The Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA), in partnership with West Lothian Council, is set to host a brand new format for its popular West Lothian Festival of Brass Competition this year.

Six top bands

The event, which takes place on 9th June at Howden Park Centre in Livingston will showcase six of Scotland’s top bands in 25 minute entertainment programmes, starting at 2.00pm.

Judges, Ian Brownbill, Bruce Fraser and Simon Johnson will sit back to enjoy the pre-drawn line up of Lochgelly, Co-operative Funeralcare, Whitburn, Dalmellington, Kirkintilloch and Kingdom Brass in a format that mirrors the Brass in Concert Championship in Gateshead.

Free of restriction

This will now see bands, "...provide a platform to display, free of artistic restriction other than within the confines of the required elements of the contest, their excellence as performers of high-quality original and arranged brass band music, through programmes and presentation reflecting the most current and progressive form of the genre and designed to appeal to both the general listener and brass band enthusiasts."

System

The adjudicators will judge Quality of Music Performance (Ian Brownbill), which holds 50% of the total marks, Entertainment & Presentation (Simon Johnson) which holds 30%, and Programme Content (Bruce Fraser) which holds 20%.

The introduction of this system will enable bands to select their programmes to maximize the effectiveness of their overall performance and to reflect the ethos of the festivalSpokesperson

Maximise

A spokesperson added: "The introduction of this system will enable bands to select their programmes to maximize the effectiveness of their overall performance and to reflect the ethos of the festival."

To reserve tickets, please contact Howden Park Centre.
Tel: 01506 777666 www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk