WITH Midsummer’s Day fast approaching it must be time for some more Midsummer Brass.

Ilkley’s popular and longest-running brass band fixture brings the City of Bradford Brass Band back to the town on Friday July 5 for Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club’s 9th Annual Concert.

The City of Bradford returns to the town with a clutch of early Spring competition successes under their belt. They got off to a great start in their first contesting weekend of 2019, retaining their title at Preston’s Brass at the Guild Contest, which also garnered a best soloist award for their euphonium star Jolyon Stead and a best Tuba Section award. Already the Holme Valley (Section A) Champions and Brass Factor 2 Champions, most recently they took 2nd place in the Senior Trophy of the British Open Spring Festival, taking them a step closer to their goal of performing at the British Open.

Lee Skipsey, their charismatic Musical Director and a firm favourite with Ilkley audiences, will be at the helm as the band present a mixed programme of classical pieces, hymns and show tunes, with Lee providing the amusing commentary on the way.

The concert, at Christchurch on The Grove, raises funds for Alzheimer’s Research and End Polio Now and is sponsored this year by three Ilkley companies, Jeremy Bloomfield (Jeweller on The Grove), Dale Eddison (Estate Agent), and Cyrus Structural and Civil Design. Tickets, at £12.50 (£6 for under 15s), include a programme and refreshments, sponsored by Tesco. They can be obtained from Jeremy Bloomfield, at 42 The Grove (weekdays only) or by emailing midsummerbrass@gmail.com or tel. 01943 817732.