*
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    


British Open

4BR British Open podcast

September 6 • Join 4BR to air your views and opinions on Wednesday evening ahead of this year's British Open Championship at Symphony Hall.


Marple

British Open Countdown: T minus 6

September 6 • 30 years ago there was a British Open victory that shock the banding world.


numbers

Academics look to banding to provide expert analysis

September 6 • The rather dry academic world of Research Excellence Framework analysis has looked at brass band contesting for potential insight...


Dizzy

Dizzy Brasscals set for night club launch in Manchester

September 6 • The award winning events ensemble is headlining a new night club venture close to its spiritual musical home — with plenty of bangers for people to sing-along to.


The Hepworth Band - Public Rehearsal ahead of the 2026 British Open

Tuesday 8 September • Ossett Town Hall, Market Place, Ossett WF5 8BE


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 17 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Irish Guards

Thursday 1 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Barnsley Brass

September 6 • We are looking to recruit a Flugel Horn and Back Row Cornet players. We are based in Worsbrough Bridge by the A61 south of Barnsley. S70 5LJ. Rehearsals are Mondays / Thursdays at 8pm in our purpose-built band room..


Enderby Band

September 5 • Championship section band seeking CORNETS (positions negotiable), Eb BASS, and PERCUSSIONISTS to join our committed, hard-working and friendly team, performing a balanced diary of concerts and contests.


Harrogate Band

September 4 • The Harrogate Band are looking for a 1st Baritone and Soprano player to complete our team. Forward thinking and exciting band with a wide range of engagements and contests. Rehearsals are Wednesday 8pm in our own bandroom with great transport links.


Nigel Seaman

ARMCM ARNCM
Conductor, band trainer, teacher and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd