The organisers of the Wychavon Festival of Brass are anticipating an exciting weekend of quality music making at the De Montfort School in Evesham.

Gala Concert

It begins with its first pre-contest Gala concert on Friday evening which celebrates the event's 30th anniversary and which will feature welcome visiting bands from Germany and Norway.

A spokesperson told 4BR: "We're delighted to welcome Manger Old Stars and 2019 European Challenge Champion, Brass Band Regensburg as well as local favourites Avonbank and Bretforton for what we hope will be a wonderful, relaxed evening of musical entertainment."

The concert will begin at 7.00pm with each band playing a 30-minute set with a short break between bands. The local Fleece Inn Marquee will be up and running to provide evening drinks and beverages and there will be a retiring collection and a raffle.

All competing bands staying in the area are encouraged to attend to enjoy the festivities!

Contest

Saturday sees the contest take place. Doors open at 9.00am (all day tickets cost £10 on the door) and the 60 plus performances will take place in four performance halls. A special feature of this year's contest will be a firework display planned for around 6.00pm with the contest suspended for half an hour.

Uniquely, the fireworks have been choreographed to excerpts from the Dan Price's original test piece composition 'Wychavon Sketches'. All this and the event organisers are conscious that the Rugby Union World Cup Final clashes with their event and are hurriedly making arrangements to televise the final on Saturday morning!

More details:

Venues for both events: De Montfort School, Four Pools Road, Evesham, WR11 1DQ

Website: www.festivalofbrass.co.uk

Competing bands:
Championship Section:

Adjudicator: Stephen Roberts
9.30am

Wardle Anderson Brass
City of Cardiff (M1)
Wantage
BTM
Hitchin
Kidlington Concert Brass
Boarshurst Silver
Verwood Concert Brass
Fishburn
Sandhurst Silver
Llwydcoed
Langley
Longridge
Foresters Brass
Aveley & Newham
St. Austell Town
Brass Band Regensburg
Lanner & District
Bathgate
Filton Concert Brass

First Section:

Adjudicator: Sheona Wade
9.30 am

Haydock
Tylorstown
Manger Old Stars Brass
Medway Town
Mount Charles
Sandhurst Silver
Bedworth Brass
BTM
Ifton Colliery
Staffordshire Band
Blackburn & Darwen
Shirley Band
Brass Band Regensburg
Enderby
Milton Keynes Brass
Stannington Brass
Longridge
Middleton
Brunel Brass

Second Section:

Adjudicator: Paul Andrews
10.00 am

Taff Vale Brass
Avonbank Brass
Weston Brass
Stourport-on-Severn Brass
LGB Brass
Cinderford
Manger Old Stars Brass

Third Section:

Adjudicator: Dan Price
11.00 am

Hawk Green
Blackley
Taff Vale Brass
Melingriffith 2
Wem Jubilee
Ynyshir
Regent Community Brass
Emley Brass
Welwyn Garden City
Ocean Brass

Fourth Section:

Adjudicator: Jack Capstaff
3.00 pm

Blackley
Ledbury Community
Bretforton Silver
Wem Jubilee
Pangbourne & District
Putney & Wimbledon
Great Western Youth
Shaftesbury Town