*
banner

1st Young Boys?

1st Old Boys are now planning for the future with a bit of help form their new Young Boys — and Girls!

 

The 1st Old Boys Band has made sure it is planning well for its long term future by forming its own 1st Old Boys Youth Band — which is full of both young boys and girls!

Resounding success

Mark Bingham told 4BR: "The launch has been a resounding success, and on the first night, 21 young musicians, aged between 7 and 14, turned up — most of them never having played a brass instrument before."

Mark added: "Before the end of the night though they had gone through a special arrangement of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Slaidburn' and a couple of hymn tunes, and the feedback from the young stars was overwhelmingly positive — they loved it and couldn’t wait to come back next week!"

The launch has been a resounding success, and on the first night, 21 young musicians, aged between 7 and 14, turned up — most of them never having played a brass instrument beforeMark Bingham

Fourishing

Now the band is flourishing and has 23 members — 14 cornets and trumpets, 3 tenor horns, 3 tubas, 1 trombone and 2 baritones!

Fodens

Last weekend the band went to see Fodens who were playing in Armagh and 28 parents and kids enjoyed a brilliant concert and were thrilled to to meet some of the Fodens stars such as Mark Wilkinson and Lelie Howie.

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    


Rochdale contest

Results: 2026 Rochdale Contest

October 25 • Own choice victories for Unite the Union, Dobcross Silver, Littleborough Brass and St. John's (Mossley) as Kidlington book their Spring Festival place.


udi

Results: 2026 Dutch National Championships

October 23 • Brass Band Schoonhoven reclaims National title as there are victories for Chr. Brass Band Excelsior, Brass Band De Bazuin B, Koperensemble de Waldsang and UDI Brass Band Oosternijkerk in Utrecht.


Black Dyke

Varley heads from Hammonds to Queensbury

October 23 • Philip Varley joins Black Dyke Band on solo cornet from Yorkshire rivals.


Dutch National Championships

Countdown to Dutch National Championships

October 21 • Go to our special live page of coverage from the 2026 Dutch National Championships which start at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht this afternoon.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the RAF Regiment

Friday 23 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Redbridge Brass Band

Saturday 24 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


The Hepworth Band - Aireborough Rotary Club Annual Charity Concert

Sunday 25 October • Yeadon Town Hall, High Street, Yeadon LS19 7PP


Dobcross Silver Band - Tintwistle Band

Sunday 25 October • Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane Dobcross. Oldham OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Cliff Hardie Big Band

Thursday 29 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


St John's Band (Mossley)

October 25 • After a brilliant 1st place at Rochdale Contest, we are looking for an Eb BASS player to join our friendly 4th section band based in Mossley, Tameside.


St John's Band (Mossley)

October 25 • After a brilliant 1st place at Rochdale Contest, we are looking for a Bb BASS player to join our friendly 4th section band based in Mossley, Tameside.


Linthwaite Band

October 24 • We are currently looking for a kit player to help complete our team. We are a 4th section contesting Band, with a busy period coming up, and would like to fill the position as soon as possible.


Alex McGee

MA BMus PGCE
Conductor & Composer


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd