After five years away from the local contest stage, Andover Town Band is proudly returning to the Wessex Open Contest on 28 November, marking a long‑awaited comeback for one of the town’s most cherished musical groups.
The band has spent recent months preparing a fresh programme and strengthening its line‑up, and members say they are eager to represent Andover once again at this respected regional competition.
The band’s Musical Director Ben Halstead described the return as “a milestone for us and a moment of real pride,” noting how much work has gone into rebuilding momentum since the pandemic years and the break from contesting. Ben started conducting the band at the beginning of 2026 and took them to the West of England Regional Contest in Torquay where they placed a well-deserved 5th out of 17 bands in the 1st section. After Christmas the band will be preparing for Torquay again in the hope of achieving a top three finish which would see them qualify for the National Brass Band finals in October next year.
Hot on the heels of the Wessex competition, Andover Town Band will bring festive cheer to the community with two Christmas concerts on Saturday 5 December at The Lights Theatre, featuring something truly magical: a big‑screen showing of The Snowman accompanied by live music performed by the band.
There will be two performances, at 4pm and 7pm, making the event accessible for families, schools, and anyone looking to start the Christmas season with a classic. Tickets start from just £5, offering an affordable festive outing for all ages. Our Training Band will be playing a small set on the evening performance, the Training Band is for players of all ages and standards, they enjoy playing all sorts of music, from pop to musicals, to film and Disney.
The band hopes the combination of contest excitement and Christmas tradition will showcase the best of local music-making and bring audiences together at a special time of year.
Tickets are available directly from The Lights Theatre, 01264 368368