Welcome to Youth Fest!
Youth Fest is Brass Bands England’s exciting new festival for young brass players – a joyful day of music-making, celebration, and inspiration. Held in a non-competitive environment, this event is all about encouraging young people to express themselves through music, connect with others, and have fun performing together.
“Today inspired me to keep playing.”
— Amelia, Maybury Primary School Brass Band
Whether you’re part of a school band or a youth ensemble, Youth Fest is your chance to shine on stage, learn from professional tutors, and experience the energy of a live audience – all in one action-packed day!
What to Expect
Youth Fest offers:
- Performance Opportunities for school and youth bands
- BBE Brass Foundations Workshops to build confidence and skills
- Audience Access to enjoy and support other bands
Best of all? Entry is completely free for bands!
Watch the Highlights
Take a look at the Youth Fest 2024 Recap Video to get a taste of the buzz, the music, and the smiles from last year’s debut event.
Youth Fest 2025 Details
Date: Friday 4 July 2025
Venue: artsdepot, North Finchley, London
Audience tickets will be available from 9 June 2025 via the Brass Bands England website.
Tickets are £5, with free entry for under-18s. Local schools will also receive some free audience tickets for their pupils.
Event Schedule
|
Time
|
Event |
|
Morning Session
|
|
|
9:00 |
Schools Arrival |
|
9:30 – 10:15 |
Workshop |
|
10:15 – 11:00 |
Break |
|
11:00 – 12:00 |
Performances |
|
12:00 – 12:45 |
Schools Departure |
|
Afternoon Session
|
|
|
13:30 |
Schools Arrival |
|
14:00 – 14:45 |
Workshop |
|
14:45 – 15:15 |
Break |
|
15:15 – 16:15 |
Performances |
|
16:15 – 17:00 |
Schools Departure |
Please take note of which session your band is in and double-check arrival timings
Participating Bands
Morning Session
- Gospel Oak Primary School
- Haberdashers Elstree Prep Schools
- Camden Youth Brass
Afternoon Session
- Harting CE Primary School
- Barnet Education Arts Trust – Training Brass Band
- Barnet Education Arts Trust – Barnet Youth Brass Band
Travel & Parking
- Coach Parking: There is no on-site coach parking. A designated drop-off/pick-up location will be shared in the final event details. For more info, see the TfL Coach Drivers page.
- Car Parking: Nearby pay-and-display options include Stanhope Road, Woodside Park, and Lodge Lane car parks. Allow at least 30 minutes to park and walk to the venue. Visit Parkopedia for more parking details.
- Public Transport: Easily accessible by tube or bus. artsdepot is located near West Finchley, Finchley Central, and Woodside Park stations (Northern Line – High Barnet branch). North Finchley Bus Station is next door and served by multiple routes.
- Accessibility: artsdepot is fully accessible, with wheelchair spaces available. Please email any access requirements to youthfest@bbe.org.uk.
Pick-up & Drop-off Guidance
Only supervising adults will be allowed into the designated holding area.
Parents or guardians must not enter this space. Instead, please arrange to meet a supervising adult who will escort your child to or from the correct location.
Food & Refreshments
There are a range of cafes and eateries close to artsdepot for pupils and audience members to enjoy:
- Cafedepot – Level 2 inside the artsdepot venue
- Delight Kitchen Bistro & Cafe – Ballards Lane (1 min walk)
- The Coffee Place & Breakfast – Woodhouse Road (6 min walk)
- Sushimania – Finchley High Road (4 min walk)
- La Genoise Cafe – High Road (4 min walk)
- Il Funghetto – Ballards Lane (1 min walk)
- Nando’s – High Road (3 min walk)
Join the Celebration
Whether you’re performing, supporting a performer, or just love great youth music, Youth Fest 2025 is a joyful celebration of talent, learning, and togetherness. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Questions
For any information regarding the festival, please contact the organisers on: youthfest@bbe.org.uk
