Preview: Brass in Concert 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Brass in Concert 2025

Saturday 15th November will see 11 world-class bands go head-to-head at The Glasshouse in Gateshead at Brass in Concert. The contest not only offers a platform for bands to stretch their musical and technical dexterity, but also the chance to showcase their innovation and creativity with staging, choreography and more. In this competition the goal is to entertain and the band who comes out on top will be the one who showcases the most wow factor!

It is such an incredible show in a fantastic venue. Here's everything we know so far about the 2025 contest and the competing band’s programmes. 

Brass in Concert Details

The 2025 contest will be held at The Glasshouse on Saturday 15th November and will start at 11am. 

The competing bands at Brass in Concert this year are: 

• Aldbourne Band

• Brass Band Schoonhoven

• Brighouse and Rastrick Band

• Carlton Main Frickley Colliery 

• the cooperation band

• The Cory Band

• Foden’s Band

• Flowers Band

• GUS Band 

• Kleppe Musikklag

• KNDS Fairey 

Once again, Frank Renton will be hosting the event, providing knowledgeable and charismatic introductions for each band. 

Brass in Concert Adjudiators

This year, the bands’ programmes and performances will be adjudicated by:

• Florent Didier - Quality of Performance

• Benjamin Haemhouts - Quality of Performance

• Anne Crookston - Programme Content and Youth Brass in Concert Quality of Performance

• Al Booth - Entertainment and Presentation

• Sue Collier - Entertainment and Presentation

• Jocelyne Moren - Soloists and Individual Awards and Youth Brass in Concert Entertainment and Presentation

Click here to find out more about the 2025 Brass in Concert Adjudicators.

2025 Brass in Concert Programmes

So, now we know who is taking part in this year’s Brass in Concert, let’s take a look at what we know so far about the programmes they will be bringing to life on the stage at The Glasshouse.

Aldbourne Band - Through the Wardrobe

Aldbourne Band’s programme will take us through the wardrobe and into the snow-covered world of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. This author was very chuffed to see this nostalgic story being featured in their programme, as it was one of my favourite book series as a kid and

The programme will feature music by Thierry Deleruyelle and Etienne Crausaz, as well as brand new compositions from Daniel Hall. I remember being blown away by the story-telling and production value of their ‘Jumanji’ set from last year's Brass in Concert - so I’m looking forward to seeing what the Aldbourne Band bring to the stage on Saturday.

Brass Band Schoonhoven - The Red Bike

Making their fourth appearance at Brass in Concert, Brass Band Schoonhoven will be bringing ‘the Dutch experience’ to The Glasshouse, with their programme entitled,The Red Bike, that aims to showcase what the fantastic exports and sights the Netherlands has to offer beyond tulips, clogs and windmills we all know so well. The programme will feature new works from Jonathan Bates, Paul Saggers and Simon Dobson.

Having had a sneak peek at the programme, I don’t want to give too much away, but I am excited about this programme, for one particular piece…

Brighouse and Rastrick Band - Dracula: A Shadow Through Time

As a halloween girly, I’m excited to hold on to the spooky season for a little bit longer, as we are transported to the gothic world of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in Brighouse and Rastrick Band’s Brass in Concert set - Dracula: A Shadow Through Time. The programme aims to explore how the legend of Dracula has evolved through the generations from the original novel to reimaginings of this iconic figure in modern times. This is the story behind the monster that has featured so heavily in literature and film over the decades and I’m so excited to see how the band bring the iconic vampire to life...well, in a manner of speaking anyway . 

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band - Eurovision

And the programmes based on my favourite things, keep on going with Carlton Main’s Eurovision programme. This flamboyant set brings the glittering european extravaganza that is Eurovision to Newcastle with music commissioned from Ian McElligot, Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen (whose music I adore, so very excited for her work!), Geert Jan Kroon, Jacob Vilhelm Larsen and Allan Withington.

The feel-good programme isn’t the only nod to the iconic song contest. The performance promises their answer to Graham Norton, as well as the chance for the audience to choose their winner with live interactive voting, both in the hall and online. 

It’s douze points from this author for Carlton Main’s programme choice!

the cooperation band - La Première

In their second appearance at Brass in Concert, the cooperation band transport us to Paris in 1913 for the premiere of Stravinsky’s revolutionary ballet, The Rite of Spring. Our guide for this journey behind one of the most infamous premieres in musical history is Coco Chanel, brought to life by actor Elizabeth McNally. 

