*
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    


NYBBGB

Tynan becomes NYBBGB Young Conductor winner

January 17 • The Black Dyke Band solo Eb tuba player shines his light to claim the title honours with the baton in Tidworth.


Chinnor

New direction at Chinnor

January 17 • Chris Andrews takes the baton alongside a trio of new signings as the band looks forward to making its First Section debut at Stevenage.


webster

Wonderful response to charity concert

January 17 • A concert to help raise funds for a young family man with a close connection to the old banding world has already gained a wonderful response of support.


Review

4BR Review — Episode 14

January 16 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox is joined by Chris Thomas and special guest Dr David Thornton to preview the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.


Newstead Brass - Brett Baker

Saturday 17 January • St Wilfrid's Church, . Kirkby-in-Ashfield NG17 8LA


The Hepworth Band - New Year Concert

Sunday 25 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD9 7ER


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

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


East London Brass

January 16 • CORNET PLAYER - looking ahead to the 2026 contest season, ELB are looking for a cornet player to complete our line up. The band is ambitious and keen to further our successful 2025 season of winning the areas and promotion at spring festival.


Enderby Band

January 16 • Following our 2nd place finish at the LBBA winter contest and recent promotion to the Senior Cup for the 2026 Spring Festival, we are looking for a SOLO CORNET, a BBb BASS and PERCUSSIONISTS to complete our friendly and hardworking team.


Petworth Town Band

January 15 • Petworth Town Band have vacancies for CORNETS, BASS TROMBONE and TUBA. We are a very active band with concerts and engagements planned throughout the year.


Alan Widdop


Conductor, Brass teacher, Adjudicator (ABBA)


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd