21 May 2025 - Coleford Festival of Brass

Coleford set to host a 'Festival of Brass' - celebrating the heritage of Brass Banding in the Forest of Dean 

Coleford Town Council, working in partnership with the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association will be hosting a new event to compliment its established annual events programme this June.  

On Saturday the 14th June, from 12 noon, the town will be filled with the sound of brass bands with an outdoor stage at the Clock Tower, and a second performance area hosted at the Coleford Baptist Church in Newland Street.

The event will showcase performances from eight of the Forest of Dean's nine Brass Bands, and will culminate in a massed band performance under the musical directorship of Cory Band's' Philip Harper. which is set to take place around 7pm in the Town Centre.

Mayor of Coleford, Cllr Nick Penny said "as a Council we invest heavily in our annual events programme to bring much needed footfall into our town, and to provide a wide variety of entertainment for our residents and visitors alike.  The idea of running a Brass Band festival, to compliment the existing events programme, is something that I have personally been thinking about for a number of years - with the support of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association we can make this a reality next month.

Brass banding has a strong heritage across the Forest of Dean and it is great to be able to bring an afternoon and early evening of performances to our town centre.  This will compliment the exciting programme of events already scheduled to take place at the Scarr bandstand from late June".

Visitors are invited to take a seat and enjoy performances from Berry Hill Silver Band, Lydney Band, AW Parker Drybrook Band, Cinderford Town Band, Bream Silver Band, Parkend Silver Band, Forest of Dean Brass, Lydbrook Band (both senior and training band).  Parking in the main town centre car parks at Railway Drive and Newland Street for will free on the 14th June.

The full timetable is available on the Coleford Town website