Call it classic heavy metal: tuba, euphonium and trombone music, with their distinctive deep baritone and bass notes. And it’s even better when you get a bunch of low brass together.

That is exactly what will happen on Saturday evening, Jan. 27, following the third annual Brandon University Low Brass Festival, or BULBFest, at the BU School of Music.

The festival, organized by BU low brass professor Dr. Aaron Wilson, will bring together between 75–100 people for a day of concerts, master classes and ensembles. Several groups are coming to BU from out of town, including ensembles from the University of North Dakota, the University of Regina, and the University of New Mexico. The Manitoba Trombone Collective, a trombone choir based in Winnipeg, will also be joining.

That evening, the public is invited to a festival concert featuring legendary trombonist Al Kay as well as several more trombonists from the province.

“His set will be mainly jazz, but the audience will also get to listen to some massive low brass choir performances from our festival participants,” Dr. Wilson said. “The concert is at 7:30 p.m., but show up at 7 p.m. to hear jazz combos from Vincent Massey and Crocus Plains/Neelin perform on the Lorne Watson stage.”

Admission to the evening concert is free for festival registrants or $10 for the general public, and is payable at the door.

“This is just the latest incredible performance to take the stage here in Brandon. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students, and for the musical community, and we’re thrilled to share it with music lovers around Westman,” said Greg Gatien, Dean of the BU School of Music. “Including our talented faculty and student recitals, lectures, and workshops plus the many visiting artists and scholars, we have rich and diverse offerings that compare favourably to cities many times our size.”