The 14th Great Northern Brass Arts Festival takes place at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester

Sep 8 2011 Flintshire Chronicle

MANCHESTER will play host to one of the largest brass band festivals in world when the 14th Great Northern Brass Arts Festival takes place at The Bridgewater Hall on Saturday, September 10.

The festival will showcase the world’s finest brass bands, ensembles and soloists, with The Black Dyke Band, Foden’s Band and Brighouse & Rastrick Band appearing in the gala evening concert at 7.15pm.

The festival starts at noon with a lunchtime concert featuring one of the most successful bands in the world, The Leyland Band.

This is followed by the cream of this country’s young brass players, The National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain, which is the world’s finest youth brass band of its type in an afternoon concert which starts at 2.15pm.

An early evening concert at 4.15pm will feature the English National Champions, the celebrated Fairey Band.

The festival commences at 10.30am with brass bands performing in the foyer area at The Bridgewater Hall.

In addition to the daytime concerts there will be piazza concerts and foyer performances. It is anticipated that demand for tickets will be greater than availability.

Festival Director Philip Biggs said: “It is tremendous that all the featured bands and soloists are able to perform in this major festival of brass band music.

“Manchester is seen as the world centre of brass bands by so many people and I am delighted that this festival, celebrating its 14th anniversary, is taking place in The Bridgewater Hall.”

Tickets can be obtained by calling 0161 907 9000 or visiting www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk.