MUSIC lovers are being invited to Coleford town centre later this month as the popular Coleford Festival of Brass returns for its second year.

Organised by Coleford Town Council in partnership with the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association, the free event will take place on Saturday, June 13, bringing together all nine Forest of Dean brass bands for a day of performances across two venues.

Following the success of the inaugural festival in 2025, this year's event will feature music from midday until around 7.30pm on the Clock Tower stage in the town centre and inside Coleford Baptist Church.

Bands taking part include Forest of Dean Brass, Pillowell Silver Band, Berry Hill Silver Band, Bream Silver Band, Parkend Silver Band, Lydbrook Band, Lydney Town Band, Cinderford Band and Academy Band, and A W Parker Drybrook Band.

The festival will conclude with a massed band performance under the direction of renowned conductor Phil Harper, musical director of the world-famous Cory Band.

Among the featured performers will be A W Parker Drybrook Band, one of the Forest's longest-established musical organisations. Named after long-term sponsors A W Parker Coal Merchants, the band has more than 140 years of history and recently secured its place in the Championship Section following this year's regional contest in Torquay.

Drybrook Band will perform at Coleford Baptist Church at 4.30pm before taking to the Clock Tower stage at 6.40pm.

The town centre stage programme begins with Pillowell Silver Band at midday and continues throughout the afternoon, while the church venue hosts a parallel programme featuring performances from bands across the district.

Admission is free and visitors will also benefit from free parking in Forest of Dean District Council car parks at Railway Drive, Pyart Court and Newland Street.

Organisers hope the festival will once again attract audiences from across the Forest and beyond.