ONE of the best brass bands in the world will be heading to Blackburn Cathedral for a concert next month.

And for one member of The Brighouse and Rastrick Band, the show will be extra special.

For Dan Thomas, 21, is Blackburn born and bred and has been responsible for getting the band to play in his home town for the first time.

Dan, currently in his final year of studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester is the band’s second euphonium player.

“It’s a very heavy instrument but you get used to it,” laughed Dan who lives at Beardwood and is a former pupil of St Wilfrid’s High School.

“The concert will be a great opportunity for music lovers to see the best brass band in England,” he said. “We are currently ranked second in the world.”

As part of the most famous names in brass, Dan has played at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Take That for a Children in Need concert remembering Sir Terry Wogan.

The concert at Blackburn Cathedral will be part of a fundraising drive to allow the band to compete in the European Championships in Belgium in April.

“I think it is great that we are able to bring the band to East Lancashire,” said Dan. “For the concert we will have a very varied, family friendly programme.

“But that is one of the special things about being in a band like this. We could play a version of All Night Long by Lionel Richie to the 1812 Overture.”

One piece which will definitely feature will be the Floral Dance.

The Brighouse and Rastrick Band reached number two in the singles charts in 1977 with the song and a year later they combined with Terry Wogan to once again get into the charts.

Dan has grown up with brass music. His dad was a cornet player with the Blackburn and Darwen Band.

Dan began playing with the Blackburn and Darwen Junior Band before moving into the senior band.

“I was in the senior band for five or six years and I was looking for a change when I was asked to play at a few rehearsals by Brighouse and Rastrick and then asked to join the band,” he said.

“Brighouse and Rastrick is fantastic for allowing young talent to flourish.

“The whole brass band community is so friendly even though it is also competitive. There is also all the tradition of the brass band world. It’s a pleasure to be part of it.

“I hope that the Blackburn concert will attract people who perhaps have never seen a top brass band performing live before. I think that they will be surprised at the power and the variety of the show.”

Performing alongside the band in the cathedral will be Rossendale Ladies Choir. To make it a real family affair, Dan’s brother Matthew will be conducting the choir.

“We will bring the full band to Blackburn and we hope the concert will help fund our trip to the European Championships. That is our main competition this year. We want to bring the title back to the UK.”

Brighouse and Rastrick Band with Rossendale Ladies Choir, Blackburn Cathedral, Saturday, February 4. Details from brighouseandrastrick.com