Sweet 16 in bands line-up for West of Scotland

Sixteen bands line up for this year’s West of Scotland entertainment contest which will take place in the Walker Halls, Troon, on Saturday 31 August.

Taking to the stage will be Broxburn & Livingston (Bryan Allen), Campbeltown Brass (Andrew McMillan), Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman), Dalmellington (Andrew Duncan), Dunaskin Doon (Ralph Brill), Irvine & Dreghorn Brass (Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale), Johnstone (Joshua Parkhill), Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Rebecca Wilson Paterson), The Kirkintilloch Band (Hedley Benson), Kirkintiloch Kelvin Brass (Mark James), Lochgelly (Chris Shanks), Newmilns & Galston (Alan Friel), Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston), Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good), Shotts St Patrick’s (Andy Shaw) and Unison Kinneil (Joshua Parkhill).

The contest will be adjudicated by Sheona Wade and the first band on stage will be at 9am. The entertainment judge of each 20-minute programme has yet to be confirmed. There is no specific theme this year.

There will be prizes for the best band in each section, as well as for those bands in first to fourth places overall. Awards will also be made to the conductor of winning band and for best solo cornet, best bass section and most entertaining programme.