A postponed fundraiser which will bring together singers and brass band players is finally set to go ahead – 18 months later than planned.

A planned “Brass and Voices” concert featuring two of England’s oldest male voice choirs, Colne Orpheus and Nelson Arion, along with the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band, will go ahead at last at Blackburn Cathedral on Saturday, October 16.

The original fundraiser was set to go ahead in March 2020 however this was mothballed by the pandemic.

Now the men’s choirs and band are back in rehearsal at last, and hope audiences will grab the chance to hear live music again, in aid of the East Lancashire Hospice at Blackburn.

Former chairman of Orpheus, Eric Beardsworth said: “We’d been on tenterhooks for months, waiting for the Government to decide on when choirs would be allowed to rehearse face-to-face again.

“Singing is a major part of life for thousands of people in the UK, but all the pleas to the Government from choirs and their national organisations seemed to be literally falling on deaf ears.

“Now our choirs are raring to go again, and we’re thrilled to be joined by the band and its superb young musicians.”

The concert is supported by the Pendle Young Musicians Bursary and Ecotect Fire Suppression, Rossendale.

The programme will offer a mixture of music, ranging from male voice evergreens to modern show tunes, and brass band showpieces and crowd-pleasers.

A hospice spokesperson added: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity to benefit from this event, which is set to be a fantastic evening of music.

“Rewind over 18 months ago and the Nelson Arion Choir were ready to host an evening of Brass and Voices to raise money for their local hospice.

“It feels great knowing this event is still going ahead and we cannot wait to be part of it.”

Tickets at £10, £1 for accompanied age 16 and under, are on sale from: East Lancashire Hospice; Scout headquarters in Burnley Road, Bacup; and Leedams Pharmacy, Keighley Road, Colne.