The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival will be taking place at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester today, with a host of top class bands providing the entertainment.

All day

There are appearances by Carlton Main Frickley (12 noon), Fairey (2.15pm) and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (4.30pm), before the musical climax comes with the evening Gala Concert, which will feature the current National champion, Brighouse & Rastrick, the reigning Yorkshire, English National and European title holders Black Dyke, and the newly crowned British Open winners, Foden’s.

Special treats

The concert will also feature two special musical treats, with Black Dyke under the baton of Dr Robert Childs, joined by internationally renowned singing star Amanda Roocroft.

She will perform popular classics such as ‘Russalka’s Song to the Moon’, ‘Bobby Shaftoe’ and ‘Soldier Soldier’, before being joined by a trio of ace soprano cornets in Kevin Crockford, Alan Wycherley and Paul Duffy for ‘Scarborough Fair’, in a new arrangement for the occasion by Elgar Howarth.

The Gala Concert starts at 7.15pm with Brighouse & Rastrick under the baton of Prof David King, followed by Foden’s, directed by Richard Evans4BR

Heavyweight trio

The Gala Concert starts at 7.15pm with Brighouse & Rastrick under the baton of Prof David King, followed by Foden’s, directed by Richard Evans.

The second half will see Black Dyke take to the stage in what promises to be a superb night of brass band entertainment courtesy of the three major title holders in world banding.

Tickets

Tickets are still available for the Gala Evening Concert and all the daytime concerts on 0844 907 9000.

This year’s Festival is sponsored by Yamaha and Besson.