*
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    


Scotland

Scottish banding battles for success

June 1 • A recent article in one of Scotland's leading newspapers has highlighted both the successes and challenges faced by its banding organisations.


Cross

Death of David Banwell

June 1 • The death has been announced of David Banwell, the widely respected former player, conductor and member of the 4BR team.


Whit Friday

Whitsuntide celebration on Radio 4

May 31 • The celebration of Whitsuntide in Saddleworth has been marked on Radio 4 — accompanied by brass band music


Saddleworth

Report & Results: 2026 Saddleworth & Oldham District Whit Friday

May 31 • The official results from each venue have now been announced with confirmation that Brighouse & Rastrick are crowned champions as Milnrow take local honours and Tewit Silver Youth take the youth prize.


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Dobcross Silver Band - Unite the Union Band

Sunday 31 May • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Ithaca Brass

Tuesday 2 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Fulham Brass Band - Summer Concert

Friday 5 June • St Dionis Church, Parsons Green SW6 4UH


Yorkshire Imperial - Roger Webster & The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir

Saturday 6 June • St George's Hall, Bridge Street, Bradford BD1 1JT


Cambrian Brass

June 1 • We are always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining our friendly, supportive band - whether you are returning to banding, looking for a new challenge, or moving to Aberystwyth for university.


East London Brass

June 1 • Solo Cornet : fresh off the back of our promotion to the Grand Shield, ELB are on the look out for a solo cornet player to complement our existing section. The band is ambitious and has an exciting second half of the year ahead.


Tintwistle Band

May 28 • Tintwistle Band are looking for front row cornet players to help complete our team. . We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, under the baton of MD Jim Henson, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Stephen Phillips

MA, BA (Homs), PQSI, NPQH, PGCE
Conductor, Band Trainer, Educator, Compere


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd