Filton Concert Brass has an exciting season ahead, with a string of contests, festivals and a landmark theatrical production on the horizon.
The band recently competed at the Welsh Open Entertainment Championship in Newport, where their programme Concorde at 50: A Supersonic Story earned fourth place, securing them an invitation to perform as part of the prestigious Senior Trophy at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall for the Spring Festival, where they played Une Vie De Matelot.
Closer to home, the band appeared at the inaugural GBBA Music Festival in Lydney on May 17, where they performed their Concorde at 50 programme.
The headline event of the year, however, is a full stage production of Brassed Off — the beloved 1996 British film starring Pete Postlethwaite and Ewan McGregor — running from Wednesday July 1 to 11.
Developed in partnership with the Bristol performing arts company The Kelvin Players, the production has been in the making for more than a year. The film, now 30 years old, follows a Yorkshire colliery band as they fight to reach the national finals, with their pit facing closure.
Tickets are available through TicketSource: tinyurl.com/brassed-off
After a short August break, the band returns for autumn concerts in Trowbridge and Torquay, plus the Wychavon entertainment contest in Evesham.
Filton Concert Brass also runs free monthly open rehearsal nights for young brass players of Grade 5 and above.
Anyone interested can find details on the band’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ filtonconcertbrass