Dear Brigade Colleagues.

 

As many of you know the UK Marching Band activity in the UK has suffered severely since the pandemic, with groups losing members and many having to close. This in turn has reduced the performance opportunities being offered to those that have been able to continue or are in the process of rebuilding. In early 2025 Marching & Performing Arts UK (MPAUK) provided a number of competitive performance opportunities with their Indoor “SoundSport” Activity.​ All types of musical performance ensembles participated with the majority of those units representing our Brigades' Marching Bands, which was very encouraging to see. 

 

If you are a Brigade Band in the process of rebuilding or have an established music group we would highly recommend you consider participating in one of more of the Soundsport Events in 2026. ​​​Next year all the contests will take place in-doors between January and April 2026, with one extra venue in "Liverpool" being added to the schedule.  

 

We are really excited that there does appear to be an appetite for SoundSport amongst our Brigades' bands and want to work with you all to make it something you want to be a part of and that your members enjoy and actually get a benefit from. If you have any questions then do not hesitate to drop us a line. Alternatively, an online Zoom meeting will shortly be announced, where all interested parties will be invited to join us to discuss 2026 in more detail.

 

To assist with your plans and preparations I have enclosed the MPAUK schedule of dates and locations for early 2026.​​ Please note that one or two of the venues have still to be confirmed. if you would like to see a short video clip of those that participated in 2025 please click the following link:-                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFkGbW3F8w

 

                                               2026 SoundSport Dates​:-

 

Sunday 18th January 2026 - Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2RR

Sunday 1st February 2026 - Liverpool 

Sunday 8th February 2026 - University of Essex Arena, Wivenhoe, Essex, CO4 3SQ

Saturday/Sunday 14/15th February 2026 - Ireland 

Sunday 1st March 2026 - St John’s Campus Sports Centre, Worcester 

Sunday 15th March 2026 - Triangle Leisure Centre, Burgess Hill, RH15 8WA

Sunday 22nd March 2026 - Leeds

Saturday 4th April 2026 - University of Worcester Arena, Worcester, WR2 5JN​​​

​

Ray Westbrook  - Brigades’ “Showcase” Coordinator.