A PEEBLES band will be representing the town for the first time at the Scottish Concert Band Festival.

Formed in 2008, the Peebles Concert Band was launched by the late Daniel T Ward and is a community band is made up of woodwind and brass players.

After playing their autumn concert at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles, now for the first time, the band will make the 40-mile journey to perform at the Scottish Concert Band Festival regional heats in Livingston.

The group will be one of 55 bands performing in total, taking place over two days on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 .

If successful in achieving a gold award, the group will head to the national finals, set to take place in Perth Concert Hall in March 2017.

Peebles Concert Band’ director of music, Vaughan Fleischfresser said: “Peebles has a wonderful tradition of community music making, and the Peebles Concert Band is very proud to be part of this tradition.

“With the band going from strength to strength, it’s time for us to step onto the national stage and pit ourselves against the best concert bands in Scotland. 

“Our aim is to do ourselves and Peebles proud, and hopefully perform well enough to make the national finals next March in Perth. Whatever the case, this is simply the next exciting phase in the continuing development of the Peebles Concert Band”.

The group welcomes players of any age and any stage to join. For further details, visit: www.facebook.com/peeblesconcertband and www.scottishconcertbandfestival.com