*
banner

Newhall take to Open Road for Poppy Appeal

The Newhall Band has linked up with the successful folk group Open Road to help raise money for the 2014 Poppy Appeal.

Newhall Band
 

The Newhall Band has teamed up with the successful Midlands folk group ‘Open Road’ to produce a song in support of this year’s Poppy Appeal.

Dream of Home

The band’s baritone player Phil Baggaley, has written a song entitled, ‘An Old Soldier’s Dream of Home’, and has been amazed at the response the composition, which has now been set to brass band accompaniment by Newhall, has brought from people who have heard it.

He told 4BR: “Open Road was invited to join the band at a recent concert and our MD Kevin Holdgate and I then conceived the idea for a joint project between the two groups.

Kevin did the brass arrangement of the song and we decided that following the recording that the proceeds should be donated to the Royal British Legion for this year’s Poppy Appeal.”

Superb song

Kevin added: “The opportunity to work with Open Road was one not to be missed and we are all thrilled after hearing the results.

‘An Old Soldiers Dream of Home’ is a superb song that really works well with brass accompaniment, and we are particularly pleased that the Royal British Legion have become involved. We hope we can raise a good sum of money for such a worthy cause.

The video filmed by students at the University of Derby is extremely professional and is well worth viewing.”

The opportunity to work with Open Road was one not to be missed and we are all thrilled after hearing the resultsMD, Kevin Holdgate

On line

‘An Old Soldier’s Dream of Home’ is available from now, ahead of the official launch on the 3rd November.

It can be downloaded from iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/old-soldiers-dream-home-single/id929148620

The music video can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtq5fEIlLcQ&feature=youtu

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    


jOHN gILLAM

Death of John Gillam

May 4 • The death has been announced of the hugely respected player and administrator.


British Open

Result: 2026 Spring Festival Grand Shield

May 3 • Milnrow claims the Grand Shield honours to return to the British Open with Hepworth joining them.


British Open

Result: 2026 Spring Festival Senior Cup

May 2 • Kirkintilloch claims the Senior Cup honours as Rainford, Tongwynlais Temperance and East London Brass join them in the Grand Shield in 2027.


2026 Spring Festival

Result: 2026 Spring Festival Senior Trophy

May 2 • Sandhurst Silver claims the Senior Trophy honours as Sovereign Brass, Unite Scotland Kinneil and Yorkshire Imperial are also promoted to the Senior Cup.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 3 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - FiveBy5 Trumpet Quintet

Tuesday 5 May • Charlton House and Gardens. Charlton Road, . London. . SE7 8RE


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 8 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Wardle Anderson Brass Band - Wardle Junior Blast

Friday 8 May • Milnrow Parish Church, 16 Westward Ho, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3JX


Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray

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


Bilton Silver Rugby Band

May 3 • The band requires an Eb bass player for our First section band conducted by Jack Fisher. . We have a varied and expanding programme of events throughout the year, including our very well attended, themed concerts.


Bilton Silver Rugby Band

May 3 • The band requires a Cornet player (Position negotiable) for our First section band conducted by Jack Fisher.. We have a varied and expanding programme of events throughout the year, including our very well attended, themed concerts.


Wellington Silver Band (Somerset)

May 2 • Bb Basses. With Colin Dance now appointed as our MD and our other Bb Bass leaving due to work commitments, we have openings for two Bb basses. We are a friendly community (4th section?) band with a variety of gigs including our own Proms in the Park.


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd