As always, the Whit Friday contests attract bands from all over the world, and this year there are new visitors from Holland with the appearance of Dutch First Section band De Spijkerpakkenband

First time

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the ensemble from the Friesland province has decided to make the trip to the UK to play in the famous contests for the very first time, and has also taken the opportunity to join forces with Hebden Bridge for a joint concert on Saturday night.

De Spijkerpakkenband (which translates to Blue Denim Jeans Band) is the reigning WMC First Section World Champion, after claiming the title in Kerkrade last year, as well as coming runner-up at the 2013 Dutch Nationals.

Blue jeans

A band spokesperson told 4BR: "The band was given the name by a local journalist after their first major concert appearance, when the players had no official uniform as so took to the stage wearing their jeans.

Besides participating in competitions and many local concerts we have undertaken tours to Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, France and Germany, and in 2010 we visited England for the first time, and spent an unforgettable weekend in Brighouse."

We are all looking forward to the trip and our opportunity to play at a real ‘brass band Mecca'De Spijkerpakkenband

Mecca

They added: "We are all looking forward to the trip and our opportunity to play at a real ‘brass band Mecca’."

The band has been directed since 2012 by the well known conductor Erik Janssen who has conducted in the UK with the Whitburn Band and has led Brass Band Schoonhoven to the last four Ditch National titles.