Festival of Brass featured six bands at Riverfeast

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Bundaberg Municipal Band
Bundaberg Municipal Band Vice President Greg Goldsworthy enjoying the Festival of Brass on the Burnett River.

The Festival of Brass today at Riverfeast had music lovers travel to Bundaberg from the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton to play tunes along the Burnett River.

Six bands gathered from near and far to share their love of music.

Bundaberg Municipal Brass Band vice-president and tuba player Greg Goldsworthy said the six bands put on a show for the crowd in what was their biggest performance of the year.

Greg said Riverfeast was the perfect location for the Festival of Brass for a number of reasons, with the most important being the structure of the performing area.

“The reason we like Riverfeast and we have come back for the second time is because it is great for brass bands with its high ceiling,” Greg said.

“Brass bands struggle to be in enclosures. It can change the sound completely and it can be the difference between a really crappy sound to a near perfect sound the audience will hear; it’s just a really great location.”

Bundaberg Municipal Band
Bundaberg Municipal Band drum player Greg Baxter at the Festival of Brass.

Pleasant sounds of popular tunes

Greg wasn’t wrong, as the bold but pleasant sounds of popular music pieces from movies, including the all-time orchestra favourite The Yellow Submarine and other fan favourites could be heard on the approach to the Festival of Brass.

“All funds from the gate will go back to the band, it means we will be able to build the band with more instruments and more players,” Greg said.

“And also, next year we have some pretty major things happening with top-end tuitions coming in and workshops to grow the band.”

Greg thanked everyone who went along to watch the performances and also the other bands that travelled to take part.

“This is about a collaboration and we all work in to play the pieces together,” he said.

Bundaberg Municipal Band will also host their gala concert on 15 September at Shalom College with tickets available at the door. For more information phone Toby Smith on 0439 693 436 or email bundybrassband@gmail.com.