Free bandstand concerts to get underway at Gorleston seafront

VISITORS to Gorleston seafront this summer will be greeted with the 'oom-pa' of East Anglia's finest brass bands as the annual series of free-to-watch concerts gets underway from Sunday, June 10.

The programme, organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, is a series of unticketed concerts at Gorleston Bandstand, which aims to add to the traditional family holiday atmosphere that Gorleston is famous for, and to help showcase local musical talent.

There are seven brass band performances scheduled until early September, with all concerts happening between 2pm and 4pm. Gorleston Pavilion Theatre will host the concerts in the event of rain. This year, Great Yarmouth Brass will again be the resident band, playing on two separate occasions.

The music will kick-off with Taverham Brass Band, on Sunday, June 10, coinciding with the Great Yarmouth Arts Festival. The music will continue with Wrentham Brass Band on Sunday, July 15 and the first performance of Great Yarmouth Brass on Sunday, July 29.

There will then be concerts from Fakenham Town Band on Saturday, August 4, New Buckenham Silver Band on Sunday, August 5 and Ipswich Hospital Band on Sunday, August 12.

Then on Sunday, August 19, at 1pm, local musicians will perform on the bandstand for the Gorleston Makes Music Final, run by the Rotary Club of Gorleston-on-Sea. Great Yarmouth Brass will end the season in style with their second concert on Sunday, September 2.

Cllr Barry Coleman, chairman of the economic development committee, said: "Gorleston has its very own atmosphere which these free and unticketed concerts compliment perfectly, providing yet another reason to visit Gorleston and helping to support the borough's tourism economy.

"Listening to a live brass band is the perfect way to spend a summer weekend afternoon, and we always get great feedback from the visitors and performers. We have another fantastic line-up this year, including our very own Great Yarmouth Brass as resident band, so make sure you catch at least one of the concerts this summer."

The programme of performances would not be possible without the valuable support of the Rotary Club of Gorleston-on-Sea and Gorleston Pavilion Theatre.