The Dart Music Festival Committee is “proud to announce” that the world renowned Band of HM Royal Marines, Plymouth, will be making a special appearance.

The 20th Dart Music Festival will take place in May and the Band of HM Royal Marines, Plymouth, based at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall, will be there.

Val Depledge, Dart Music Festival, said: “The Band of HM Royal Marines undertakes a wide variety of ceremonial work of national importance, as well as fulfilling its main role of providing music for the ships and establishments of the Royal Navy.

“We are most grateful to their Director of Music for fitting the Dart Music Festival into their extremely busy schedule and so very fortunate indeed that the Band has agreed to perform for us.

“All Royal Marines bands are required to provide every imaginable musical ensemble including orchestras, jazz groups and dance bands. To achieve this, most musicians, except solo specialists, are required to attain an acceptable standard on both a string and a wind instrument.

“As a result of this special combination of expertise, Royal Marines musicians are regarded as one of the most versatile in the military musical world.

“Whatever the occasion, the band performs in the knowledge that, wherever they appear they are always welcomed by an appreciative audience who enjoy the sound and the spectacle for which the Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines are famous throughout the world.

“We are immensely privileged to be providing this concert for you. It will be a wonderful, lively family occasion with music which appeals to everyone, and which demonstrates the skill and versatility of these dedicated musicians.

“It is a fantastic chance to experience a traditional Military Concert Band playing a varied and stirring programme, together with the spectacularly talented Corps of Drums which is famed throughout the world for its top-notch performances and who pride themselves on maintaining the highest standards of drumming, and concluding with the emotional and memorable Sunset Ceremony – definitely a not-to-be-missed experience.”

This year they will perform at the 20th Anniversary Dart Music Festival, early in the evening on Friday, May 12, at The Bandstand, Royal Avenue Gardens.

Dart Music Festival takes place on May 12, 13 and 14 and you can find out more about what is happening on the website: www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk