EIGHT York brass bands are to showcase their talent in a weekend of open-air concerts in York’s Museum Gardens at the end of the month.

And on August 20, York’s top two bands will return to the gardens to join forces for a Proms concert on the stage of the Mystery Plays Theatre.

Both events are being put on by Brassed On York Ltd with the support and backing of City of York Council to mark York 800 -the 800th anniversary of the city being granted a charter by King John.

The unseated concerts, which are free, will take place on the main lawn below the Yorkshire Museum on Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1.

The brass band festival follows on from the original Brassed On York 2010 festival, which drew audiences of several hundred to the massed bands performance of music from the popular film Brassed Off. This year different music will be played.

The Shepherd Group Brass Band and the York Railway Institute Brass Band, which have qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, will play in the Proms concert in aid of the Lord Mayor of York’s charities.

The event will feature the 1812 Overture and all the Last Night of the Proms favourites, as well as specially arranged and commissioned music to celebrate York’s 800 years of history.

Tickets cost from £12 to £20 and can be booked through the Theatre Royal box office by phoning 01904 623568 or going to yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.