Royal Naval Band festival line-up confirmed

The full line up has now been confirmed for the Royal Navy’s annual Royal Naval Volunteer Band Festival which takes place on Plymouth Hoe this month.

Bands will perform on Sunday 28 June and compete for the Commander in Chief’s Challenge Trophy and the honour of being crowned “Best Overall Volunteer Band in the Royal Navy” among other awards, the event brings together 400 volunteer musicians from around the Royal Navy.

Plymouth based Devonport Royal Naval Volunteer Band will be among those performing as well as RNAS Yeovilton and Culdrose, with the Volunteer Band from Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth all from the West Country.

Travelling the furthest to compete will be the Royal Naval Volunteer Band from HMS Neptune in Faslane, whilst the Royal Navy in Portsmouth is represented by the bands from HMS Nelson, HMS Collingwood and HMS Sultan. Completing the line-up will be the band from Northwood Headquarters based in Middlesex.

Performances with begin at 9am with the presentation of awards taking place at 4.30pm.

In addition to the volunteer bands, visitors to the Hoe will be able to enjoy performances from the award winning Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps of Drums, based in 30 Commando Royal Marines barrack’s in Stonehouse, at 10.20am and The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth, based at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, at 12pm.

Bd CSgt Simon Nicholls, the Volunteer Band Instructor for HMS Drake based Devonport Royal Naval Volunteer Band said “Together, the Royal Marines Cadets, Royal Naval Volunteer Bands and Royal Marines Band Plymouth represent the whole spectrum of organised music making within the Royal Navy. The Festival will provide a unique opportunity to showcase this musical talent.”
The event will follow the return of the popular Armed Forces Day which takes place on Plymouth Hoe on Saturday 27 June and will provide an exciting weekend of military displays, air shows and family activities.

Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, Pete Smith, said: “We are really pleased to be welcoming the Royal Naval Volunteer Band Assoc. Festival to Plymouth which will really add to the already hugely successful Armed Forces Day celebrations. Some people have never had the experience of seeing a military band perform before and it is a must do experience, especially in Plymouth – home to a number of armed forces personnel. This is going to be a very special event.”

More information about Armed Forces Day can be found at www.visitplymouth.co.uk/armedforcesday