*
banner

Early bird extension for Butlin's

Butlin's extend their early bird discount entry fee initiative to help bands get to Skegness in January.

Butlins
  Butlin's have extended their early bird booking initiative to help bands with their scheduling for 2021

The organisers of the Butlin's Open Brass Band Festival have announced an extension to their 'early-bird' discount on entry fees for the 2021 event, which will take place at the Skegness resort from 8th-11th January.

Bands entering by 30th June (previously 30th April) will be eligible for a £25 discount on the £100 fee. Through Butlin's partnership with Brass Bands England, announced in early March, member organisations of BBE will receive a further £25 discount on their entry fee.

Helpful

Festival Director, Steve Walker told 4BR: "The Coronavirus pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty over bands' future activities. In order to help those considering coming to Skegness next January to make plans while the current restrictions apply, we feel it might be helpful to extend the discount period for a few months.

These are terrible times for us all and we send our best wishes to everyone in the banding community currently facing their own challenges.

Hopefully this extension will encourage bands to continue rebuilding their activities by coming to the Butlin's Open Brass Band Festival in January and we look forward to kick-starting 2021 on a much more positive note."

Hopefully this extension will encourage bands to continue rebuilding their activities by coming to the Butlin's Open Brass Band Festival in January and we look forward to kick-starting 2021 on a much more positive noteButlin's

Set-work, own-choice and entertainment

As previously announced, only bands competing in the Championship Section will be set a compulsory test-piece, alongside their own-choice entertainment programmes.

Bands in Sections 1-3 will perform their own-choice selection, with bands in the Fourth Section performing a 20-minute own-choice programmes with no restriction on content, to be assessed by open judges.

The Championship Section contest set-work is 'Paganini Variations' by Phillip Wilby. As an added bonus, the winner of the 'Most Entertaining Band' prize in the Sunday entertainment contest will now receive an invitation to the Brass in Concert Championship.

The overall top prize will remain at £10,000, the biggest on offer for any brass band event worldwide.

Enter

Bands can enter the 2021 Butlin's Open Brass Band Festival by visiting: https://www.bbe.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=75&reset=1

Accommodation packages can be booked at: https://www.butlins.com/

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    


Black Dyke Band

Plaudit crescendo for Black Dyke Proms appearance

July 21 • Fans and critics alike have joined in a chorus of plaudits and congratulations for Black Dyke Band's BBC Proms appearance alongside soloist David Childs.


Edward

Richard Fife Award won by tuba player

July 21 • Tredegar tuba player Edward Falloon is the 2026 winner of the prestigious Richard Fice Solo competition.


Wright and Round

Wright and Round: Say a Little Prayer (Burt Bacharach arr. Ray Farr)

July 21 • A classic bit of easy listening 1960s magic for any concert programme.


City of Bristol

New leadership roles at City of Bristol

July 21 • Mark Dallas and Andrew Read take on new roles to help push Bristol band forward.


Regent Brass - Brass on the Grass

Wednesday 22 July • The College Garden, Westminster Abbey, Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA


Sherborne Town Band - Free Music in the park

Sunday 26 July • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park

Sunday 9 August • Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park BA14 8AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Cross Bones Trombone Quintet

Friday 21 August • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 23 August • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Chinnor Silver

July 21 • We are looking for PERCUSSIONISTS to join our ambitious,friendly and hard working 1st section band.Rehearsals are on Wednesdays in our own bandroom (no setting up and down). Good but realistic diary of concerts and contests including tour abroad in 2027.


Tintwistle Band

July 16 • We have a vacancy for soprano cornet, and with lots of exciting engagements coming up would love to get this seat filled! As a second section band,we rehearse every Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our bandroom in Tintwistle under the baton of MD Jim Henson.


City of Norwich Brass

July 16 • City of Norwich Brass seeks Front & Back Row Cornets, Solo Euphonium and EEb/BBb Basses. Join a friendly, ambitious band with a varied programme of concerts, contests and community performances. Rehearsals in Hethersett, Norwich.


James McLeod

BMus (hons)
Euphonium Soloist, Teacher and Conductor


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd