Music lovers are being invited to bring a picnic and rug to the 3rd annual Picnic in the Park concert at Downton’s historic and picturesque Moot on Saturday August 18th.

The concert will showcase three of Downton’s brass bands; Downton Senior Band, Downton Training Band and Beginners Brass in a musical afternoon featuring operatic overtures, film scores, jazz classics, pop songs, brass band marches and a whole host of light music.

Downton’s senior band has a 145 year-old history, plays all across the south and recently made its second appearance at the famous Whit Friday marches in Saddleworth. Also on the bill is the Downton Training Band, formed just three years ago and the newly created Beginners Brass. Both bands exist to enable anyone who wishes to learn a brass or percussion instrument Members attend a session once a week and are loaned an instrument and given tuition by the band.

Downton’s Musical Director Paul Williams said “All our bands have been very busy over the summer playing in band stands, shows, fetes, summer fairs and concerts so we thought it would be lovely to play a concert on our home turf at the lovely Downton Moot.”

The picnic is free to attend although there will be a collection to help with the running costs of all three bands.

The concert is on Saturday 18th August in the Downton Moot Amphitheatre, is free to attend and starts at 4.00pm.