FOLLOWING a successful inaugural year, the Smithills Christmas Concert is returning with a musical bang to Bolton.

This weekend, 240 musicians and singers will be filling the Victoria Hall with festive feeling.

It may only be in its second year, but the gala event is proving to be hugely popular with only a limited number of tickets from the original 1,000 allocation still available.

Taking part in Saturday’s concert will be musicians from Smithills Senior Brass Band, Senior Big Band, Community Band and 120-strong Community Choir.

Musical director Chris Wormald said: “You can imagine the magic atmosphere with 1,000 people singing Silent Night accompanied by a band of 120 and choir of 120 on stage.

“It starts off Christmas really nicely.

“It’s only our second year of doing a Christmas concert. Last year was so incredibly popular we have had to up our game for this one to make it even more amazing.

“A lot of people have read about our World Champion band but when they come and see them play for the first time they are blown away. They can’t believe kids can play like this!”

The concert will include tunes from chart-toppers to movie themes and classical favourites.

Among the pieces being taken on is a brass band interpretation of Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody and adding tubas to Wham’s 1980s’ hit Last Christmas.

For the first time,they will be performing Prokofiev’s Troika, known to some as the Midnight Sleigh Ride.

In addition the audience will be invited to join in some classic carols.

The event is being held in aid of Bolton Hospice.

Mr Wormald added: “Last year’s ‘Smithills Christmas For Bolton Hospice’ was a very special night and a fantastic atmosphere was created with the generous people of Bolton turning up in such huge numbers that we filled the hall.

“We have raised over £300,000 for the hospice and the RNLI over the past 30 years,

“I hope our concert will add many more thousands of pounds to that figure whilst everyone enjoys a really fun evening of music that they will all know.”

The tickets cost £6, £5 concessions, and are available from Bolton Hospice shops, Smithills School, the Victoria Hall Box Office and online from www.egertontickets.com.