*
banner

Radio: Touch of Brass

More great music to enjoy over the next two weeks from Martin Upfold and Julie Hedges.

Radio
  More great brass band music to enjoy with Martin and Julie

The Touch of Brass programme is hosted by Martin Upfold and co-presenter Julie Hedge is on the air each week on Community Radio Station Swindon105.5.com.

Not only can you tune in each week and listen to a new programme, you can also repeat things on 'Catch Up' too.

Martin Upfold

Martin's family banding roots lie with Pelton Fell Band, now the NASUWT Riverside Band with whom his grandfather and great grandfather both played.

He started to play on Eb bass aged 13, and went on to play with Swindon Youth Band, the Swindon Young Musicians Club, Swindon Concert Brass and Aldbourne Band.

He returned to Swindon Band and continued to play with them under the late Francis Cowley. He also had time to fit in playing with the Wessex RAF Voluntary Band and went on to play again with Swindon Pegasus Brass.

He started to work with Community radio station Swindon105.5 in 2008 presenting 'A Touch of Brass' which you can hear between 6pm & 7pm every Sunday evening.

In 2020 he was diagnosed with Parkinsons but has maintained his programme ever since, much to the delight of listeners around the banding world who listen in every week.

Welcome

Martin welcomes listeners every Sunday between 6.00pm & 7.00pm on Swindon105.5 or (FM)105.5, on the App, Now on Digital,

Go to www.swindon1055.com and click on 'Listen Live', or if you missed the show y, click on 'Catch Up'.

You can also leave a message to get a track played at martin.upfold@swindon1055.com or info@swindon1055.com (putting your message c/o A Touch of Brass) or telephone Swindon105.5 between 10am — 3pm, Monday — Friday on 01793 611555 and leave a message.

Sunday 4th January:


Arnhem (Kelly)
CWS Manchester Band

The Shipbuilders (Yorke)
Besses o' th' Barn

Godspell/Jesus Chris Superstar Medley (Lloyd Webber/Rice)
Yorkshire Imperial Metals

Our Boys Will Shine Tonight (Langford)
Williams Fairey

Scherzo (Boekel)
GUS Band

Caprice (Richards)
Hammonds Sauce Works

Softly As I Leave You (De Vita)
St Helen's Youth Band

Three Inventions (Scheffa)
Black Dyke Band

Sunday 11th January:


Thunderbirds (Gray)
The Band of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment

Suite Gothique (Boellmann arr. Ball)
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Brass Band

O Fortuna (Orff)
Sellers International

The Jaguar (Richards)
Central Band of the Royal Air Force

The Sound of Music (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery

Concerto de Aranguez (Rodrigo)
Grimethorpe Colliery Band

That's Amore (Warren)
Black Dyke Band
Soloist: Alex Kerwin

March Slav (Tchaikovsky)
Black Dyke Band

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    


Eikanger-Bjørsvik celebrating

World Rankings: April 2026

April 9 • Eikanger-Bjørsvik return to the top of the rankings following their recent victory at the Norwegian Championships in Bergen.


Victoria Wood

Limited tickets only for NYBBGB Easter concerts

April 8 • There are only limited tickets left if you wish to enjoy the New Horizons Concerts of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Leyburn and Manchester — so be quick.


Doodles

Spring upgrade from Doodles

April 8 • The bespoke mouthpiece business is offering a Spring custom upgrade...


Banstand

Radio: Bandstand

April 8 • More brass band music to enjoy from Lucas Burns in Australia with one work about a dog and a bomb...


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 1 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


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


Harrogate Band

April 8 • We are looking for a Solo Cornet and Back Row Cornet to complete our team. . Interesting mix of engagements and contests. . Rehearsals Wednesday 8pm at our own bandroom located next to Hornbeam Park train station. Great transport links


Glossop Old Band

April 8 • Our friendly second section band are looking for a BB bass player to join us for contests, concerts and exciting new projects. Glossop Old Band is situated between Manchester and Sheffield and rich in history.


Wardle Anderson Brass Band

April 8 • Wardle Anderson Brass are an ambitious, forward-thinking Championship Section band on the up, looking to strengthen the team. Vacancies: Solo Trombone, Eb Bass & Front Row Cornet. Strong recent Area result under new MD Jamie Cooper.


Morgan Griffiths

Dip. Performance
Conductor, Peripatetic Music Teacher, Lower brass specialist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd