A NEW festival in Dursley seeking to create an enthusiasm for brass instruments in people of all ages will welcome a special guest cycling the length of the country with a tuba.

The first Cotswold Edge Brass Festival will be held this weekend at Rednock School and the Chantry Centre, giving young people the opportunity to explore the gamut of brass instruments and learn from professionals.

In a stroke of pure chance, tuba player Jon Hodkin, who is cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End with his instrument, reached Dursley this week and will perform at the festival’s main event.

Alan Swayne, a professional bass trombone player, said the festival’s inception came as a result of changes in music education.

“When I started it was all free,” he said. “But now we’ve found ourselves in a situation in which the only people playing music are those whose mums and dads can afford it.

“This means that the best trombone player in the world could work at Kwik Fit, having never touched the instrument.”

And so the Cotswold Edge Brass Festival was born, with the aim of getting children and young people enthused about instruments they otherwise may not otherwise see.

Workshops have been held in local schools throughout the area this week, encouraging children to try out instruments and come along to the festival on Sunday.

Alan described Jon’s coincidental involvement in the festival and build-up as “an unbelievable gift”.

Jon, who has been cycling across the country on a recumbent ICE trike with trailer in tow and playing music in various locations as part of his InnerTuba project since 2000, just happened to be passing through Dursley around the time of the festival, and saw a unique opportunity to get involved in a brand new event.

Discussing his project, the end goal of which is cycling from the west to the east coast of Canada, Jon said: “The project was born out of a combination of the three loves of my life: cycling, travelling and music.”

When Jon found out about the festival in Dursley he was keen to get involved.

“I read about it in the specialised brass press and I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “I think what they’re doing here is incredibly impressive.”

The workshops and rehearsals element of the festival will take place at Rednock School between 10am and 5pm on Sunday, with the Gala Concert taking place in the Chantry Centre at 7pm. Those wishing to attend the workshops must register beforehand via cotswoldbrassfest.org.uk.

For more information about Jon’s project visit innertuba.org.uk