This unique programme, conducted and created by Katrina Marzella-Wheeler features new works written exclusively for the cooperative band and arrangements from well-respective composers in our community, including Andrew Duncan, Lucy Pankhurst, Howard Snell and Simon Dobson.

This is set to be a creatively unique, theatrical experience and I’m very excited to see this innovative concept come together on stage. 

The Cory Band

We’re jumping in the DeLorean and going ‘Back to the Future’ in Cory’s Brass in Concert programme. Their Back to the Future’ set is the final installment of their trilogy of classic movie themes which began in 2023 with their King Kong set and moved to the wild west with their Magnificent Seven programme that led them to victory in last year's contest. This latest installment celebrates the 40th anniversary of the film with a ‘thrilling musical ride’.

Great Scott! This is set to be an exciting programme!

Foden’s Band - Exodus | Moses in Egypt

Foden’s Band are bringing one of the most iconic biblical stories to life with their Brass in Concert programme that features new works composed and arranged by Jonathan Bates and Will Savage, as well as narration from Tom Redmond and a performance from trumpet soloist, Jon Probert. The programme concludes with the gorgeous anthem When You Believe, originally written by Wicked composer, Stephen Schwartz and made famous by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in 1998, that will be performed by vocal soloist, Sara Kimber in Saturday's contest. 

I think this is going to be a deeply emotive and cinematic programme that has a lot of variety for the audience.

Flowers Band - The Heist

I was blown away by the innovation and creativity displayed by The Flowers Band at last year’s Brass in Concert. From the use of visuals to the theatrical staging, it was more than a performance - it was an experience. Needless to say, I'm excited to see what they have in store for us this year and they've already been teasing us on social media with glimpses into the story and characters featured in their 2025 programme.

The Heist is described as a ‘daring musical adventure', that sees a crew of cunning criminals, each with their own featured skill, plot to steal the legendary Pink Diamond from a well-known Parisian museum that may or may not have featured in the news for a similar theft. 

The programme features exciting new commissions from Andrea Price, Daniel Hall, Lucy Pankhurst, Pierre-Antoine Savoyat and Stijn Aertgeerts.

Having learned of the level of detail the band puts into their Brass in Concert programmes at this year’s Brass Band Conference, I’m excited to see their latest creation. 

The GUS Band - Love Beyond the Rose

In their 20th appearance, The GUS Band will be retelling the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast through six new compositions and arrangements from the pen of renowned composer and musical director for The GUS Band, Christopher Bond. From the Alan Menken classic, Be Our Guest to a new arrangement of My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, this is set to be a beautiful reimagining of a classic work. 

Kleppe Musikklag - Wall Street: For the Love of Money

Kleppe Musikklag is bringing the frantic, vibrant life of Wall Street and the people who work their to life in their Brass in Concert set. Not much has been revealed about their set on social media, so I don’t want to spoil, but it’s set to be a thrilling, dramatic story of the fickle and dramatic world of the stock market.

KNDS Fairey Band - Pictures at an Exhibition

If there is one band known for bringing innovation to brass band performance in recent times, it is The Fairey Band. From gaining international acclaim with their Acid Brass performances and pioneering brass music with film with their Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers shows, the Fairey Band have made great strides in pushing new performance opportunities and attracting new audiences to brass banding. 

The band’s performance will feature a ‘music-to-screen’ format, showcasing Elgar Howarth’s arrangement of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and a visual exploration of Viktor Hartmann’s artwork.

After Party with Backstage Brass

After the final performance of the night, audience and band members will be treated to an ‘after-party’ with Backstage Brass getting the party started.

Where to Watch Brass in Concert 2025

For those who can’t catch the action live, there are a few different ways you can keep up to date with the performances at this year’s Brass in Concert. 

If you’re looking to watch the performances from the comfort of your own home, you can watch the livestream with a Wobplay subscription.

If you’re looking for live commentary, you’re spoiled for choice really.  I’ll be covering all of the day’s performances throughout the day on the It’s Not a Trumpet Facebook page - so go and drop us a follow and keep up to date with my commentary and updates.

I’ll also be popping on the Wobplay livestream coverage during the day to offer my thoughts on the performances, which is very exciting - let’s all pray I don’t put my foot in it! Hey, I suppose it would make for entertaining watching at least!

My lovely husband Robert Richardson (the Sop player, just for clarification!)  will be making his commentary debut for 4barsrest, so go and check out his thoughts and see if we agree!