Newtown Silver Band in Mid Wales has been very busy late at night recently.

In addition to rehearsals on the Second Section test piece 'Kingdom of Dragons' for the forthcoming Welsh Area contest in Swansea, some strange and chilling sounds have been heard echoing from the bandroom and surrounding streets of Newtown as band members prepare for the first public 'Howl' in Wales.

Commission

The new work has been commissioned for the band by artist Simon Whitehead in conjunction with his current exhibition 'Afield' at the Oriel Davies Gallery in the town.

Simon commissioned the composer Barnaby Oliver, who lives in Australia to compose the work.

The Band has been both intrigued and privileged to be part of this unique event, something that is completely different from the normal brass band repertoireNewtown Band

Hunting packs

In 2005 Simon spent time on a hunting reserve in Northern Quebec. An enduring memory of the visit was the wolf packs, audible at night but absent by day.

Simon reconstitutes this lost predator through a series of mysterious and audible sightings through Newtown on Thursday 4th March, culminating in a public gathering and procession through the town and the first public 'Howl'.

Filmed

For this the band splits into groups,howling away on their instruments before assembling together to play. The entire event is being filmed by a film crew from Cardigan and a DVD will be available at the Oriel Davies Gallery.

Unique

Chairman Helen Bennett told 4BR: "The Band has been both intrigued and privileged to be part of this unique event, something that is completely different from the normal brass band repertoire. We have really enjoyed the experience of practicing wolf howls around the town, which has turned heads!"