THE past year has been an exciting one for the City of Bradford Brass Band who are back in Ilkley on July 5 for the town’s ninth annual Midsummer Brass Concert.

New signings, an expanded diary of concert bookings, civic events and, of course, the competition successes which keep them high on the brass band radar, have ensured another hectic year.

And for those who want to take a little of the City of Bradford Brass home with them after their Christchurch performance there will be copies of their new CD 'Pageantry', available to buy.

This third CD is a musical celebration inspired by their success in reaching the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in London and as well as many competition showpieces there are lots of audience favourites featured. Alice Pool, the band’s second Horn, designed the artwork for the CD cover, proving herself to be not only a very talented musician but artist too.

The band are returning to Ilkley at the invitation of Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club, whose annual concert raises funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK and End Polio Now and is the longest running Brass Band concert in the town

Having attracted a third sponsor this year – Jeremy Bloomfield, the Ilkley Jeweller, joining Estate Agent Dale Eddison and Cyrus Structural and Civil Design, the Club is hoping to raise a record sum for its charities, which is always boosted by substantial prizes in its raffle.

Tickets for the concert at Christchurch on The Grove, Ilkley, on Friday, July 5 are £12.50, including programme and refreshments (under 15s £6) available from Jeremy Bloomfield on The Grove, or by tel. 01943 817732 or emailing midsummerbrass@gmail.com.