European Folklore Festival - Coronation Brass

barliman2001

The European Folklore Festival in Bitburg, Germany, is an annual event of some considerable size with a remarkable 50+-year tradition. Groups from all over the world meet and show off their skills - great stuff.
Traditionally, some of the music is always provided by Welsh brass band Coronation Brass, a scratch formation meeting once a year in Bitburg and playing up to eight gigs over a four-day period. No rehearsal - just plain sight-reading one minor test piece and lots of marches (no marching!) and old favourites, with a tasty selection from the cheeseboard.
For the last years, Coronation Brass have been welcoming guest players from all over the world... me, for one (I've already managed to worm myself into the inner circle), and there were players from Germany, Italy, Russia and the US...
It's always great fun - great music, great people, free meals and floods of free drinks (main sponsor is Bitburger, one of the largest breweries in Germany!). ssmith1226 attended one festival, and a year later he wrote, "my liver still remembers!"

This year's event will be smaller than usual, more like a local affair, but Coronation Brass have been confirmed as participants and are inviting brass band players to join them for a long weekend of music and mayhem.

The Dates:
Arrival in Bitburg Friday, 8 July, 2022, lunchtime
Concerts - most of them open-air, in the centre of town - from Friday evening until Monday morning
Departure after breakfast Tuesday, 12 July

Bitburg is fairly easily reached by car, and is within reach of both Frankfurt and Frankfurt-Hahn airports. Airport pick-ups can be arranged, and for those travelling from the UK, there will be free seats in cars.

Accommodation traditionally is in a 3-star hotel in the centre of town, just 50 metres from the main concert venue... cost is likely to be at most € 250 for the whole period including large breakfasts (that's the upper figure - Coronation Brass usually get special rates and sponsoring. At the last pre-lockdown festival, cost per nose was € 180.)

Contact me for details, or apply directly to Nick Jones (organizing genius, and trombone wizard) at coronationbrass@hotmail.com

See a few pics from previous festivals...

Yep, that's me as flag-bearer.

The umbrellas in the background belong to the band hotel...

Fellow participants from Slovakia, with a tromboline

Bitburg's Mayor conducting Coronation Brass (he's a Euph player of note and has been known to join the band for a few pieces)

Music and drinks!

Street food

Folk dance group from a Swedish Seniors' Residence - the youngest member is 87, the oldest 101 years old

Kehaulani

Looks like fun. Enjoy!
Played it, myself
"Bitte, ein Bit".

barliman2001

@kehaulani You're welcome to join!

Trumpetsplus

@barliman2001 I will be there!

administrator

Looks like fun! I'll plan on going someday.

barliman2001

@administrator It certainly is, every time. And you get to play lots and lots of fun music... just tell me when you want to go, and I'll put you into contact....

barliman2001

@trumpetsplus OF COURSE!!