There will be a strong Manx presence at a national UK music competition this weekend.

Three local brass bands are heading to compete in the 2022 North-West Regional Brass Band Championships, which is taking place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday, February 27.

Douglas Town Band, Ramsey Town Band and Onchan Silver Band will all make the journey to the UK from the island, marking a return to competing in the UK.

They will each join 74 other UK community brass bands vying for a place in the national finals and the opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall later this year.

Douglas, under the baton of Ken Mitchell, will perform the Gordon Langford four-movement test piece Facets of Glass.

Meanwhile, Ramsey and Onchan will perform ’Argos’, a three-part composition, led by respective musical directors Robert Quane and David Karran.

This is the first time in 10 years that Onchan Silver Band have travelled off-island play.

The groups have been backed by the Isle of Man Steam Packet.