The Dancers of Feckenham School
Date: 22-Jun-2013
Venue: Village Green Feckenham B966HR
Professional Cards
Brian Harper
BA (Hons), (Hon) FNCM, ANCM
Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator
