Barton band to take on some of world's best at Royal Albert Hall in London

Barton Town Band is in confident mood ahead of its historic appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The band will share the stage with some of the best in the world at the National Brass Band Championships on Saturday, October 20.

The band battled through the championship class at the northern area contest in Darlington in March to secure its first national final place in 107 years.

Members of the 29-piece band have been seriously rehearsing the test piece for the contest for the past month.

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And although they are not expecting to win the national title, band officials are hoping to make a good impression at the iconic concert hall.

Jonathan Evison, chairman of the band, said: "It is a very difficult test piece, it is an orchestral transcription called Daphnis and Chloe.

"It is very demanding, which you would expect.

"But it is going well, we are enjoying the piece and I think we are going to give a good account of ourselves.

"Nobody is under any illusions about winning but we are going there with a positive attitude and we will play out of our skins.

"Out of the 20 bands, if we come above 15th, it would be a very, very good result for us."

The band will be joined in the contest by a variety of big names.

Mr Evison said: "We are up against the Black Dyke Band, Foden's and another half a dozen which are in the top 20 in the world and it is a very stiff competition.

"A lot are sponsored bands as well, so they can afford a lot more than we can afford from a conducting point of view.

"But we have got a very good conductor, Nick Sheppard, who helped us get the result at Darlington."

The band held its last rehearsal in Barton on Tuesday, and will travel to London by coach tomorrow (Friday, October 19).

Mr Evison said: "We are all looking forward to it.

"We are setting off at 3pm on Friday, October 19 and hoping to get to London in the early evening.

"We have got a rehearsal at a church in Kensington from 8pm to 10pm, then it is early to bed.

"We will then get up at 6.30am for breakfast and another rehearsal at 7am and we have got to be at the Royal Albert Hall by 10am."

Getting to the national finals marks the culmination of a rapid, seven-year rise to the top, from the fourth section to the elite championship group.

Mr Evison said: "It is a big achievement, especially in the light of the time we have been going.

"We have done this from scratch in seven years, starting with only seven players in 2005."