IT’S TIME to dig out the deck chairs and take to the great outdoors for a summer dose of outdoor music.

Bradford Concert Band is among a number of local bands bringing their lively sounds to parks across Leeds including Pudsey Park and Wharfemeadows Park in Otley.

Made up of woodwind, brass and percussion the concert band has a long history in the Bradford, attracting members from across the district, who come together twice a week to rehearse a wide and varied programme ranging from formal overtures and marches to light classics and hits from the musicals, through to popular numbers of today.

  • BRADFORD CONCERT BAND is performing in Meanwood Park in Leeds on Sunday, August 11, and at Golden Acre Park on Sunday, August 18.
     
  • Also from the city, BD1 BRASS - formed in October 2014 as part of the family of the City of Bradford Brass Band and, as of Jan 2016, was promoted to the third section - is playing at Dartmouth Park in Morley on Sunday, July 28.
     
  • OTLEY BRASS BAND is playing at Burley in Wharfedale Festival at Grange Park on Sunday, August 18. Founded in 1973 the traditional brass band performs a regular series of concerts throughout the year ranging from summer afternoon music in parks to evening concerts.

This year’s Summer Bands series in Leeds’ parks includes more than 100 concerts and features music from big bands, swing bands, brass bands, jazz, concert, and the celebratory sounds of Jewish klezmer bands.

All the bands will be performing afternoon concerts in the open air, so grab your picnic rugs and hampers and come along and enjoy the music.

With many venues making use of ornate bandstands, the events are a visual as well as an audible treat. They not only entertain visitors to the parks, they showcase the wide range of musical talent that exists in West Yorkshire.

  • Other local bands performing include the long-established GUISELEY BRASS BAND, which will be playing a concert of brass band favourites on hone turf at Springfield Park in Guiseley on Sunday August 18.
     
  • DRIGHLINGTON BRASS BAND is performing at the Lotherton Hall country estate east of Leeds, on Yorkshire Day - Thursday, August 1.

Also taking part in the summer season concerts is Horsforth Music Centre Concert Band and Clifton & Lightcliffe Brass Band. The latter dates back to 1838 when most of the inhabitants of the local villages were employed in either agriculture or coal mining. The formation of the band was a way to escape from the hard work and poor conditions at that time.

The free concerts are a great way to unwind on a warm summer afternoon while catching the sun or reading the paper.

In August the Wakefield Metropolitan Band, currently a Yorkshire Area 1st Section band, perform in Pudsey Park,.

Also entertaining visitors to the park in Pudsey, will be the lively Haworth-based Herr Jens’s Band, a Bavarian Oompah Band composed of professional, semi-professional, retired professional and talented amateur musicians from various bands, orchestras and ensembles in Yorkshire.

Herr Jens Band specialises in traditional German Bierkeller music and became the leading Oompah band in Yorkshire, with astonishing versatility among its players. Made up of three reeds, six brass and a drummer, it will be worth hearing.

The free al fresco concerts take place from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. To find out which bands are performing on what dates and where, download the brochure or view the concerts online at leedsconcertseason.co.uk.