Brassed off band play at Queen's

THE award-winning Grimethorpe Colliery band, which catapulted to world-wide recognition through the movie Brassed Off, will play at the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple on Sunday, July 19 at 3pm.

Regarded as the UK's premier brass band, it was crowned the National Champions of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in 2006 and 2007.

Since forming in 1917 as a leisure activity for colliery workers, the band has gone from strength to strength.

It came into its own in 1992. The Government had announced nationwide coal pit closures, and with the threat of unemployment hanging over it, members of the band were determined to progress to the final of the Brass Band Championships.

They triumphed at the contest to become the Champion Brass Band of Great Britain.

In 1996 their tale was retold, in Brassed Off, starring Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite.

The real Grimethorpe band performed on the film's soundtrack.

Box Office: 01271 324242.