THE Brass Factor is back.
The talent show, based on the hit ITV programme X-Factor, is coming back to Holmfirth next month.
Valley man Alex Bray, 21, came up with the idea last year as a way to revive interest in the traditional form of music.
"Brass bands are really struggling to get support," said the Holmfirth man. "I created the Brass Factor as a way of allowing bands to play more modern music."
Six groups have signed up for this year’s contest at Holmfirth Picturedrome: Hade Edge Seniors and Juniors, Slaithwaite, Honley, Skelmanthorpe B and Dinnington from South Yorkshire.
Alex said: "Each band gets 20 minutes to perform and they can get creative by dancing to the music.
"They can do four or five different pieces of entertainment music. Last year we had some jazz, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Simpsons theme tune and even Just Dance by Lady Gaga."
This year’s panel includes David Hoyle, who presents a brass band show on Radio Leeds; former Children in Need presenter Jon Hammond and musical experts John Gillan and Kevin Wadsworth.
But they won’t have the final say, as Alex explained: "Half the marks will come from the judges and the other 50% from the audience. It gets people involved in the evening."
Alex, who plays cornet for Hade Edge Seniors, is organising this year’s event in memory of valley brass stalwarts Edgar Dickinson, Trevor Storer and Carlton Mellor, all of whom have passed away in the past 12 months.
He said: "They all put a lot into brass banding so I thought it would be a good testament to them to bring the competition back this year.
"We’ve got lots more people and even more sponsorship this year. People really want to support brass banding in the valley."
The Brass Factor takes place at Holmfirth Picturedrome from 7pm on Friday, November 11.
Tickets costing £10 are available from Andrew Bray’s greengrocer in Holmfirth.
Contact: For more information about the contest email: brassfactor@gmail.com
