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Meet the world's worst band...

Follow the Saga of the North — a new cartoon strip especially drawn for 4barsrest by Nezzy.

Billy Baton
 

Billy Baton is the egotistical MD of the world's most unsuccessful brass band — Sludgedyke Silver. Follow his and the band's antics on their quest to win a competition.

Read episode 1 now and get yourself familiarised with the motley crew of talent that makes up Sludgedyke Silver.

www.4barsrest.com/nezzy/saga.asp

Sludgedyke is completely fictitious and all the characters are simply plucked out of thin air... if you believe that then you’ll believe anythingNezzy

Fictitious

Nezzy informs us that "Sludgedyke Silver Band (from ‘up North’) is completely fictitious and all the characters are simply plucked out of thin air... if you believe that then you’ll believe anything.

"The characters have facets of all the bands folk you have ever come across – ranging from the gifted; the not so gifted; the pre-Madonna; the big and pig headed right down to the village idiot. They are out there somewhere clutching a brass instrument, a baton, a microphone, an adjudicators pencil or strutting around in a committee room. I hope you enjoy the saga...".

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Syndey

Report & Results: 2025 Yamaha Australian National Band Championships

April 20 • Sydney City becomes the inaugural Premier Championships of Australia as senior National titles head to Footscray-Yarraville City, Cairns Brass No. 1, Wonthaggi Citizensand City of Ballarat Municipal Brass.


Wobplay

Wobplay offers global opportunities at Euros

April 19 • There will be plenty of advertising opportunities for businesses as part of the comprehensive weekend of live-broadcast action from the European Championships in Stavanger.


Russell Gray

Gray to host double conducting seminars

April 19 • Aspiring conductors can enjoy the opportunity to work alongside Russell Gray in Scotland and Norway next month as he hosts his Conducting Seminars in Bathgate and Askoy.


Siusa

Jena pride at Sousa inclusion

April 19 • Jose Sousa will become the fifth young player from the Jena Brass Band Centre in Germany to represent the nation as part of the European Youth Brass Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


wantage silver band

April 21 • A friendly and ambitious first section band, Wantage Concert Brass are looking for an experienced and dedicated MUSICAL DIRECTOR to help drive the band's continued growth and development, building on their best result to date at the recent area contest.


Alex McGee

MA BMus PGCE
Conductor & Composer


               

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