*
banner

A century of originality at Great Northern Brass Arts Festival

From Labour & Love to Fireworks, Metropolis 1927 and Of Distant Memories will be on show at Bridgewater Hall in September.

bRIDGWATER HALL
 

Further details have been released by the organisers of the 2014 Great Northern Brass Arts Festival, which will be held at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Saturday 13th September.

100 years

The event will celebrate 100 years of original brass band repertoire and will feature concerts from Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, The Band of the King’s Division, The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and a combined finale featuring Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick and Foden’s.

Carlton Main will open the festival with at midday set that will include Elgar Howarth’s controversial 1975 British Open test piece, ‘Fireworks’, whilst at 2.15pm, The Band of The King’s Division will feature the march, ‘BB & CF’, ‘Labour & Love’ and ‘A Moorside Suite’.

Tovey returns

The 4.15pm afternoon concert will see the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain under the baton of Bramwell Tovey perform Malcolm Arnold’s ‘Fantasy for Brass Band’ and ‘Padstow Lifeboat’ as well as the audience an opportunity to hear Peter Graham’s commission, ‘Metropolis 1927’.

Of Distant Memories

The Gala Evening Concert will feature Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick and Foden’s with Philip Sparke’s ‘Jubilee Overture’, ‘Tintagel’ by Denis Wright and Gilbert Vinter’s sadly neglected ‘Challenging Brass’, before rounding off with Edward Gregson’s wonderfully elegiac ‘Of Distant Memories’.

This year’s Great Northern Brass Arts Festival is sponsored by Yamaha, Besson and the Performing Right’s Society.

Carlton Main will open the festival with at midday set that will include Elgar Howarth’s controversial 1975 British Open test piece, ‘Fireworks’4BR

Tickets

Tickets are available from the Bridgewater Hall Box Office: 0844 907 9000.

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    


NYBBNI

4BR Thursday interview with Les Neish

February 19 • We speak to the Besson artist as he prepares to take the baton for the first rehearsal meeting of the National Youth Brass Band of Northern Ireland.


Linz

Linz European line-ups confirmed

February 18 • 30 bands will take to the stage at the Brucknerhaus in Linz to try and claim the various European titles on offer.


Nationals

New website for National Championships

February 18 • A new website will bring you all you need to know about the National Championships of Great Britain.


John Ward

Ward takes baton for Friary Area challenge

February 18 • John Ward returns to the conducting rostrum in Stevenage to lead former champion Friary Brass in their Area challenge.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 1 March • St. Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


St Albans Brass Band

February 19 • TUNED PERCUSSION PLAYER Wanted. St Albans Band. Rehearsals Wednesdays 8 to 10pm. Varied programme of concerts, gigs and civic events throughout the year. Friendly, welcoming brass band. Experienced players and returners welcome. www.stalbansband.co.uk


St Albans Brass Band

February 19 • Bb BASS PLAYER Wanted. St Albans Band. Rehearsals Wednesdays 8 to 10pm. Varied programme of concerts, gigs and civic events throughout the year. Friendly, welcoming brass band. Experienced players and returners welcome. www.stalbansband.co.uk


Crewe Brass

February 18 • We are looking for a CORNET player (position negotiable) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Rob Nesbitt

BSc, PG Cert. Ed.
Cartoonist , illustrator, writer


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd