The Battle of the Brass Bands - Sky Arts

The stage at the Royal Albert Hall
(Image credit: Twofour broadcast Ltd)

In The Battle of the Brass Bands, the country's finest assemble for a contest to find out who's the best of the best

The Battle of the Brass Bands takes us to the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London.

Here, the 20 best bands in the country compete to be crowned number one.

The third of four episodes follows three of the top bands as they prepare for the big competition.

In the Rhondda Valley, Cory Band are hoping to improve on last year’s third place.

In Cheshire, Foden’s Band are hoping to prove great things can rise from the ashes following a fire that devastated their band room.

Close up of player at Battle of the Brass Bands

Will the players be able to stand up to close scrutiny?

Meanwhile in Yorkshire, at Grimethorpe Colliery Band, which the film Brassed Off was based on, they are proud to have qualified for the first time in two years.

MORE: Brassed Off

It’s stirring stuff as each band gives it some proper welly to impress the judges.

TV Times rating: ***