Tredegar will enjoy a high profile lead-up to the defence of their British Open title at Symphony Hall.

London premiere

The Tuesday before the Welsh band takes to the stage in Birmingham on Saturday 6th September, they will perform in London at the premiere of the eagerly anticipated British film ‘Pride’, in which the band not only played a small cameo role (above), but also provided a substantial part of the sound track.

Directed by Matthew Warchus, who has just taken over the role of Director at the Old Vic Theatre from American actor Kevin Spacey, ‘Pride’ recently closed the Director’s Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, and is already being widely tipped as one of the film hits of the year.

Miners' Strike

Based on a true story about the 1984 Miners’ Strike, Stephen Beresford’s bitter sweet culture clash comedy recounts the true story of Gay Pride activists who set about raising money for the initially reticent Welsh miners.

Matthew Warchus described it as a film that, “...engages the audience not in party politics or preachy agendas, but in much bigger concepts of generosity and compassion" and stars the likes of Dominic West, Andrew Scott Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Paddy Considine. It will be on general release in the UK from September 12th.

Different spotlight

And despite the pressure that will be on Tredegar as they look to claim their third Open title in five years, MD Ian Porthouse believes it will provide his players with an ideal opportunity to enjoy a very different kind of spotlight.

"It’s going to be an intensive build up to the British Open, with a welcome visit of the Upper Austria Youth Band to Tredegar at the end of August and our eve of British Open Concert at Birmingham Conservatoire on the Friday evening, which will feature a chance to hear the Open test piece ‘Vita Aeterna Variations’ by Alexander Comitas."

Too good to miss

He added: "This was too good an invitation to miss though — and the producers and especially the composer Chris Nightingale have made us feel so much a part of the film from the word go.

It will be great to be able to provide some brass band music as the stars make their way down the red carpet for the cameras!"

This was too good an invitation to miss though — and the producers and especially the composer Chris Nightingale have made us feel so much a part of the film from the word goIan Porthouse

British Open concert

Tickets for the eve of British Open Championship Concert at Birmingham Conservatoire can be booked at:

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/pme/conservatoire/events-calendar/tredegar-town-band-in-concert

image: Copyright Nicola Dove