THE multi award winning Virtuosi GUS Band will be raising the roof at The Stroud Subscription Rooms on Saturday, February 7 at 7.30pm.

In January 1933, Mr. Fred Felton called a Northants Evening Telegraph reporter to his factory to tell him: "We are going to form a band and we are going to aim high". Two years later the Munn and Felton Works Band were champions of Great Britain - and a brass band legend was born that has lived on for over 80 years.

When Mr. Felton spoke to that reporter from Kettering's local newspaper, he could hardly have known what success the next three quarters of a century would bring. But he started a musical tradition, which is continued by one of the most famous names in the brass band world - GUS.

Thousands have applauded the band in concert, and the Midlanders have dented the Northern pride of Yorkshire and Lancashire, traditionally the home of brass bands, by winning no less than six national titles, the British Open Championships and being proclaimed World Champions.

Now the band is celebrating over 80 years of outstanding music making and a story which had its beginning in a small Northamptonshire shoe factory.

Tickets £10 (£8 concs) £5 under 18. Visit www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk for more details.