Foden's are delighted to return to Bakewell on Saturday 28th November for a spectacular afternoon of swing, big band classics and festive favourites with Matt Ford. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading big band singer, Matt has performed with the BBC, Hallé, RTÉ and Ulster Orchestras, as well as appearing at the BBC Proms. Expect sensational brass and timeless classics including Sway, Mack the Knife, I Left My Heart in San Francisco and New York, New York, alongside Christmas favourites such as Let It Snow, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Winter Wonderland. Supporting Ashgate Hospice - We’re proud that this concert, sponsored by Jepson Funerals’ Bakewell office, J W & J Mettam, will help support the wonderful work of Ashgate Hospice, providing free palliative and end-of-life care to people across North Derbyshire. Join us for an afternoon packed with swing, festive sparkle and fantastic music, all in support of a very worthy cause! Saturday 28th November S.Anselm’s School - Bakewell 2pm https://www.priorbooking.com/u/fodens

Tickets are now on sale for Foden's and Matt Ford's 'Memories of Christmas Show' in Congleton The concert will feature your favourite festive swing classics, from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé  Saturday 6th December 2:00pm Daneside Theatre, Congleton Tickets and info via emailing - info@fodensband.co.uk

On Saturday 3rd October Foden's competed at the 'National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain' held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The contest featured the top 20 brass bands from around the UK who qualified from competing at various 'Area' contests across the country. Foden's won the 'North West Area' in February '26 for the tenth consecutive year. Each band performed the set piece entitled 'A Road Less Travelled By' from the pen of composer Philip Sparke Foden's were delighted to be placed 'third' against such strong opposition, on the back of their 'British Open Victory' a couple of weeks ago. Congratulations to all at the Cory Band on their victory  Test piece: A Road Less Travelled By (Philip Sparke) Adjudicators: Ray Farr; Alan Morrison; Prof. Rob Wiffin OBE 1. Cory (Philip Harper)* 2. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)* 3. Foden's (Russell Gray)* 4. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)* 5. Desford Colliery (David Morton) 6. Flowers (Paul Holland) 7. the cooperation band (Katrina Marzella-Wheeler) 8. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward) 9. Grimethorpe Colliery (Allan Withington) 10. GUS Band (Christopher Bond) 11. KNDS Fairey (Philip Chalk) 12. Whitburn (Chris Shanks) 13. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) 14. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff) 15. NASUWT Riverside (Richard Marshall) 16. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins) 17. Sandhurst Silver (Joshua Ruck) 18. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith) 19. Ever Ready (Stephen Roberts) 20. Kirkintilloch (Christopher Binns) *pre-qualify for 2027 National Final

Earlier this year Foden's were busy in the recording studio working on a number of exciting new CD projects. On Saturday, 'Sounds’ featuring the music of John Golland, will be officially released at the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall Foden's would like to thank Paul Hindmarsh for arranging the recording sessions and for providing such a fascinating insight into the music of John Golland and for World Of Brass for recording the project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVP-dXFb1v8 The soloist for the CD was the incredible Ross Knight, who delivers a fantastic performance of Golland’s Tuba Concerto.

In October, Foden's will travel to Sweden for a number of concerts, workshops and masterclasses under the baton of Russell Gray  Saturday 17 October at 18:00 - Haninge Kulturhus in Handen Foden's will share the stage with Södertörns Brass ahead of their Swedish National appearance. Tickets via https://www.tickster.com/se/sv/events/zgldnfwpzn6yvz Sunday 18 October at 13:00 - Immanuelskyrkan in Stockholm Local youth brass students will spend the morning working with Principal players from Foden's as well as sharing the stage with the full band. Foden's will also reprise 'Music of the Spheres' from the British Open as well as an entertaining programme! Tickets via https://www.tickster.com/se/sv/events/xpd09539l3rlp9u If you are a brass player (or educator) you can register for a place on the Sunday workshops via - https://stockholm.rum.se/2026/brass-dag-pa-kmh-18-oktober/

