Lewis Merthyr Band Travel to Ostend

This Weekend, South Wales’ Lewis Merthyr Band will travel to Ostend, Belgium to perform in the 2019 International Taptoe België (Belgian International Tattoo).

The ITB is Belgium’s top large scale event. There the band will perform for over 12000 people across three performances at the Versluys Dome, Ostend alongside additional performing groups from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and South Korea.

Travelling with the band and featured in their performances will be guest soloist, Yamaha artist and solo euphonium of the Tredegar Band, Martyn Patterson.

Speaking about the visit, Lewis Merthyr Musical Director Craig Roberts told A4B: “We’re all thoroughly looking forward to the weekend, the band’s first overseas performance in many years, and to representing the Rhondda, Wales and the U.K. on an international scale in this fantastic show. We’re further delighted to be showcasing some great brass band music to such a large audience, and to doing so together with such a tremendous guest soloist in Martyn, and with our friends of the Royal British Legion (Llanelli) Corps of Drums”.

The visit is the first in a series of international projects in store for Lewis Merthyr, with further international invitations having been received by the band to perform in Europe, Russia and the USA through the next 18 months.

Additional performing groups featuring in the ITB this weekend include the Republic of Korea Air Force Band and Song Misook Dance Troupe of South Korea; the Fanfare Bereden Wapens Band of the Netherlands; the International Massed Pipes & Drums and ITB Highland Dance Team, the Gymnastes des Pompiers de Paris and Musique des Pompiers de Paris of France, and the WIK Band of Belgium.