The popular Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival will take place over the weekend of 9th and 10th July outdoors on The Green at theCoalbrookdale Museum of Iron. Now in its 13th year, the free family event showcases some of the finest brass bands from Shropshire and the surrounding counties; this year there will also be a special guest band from Germany giving the festival an international flavour. With some 20 bands performing, it’s the largest, non-competitive brass band festival in the country.
At least three bands will be appearing at the festival for the first time, while among the many others performing over the two days are the Abraham Darby Brass Band, Llangollen Silver Band, Black Country Brass Band, Shrewsbury Brass Band the Wellington (Telford) Brass Band and Salopian Brass.
Performances begin at 10am on both days and continue until 5pm on Saturday and 6.30pm on Sunday. Bar drinks and light refreshments will be available to purchase.
A ticketed charity gala open-air concert in aid of the Severn Hospice, Brass Night of the Proms, will take place on Saturday evening, 9th July from 7.30pm. Compered by BBC Radio Shropshire presenter, Eric Smith, it will feature the Ifton Colliery Band and the Band of the Royal Signals; covered seating will be provided, or bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic on the grass.
Young composers under the age of 19 on 1st September 2016 can enter the annual Nock Deighton Eric Peagam Memorial Trophy competition, which welcomes submissions in any genre or style, provided they are fully scored for brass band. Closing date is 1st June with a substantial cash prize and trophy for the winner, whose composition might be played during the daytime concerts. There are also cash prizes for those in second and third place too.
Looking forward to this year’s Festival, Neil Fury, Chairman, said; “The Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival is now established as one of the major events in the brass band calendar. Its popularity has increased among both the players and the public every year since its inception and more and more bands are asking to come and play in the relaxed atmosphere of the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, which has kindly hosted the event for us. I can hardly believe that this year's Festival is just a few months away but I can say with confidence that it will be yet another spectacular weekend with regular bands returning plus some new ones.”
To book tickets for the charity evening concert, priced at £10 per person, call 07583 279 608; further information about the Festival can be found on www.ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk. Follow the Festival on twitter @ironbridgebrass.
