The 2020 Welsh contest season kicks off in Porthcawl on Saturday with the popular cross border Welsh Open Entertainment Championship at the seaside town's Grand Pavilion.

It will the 23rd time that the event has taken place, with defending champion Filton Concert Brass looking to make it a hat-trick of victories to take the impressive CISWO Challenge Trophy back across the River Severn to Bristol.

Impress

The nine bands will have to impress adjudicator Paul Holland with their entertainment sets, with the first band taking to the stage at the new start time of 12.00 noon.

David Hayward will be the compere, with the separate entertainment prize decided by David Francis, who writes a popular brass band column that appears in a number of local and regional newspapers.

In addition to the generous prize fund and awards, the highest placed band, not already qualified, will be invited to compete at the 2020 British Open Spring Festival.

Competing bands:

Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Christopher Bond)
Enderby (Ryan Richards)
Filton Concert (Lewis Wilkinson)
Goodwick Brass (Matthew Jenkins)
Jackfield (David Maplestone)
Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies)

Tickets:

Spectator tickets can be purchased either in advance or on the day in person from the Grand Pavilion Box Office on 01656 815995 or online at: https://grandpavilion.ticketsolve.com/shows