BOLTON’S award-winning brass band is celebrating a busy summer of events.

This month Smithills School Senior Brass Band is not only hosting a concert and also preparing to embark on an Irish tour, but is also mid-way through recording its next CD.

Formed 26 years ago, the world champions continue to go from strength to strength and the group’s next album, coming out this autumn school term, promises to show off its range of musical talent.

From Star Wars, Wicked and Bohemian Rhapsody to John Rutter’s The Lord Bless You And Keep You and Rusalka’s Song To The Moon, the compilation of songs has something for everyone.

Conductor Chris Wormald said: “We record a CD annually and it’s something we look forward to each year. We never record anything we’ve done before for a CD so it will be all new arrangements we’ve performed over the year.

“I like to think there is something for everyone in our performances. The band love playing and request what goes on to the recording, they understand what will work and what won’t work.

“They are all big Star Wars fans, and with the film out last year, we chose that arrangement especially.

“I’m equally excited about The Lord Bless You And Keep You. John Rutter is notorious for saying no to requests to record his material.

“I wrote to him a year ago to explain what we would like to do and got a yes straight away!”

The rabble-rousing chorus of John William’s Star Wars score has proved a big hit for the band over the last year, with them performing the piece at concerts throughout the year.

Last night the band performed its summer concert and on Saturday it is uniting with Eagley Brass Band for a gala concert on behalf of Derian House Children’s Hospice.

Next week the youngsters will be jetting off to Cork where they will be performing three concerts in four days.

“We formed 26 years ago and never had a lull,” Chris added.

“It has been exactly 10 years since our massive tour of Dublin and that was a great, great trip so I’m sure this will be the same.

“We are also planning our sixth tour of America in July next year in North Carolina.

“That will be another returning visit, in 2014 we performed nine concerts in nine nights which were all sold out! It is going to be a big trip next summer and we are already preparing for it.

“We are always looking ahead and preparing for the next thing, it is something we are very proud of.”