Carlton Main Frickley Colliery will lead the English charge to be crowned 2017 World Champion at the forthcoming World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade, Holland.

Six day tour

Their participation will form part of a special six-day tour that will not only see the Yorkshire band take part in the two-day contest, but also perform at the WMC's Gala Concert alongside defending World Champion Manger Musikklag and a further concert as part of Project Mijn Muziek.

Carlton Main will compete at the contest against a number of leading bands from across the globe, and will be led by their very own 'Flying Dutchman', Professional Conductor, Erik Janssen.

First visit

Band Manager, Robert Browne told 4BR: "It's been a long term goal to once again see the band perform in Europe since our last tour to Kerkrade in 2011.

We're thrilled to be able to pick up on our special relationship with the WMC that goes back to our first visit to the country in 1949.

This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the band both on the concert and contest platforms and we will be doing our best to bring the trophy back to Yorkshire."

This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the band both on the concert and contest platforms and we will be doing our best to bring the trophy back to YorkshireBand Manager, Robert Browne

Impact

He added: "The relationship between the contest and Carlton Main goes right back to that first post-war tour to Kerkrade in which the well known adjudicator David Read was part of the cornet section.

The impact of that 1949 visit saw the band invited back the following year and it was on this trip that the idea for an international music festival that became the hugely successful World Music Contest was developed."