The Miners Entertainment Contest, which was started in 2011 to assist in the entertainment contest development of Welsh banding, will be moving to a new venue later this year.

Popular event

The popular event, which is open to bands graded nationally in Sections Two, Three and Four from both sides of the River Severn, will now be held in the heart of the Gwent coalfields, at the newly refurbished Newbridge Memorial Hall.

Welcome development

Rob Gowing, Contest Controller told 4BR: “This is a welcome development for the contest, and we look forward to working with the management and staff at Newbridge Memorial Hall, to further enhance and promote, what is already a popular event.”

The winning band will take away with them a first prize of £600, plus the wonderful South Wales Miners Challenge Cup worth over £6,000, as well as gaining an invitation to compete at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest in Porthcawl in February the following year.

The winning band will take away with them a first prize of £600, plus the wonderful South Wales Miners Challenge Cup worth over £6,0004BR

Schedule and entry forms

In addition to a generous prize fund, there are also additional individual awards (above) on offer for the bands that must perform a 20 minute entertainment set.

Schedules and entry forms will be available from April by contacting Rob Gowing on robjgowing@aol.com