Hamilton hosts NZ Brass Band Championship

Hamilton Brass, Street march for 29 brass bands Hastings street, Napier. Photographer/ Glenn Taylor

Get ready for a blast of brass in downtown Hamilton.

The city hosts the 2019 NZ Brass Band Championships this week – the first time the event has been held in the city in 40 years. It will welcome more than 800 participants, an estimated 600 spectators – plus a further 85-strong contingent coming in from Australia and the United States of America.

The event will be livestreamed into 20 different countries with the viewing audience expected to exceed 7000 people.

The five-day championships include one of the most celebrated aspects of brass band competitions, a Parade of Bands taking place in three central-city streets on July 12 from 12:30pm.

The 28 bands participating in the Parade of Bands will give the traditional salute to the mayor, who'll receive the salute from a dais placed on Barton St. One band will pass the mayor every two minutes.

Malcolm Barr is a member of the Hamilton Citizens Brass Band and chairman of the organising committee which has put the event together.

"Having been to plenty of contests everywhere, I really wanted to have one in my home town," he says. "I just didn't know how much work it was going to be."

Mr Barr, principal trombonist, says the planning has taken three years after the initial bid to host the event was placed in 2016.

The organising committee obtained $50,000 in sponsorship from Hamilton City Council's Major Event Sponsorship Fund, and Mr Barr said the Council's support had been vital to the event.

Friday's Parade of Bands starts at the Victoria St end of Bryce St, turn onto Barton St, parade past the Mayor and salute, then turn left on to London St.

To allow the bands to march, there will be parking restrictions and temporary road closures on or near the parade route.

Parking restrictions on Barton St, from 10am.

Temporary closure of Bryce St (from Anglesea St to Victoria St), London St (Anglesea St to Victoria St) and all of Barton St, from 12pm to 3pm.