Bandrooms and Concert Halls across the world have been silent for over a year, as brass bands like other musical ensembles followed the government guidance about live music-making. It has been a hugely challenging time for bands and their communities which are social organisations as much as musical ones and also rely on the warm appreciation and applause of their audiences.
Bolsover Festival entertainment contest is truly innovative and democratic in its presentation - the live stream is completely free and we also stream online via facebook, YouTube and Vimeo, the whole contest - all the bands in five sections! And in 2021 we have retained the hugely popular Warwick Music Group People's Choice Award, where viewers can vote for their favourite Championship section performance with live voting during the contest.
So not only can you watch, listen and enjoy from your armchair - you actually get to a vote too!
The contest was cancelled in 2020 for obvious reasons so the 2019 Champions, Skelmanthorpe, return to defend their title along with 27 bands from across the country. Watch their winning performance from 2019 above.
The contest live streams start from around 9:30am on Sunday, 3rd October with the first band starting at 10am - a detailed running order is below. Located at the stunning Shirebrook Academy, Common Lane, Shirebrook, Mansfield if you're local then tickets are available on the door for just £10. If you miss it, don't worry as all the performances will be freely available to watch again online.
We're also grateful to the dynamic duo of Iwan Fox and Chris Thomas from 4barsrest who will be guiding us effortlessly through the day's excitement.
Warwick Music Group are delighted to be the Bolsover Festival of Brass' exclusive sponsor and partner once again. As brass musicians ourselves, and having performed at the Bolsover Contest on numerous occasions myself, we'd like to extend our very best wishes to all the performers, conductors and supporters.
It's great to have you back together and making music for the world to enjoy.
You can access the live streams on Sunday morning from our dedicated Bolsover Festival of Brass 2021 page and the running order for performances are:
Championship Section
Start: 10.00am
Adjudicator: John Doyle
1. Milton Keynes Brass (Jonathon Mott) — (10.00am)
2. Unite the Union (Jon Davis) — (10.30am)
3. Newstead Band (Jim Davies) — (11.00am)
4. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff) — (11:30am)
5. Harrogate (Andrew Baker) — (12 noon)
Break
6. Skelmanthorpe Band (Martin Heartfield) — (2.00pm)
7. Easington Colliery (Daniel Brooks) — (2.30pm)
8. Roberts Bakery (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) — (3.00pm)
9. Staffordshire Band (Craig Williams) — (3.30pm)
Results
First Section
Start: 10.00am
Adjudicator: Ian Brownbill
1. Rolls Royce Derby (Graham Cardwell) — (10.00am)
2. Langley Band (Cliff Parker) — (10.30am)
3. Strata Brass (Alex Webb) — (11.00am)
4. Staffordshire Band (Craig Williams) — (11.30am)
5. Milton Keynes Brass (Mike Golding) — (12 noon)
Results
Second Section
Start: 2:00pm
Adjudicator:Ian Brownbill
1. Rockingham (Adam Whittle) — (2.00pm)
2. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock) — (2.30pm)
3. Shirland Band (Lynden Cooper) — (3.00pm)
Results
Fourth Section
Start: 9.00am
Adjudicator: Andrea Price
1. Ilkeston Brass (Geoff Hawley) — (9.00am)
2. Matlock Band (Chris Banks) — (9.30am)
3. Loxley Silver (Thomas Mercer) — (10.00am)
4. Golborne Brass (Joshua Hughes) — (10.30am)
Third Section
Start: 11.15am
Adjudicator: Andrea Price
1. Ireland Colliery (Richard Windle) — (11.15am)
2. Golborne Brass (Joshua Hughes) — (11.45am)
3. Cubbington Brass (Kieron Howe) — (12.15pm)
4. Littleport Brass (Ian Knapton) — (12.45pm)
5. Whitworth Vale & Healey (Richard Milton) — (1.15pm)
6. Ratby Mid Band (Garry Perrin) — (1.45pm)
Results
Topics:
