It has been announced the nine of the world's top ranked bands will compete for the first BrassPass 'Band of the Year' title to be held at Manchester's Stoller Hall on Saturday 22nd June.

The confirmed line -up is Black Dyke; Brighouse & Rastrick; Carlton Main Frickley; Cory; Fairey; Foden's; Flowers; Tredegar and Whitburn.

The invitation was extended to the top-ten UK ranked bands in the British Bandsman/4Barsrest World Rankings as at the 31st December 2018.

30 minute selection

It is understood that the bands have been informed that there is a £5,000 first prize, with a new trophy being produced for the event. The podium finishers will receive £3,500 and £1,500, with each competing band also receiving £1,000 towards their travel expenses. There will also be a solo prize.

Each band will provide a 30 minute own-choice selection of music that must include a solo. The contest organisers stressed that it is not an 'entertainment' event and that the international panel of adjudicators will be judging purely on the quality of music making.

Adjudication system

The panel will be announced before the contest day, with the open adjudication system seeing them individually rank the bands from 1st to 9th, with the band with the lowest aggregate score claiming the title.

In the event of a tie, the higher placed soloist position of the respective bands will be the deciding factor.

Commenting on the new contest, BrassPass Managing Director, Martin Gernon said: "We're thrilled to have attracted such an incredible line up for the first year of this contest, and I wish to publicly thank the bands for their tremendous support.

The music format makes the contest so intriguing, and from an audience standpoint hearing the nine best UK bands on top form with a wide variety of music choices is mouthwatering."

We're thrilled to have attracted such an incredible line up for the first year of this contest, and I wish to publicly thank the bands for their tremendous supportMartin Gernon.

Draw and concert

The event will be pre-drawn and the draw published before the end of March.

The day will be concluded with a Gala Concert featuring Black Dyke alongside a featured guest soloist.

Tickets are available now from the Stoller Hall Box Office for both the contest and the Gala Concert.

Go to: www.stollerhall.com