On Friday 2 nd October Foden's travel to London to perform at the Regent Hall Salvation Army ahead of their appearance at the National finals the following day As well as giving a sneak preview of this years set work, the band also look forward to reprising their award winning 'Exodus: Moses in Egypt' SET performed at last year's Brass In Concert Contest  Imperial Echoes - Safroni The Candle of the Lord – Graham (Soloist Mark Wilkinson) The Piper O’ Dundee – Downie (Soloist Grace Jeffers) Air from The Suite in D – Bach arr Snell Czardas – Strauss arr Snell A Road Less Travelled By - Sparke INTERVAL Soaring the Heights – Bond En Aranjuez con tu Amore – Rodrigo arr Bolton (Soloist Mike Eccles) Exodus : Moses in Egypt The River’s Lament – Bates Khamsawy – Egyptian Trad. Arr Bates The Wrath of the Plagues – Bates (Soloist Gary Curtin) The Parting of the Sea – Bates A Land of Promise – Bates When You Believe – Zimmer arr Bates TICKETS VIA - https://www.priorbooking.com/u/fodens

On Sunday 20th September our fantastic Youth Band kicked off their 15th season, they were delighted to welcome new and returning players for the start of another year. The band worked with Michael Fowles and Foden's tutors on their major work for this season – Lucerne Dances by Philip Sparke. Further info on joining the band via our Foden's youth band page

Following the success of last year’s initiative, Foden's are delighted to once again host their Area Workshops, covering Sections 4–1 across every instrument. These intensive sessions are a fantastic opportunity to prepare, develop and refine your playing ahead of the Area Championships. Euphoniums & Baritones — Gary Curtin - 15th November Cornets & Soprano — Mark Wilkinson - 22th November Horns & Flugels — Mike Eccles - 29th November Percussion — Sam Iles - 5th December Conductors — Michael Fowles - 6th December Trombones — Shaun Farrington - 9th January Basses — Andy Cattanach - 16th January  All workshops will take place in Sandbach, with the Conductors’ session being held via Zoom. Further details and booking information via marklwilky@hotmail.com

On Saturday 12th September, Foden's travelled to the Symphony Hall, Birmingham to compete at the 172nd British Open Championships. The 'Open' is regarded as one of the leading Brass Band Contests in the World which attracts an extremely strong line up of bands including some overseas guests. This year, 19 bands all performed the set work 'Music of the Spheres' by Philip Sparke. This exceptionally difficult work placed demanding challenges on all band members lasting 18 minutes. Despite these challenges, the work proved a popular choice amongst those competing and the 2000 plus audience. Following the announcement of the results Foden's were crowned the British Open Champions (and now receive an invitation to represent England at the European Championships in Birmingham in 2028) as well as receiving individual awards for the best Soprano and Cornet. Test Piece: Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke) Adjudicators: Martyn Brabbins, Arsené Duc, David Hirst 1. Foden's (Russell Gray)* 2. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet) 3. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King) 4. Sydney City Brass (Jason Katsikaris) 5. Leyland (Daniel Brooks) 6. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins) 7. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) 8. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams) 9. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs) 10. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Glenn Van Looy) 11. Milnrow (Christopher Binns) 12. Flowers (Paul Holland) 13. Cory (Philip Harper) 14. KNDS Fairey (Philip Chalk) 15. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths) 16. the cooperation band (Katrina Marzella-Wheeler) 17. Grimethorpe Colliery (Allan Withington) 18. Amersham (Paul Fisher)** 19. EverReady (David Morton)**  *Invitation to represent England at the 2028 European Championship. ** Relegated to 2027 Grand Shield Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy: Andy Moore (horn) — Brighouse & Rastrick Brian Evans Memorial Trophy for Best Soprano: Richard Poole (Foden's) The Geoffrey Whitham Memorial Trophy for Best Euphonium: Kevin van Giel (Brass Band Willebroek) Phillip McCann Trophy for Best Cornet: Mark Wilkinson (Foden's)