*
banner

Fife attracts fifteeen contenders with Open link

15 bands will battle for the Fife Charities silverware and the invitation to take one step closer to the British Open later this month.

Fife
  15 bands will take to the stage in Kirkcaldy on 28th September

The second half of the 2024 contesting year continues at pace throughout the country, with the Fife Charities Contest taking place at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy on September 28th.

And following the excitement of the recent British Open in Birmingham the event also offers the opportunity for one band to claim a place at the Spring Festival in Blackpool in May 2025.

The 15 multi-section challengers must each perform a march, hymn tune and own-choice test-piece. In addition to the usual prizes and that Spring Festival invitation new silverware will also be award to the 'Best Baritone', 'Best non-FCBA band' and 'FCBA Unsung Hero'.

Spring Festival

The invitation to the 2025 Senior Trophy will go to the highest placed band not already at the series of Spring Festival competitions. The defending champion is Kingdom Brass.

There are also extended venue opening hours from 9.00am for a spot of socialising before the first band takes to the stage at 10.00am, whilst a short interval concert will feature members of FCBA development bands including players from Kingdom Youth, Lochgelly Community, Dysart Development, Tullis Wizards and Cupar Bandits.

And before the results announcement, there will be a debut public appearance by the newly-formed Central Scotland Percussion Ensemble.

For those unable to make the day there will be live commentary on the event on the FCBA Facebook page from Aileen Orr.

The invitation to the 2025 Senior Trophy will go to the highest placed band not already at the series of Spring Festival competitions4BR

Tickets:

Ticket prices are now available at £10 (£6 concession, under 16s go free) from the Adam Smith box office and online at https://www.onfife.com/event/fife-charities-band-association-contest-aj81/

For those wishing to attend the interval concert, matinee tickets are available for the reduced price of £5 which will entitle the holder entry into the second half of the contest.

Competing bands:


Bathgate
Buckhaven & Methil Miners
Clackmannan & District
Coalburn Silver
Dalkeith & Monktonhall
Dunaskin Doon
Dunfermline City Brass
Dysart Colliery
Granite City Brass
Kingdom Brass
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
Lochgelly
Shotts St Patrick's
the cooperation band
Tullis Russell Mills

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

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.


Fleetwood

Fleetwood back on demand

May 1 • You can enjoy all 32 performances from the recent Fleetwood Contest on demand


British Open

Live stream broadcast from Spring Festival

May 1 • All the action from the 104th British Open Spring Festival is to be live-stream broadcast this weekend.


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


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.


Wellington Silver Band (Somerset)

May 2 • Tuned Percussionist. We are looking for a tuned percussionist to join our friendly community (4th section?) band. We have a variety of gigs including our own Proms in the park, charity concerts, fetes, (maybe contesting). Other brass players welcome.


Tintwistle Band

April 28 • Tintwistle Band are looking for a Soprano and 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, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Darren R. Hawken

PGdip, BMus(hons) PGCE, dipABRSM, LRSM
Conductor, Arranger, Teacher, Adjudicator, Band Trainer


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd