Royal Naval Volunteer Band Association Festival

Ten bands made up of 400 volunteer musicians representing the Royal Navy will perform their talents in a prestigious festival on The Hoe.

Programme of Events

9am - Marching Displays
10.20am - Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps Plymouth Display
12pm - The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth Marching Display
12.30pm - Concert Band Performances
4.30p - Presentation of awards and prizes

The bands will perform compete for the Commander in Chief’s Challenge Trophy and the honour of being crowned “Best Overall Volunteer Band in the Royal Navy” amongst other awards, the event brings together 400 volunteer musicians from around the Royal Navy.

Plymouth based Devonport Royal Naval Volunteer Band will be among those performing as well as RNAS Yeovilton and Culdrose, with the Volunteer Band from Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth all from the West Country.

Travelling the farthest to compete will be the Royal Naval Volunteer Band from HMS Neptune in Faslane, whilst the Royal Navy in Portsmouth is represented by the bands from HMS Nelson, HMS Collingwood and HMS Sultan. Completing the line-up will be the band from Northwood Headquarters based in Middlesex.

Each band will display their musical abilities and take part in spectacular marching displays in a daylong event suitable for the whole family. Prizes will be awarded to the best displays.

Royal Navy Volunteer Bands are an enthusiastic mix of serving, retired and civilian musicians. The players are all amateur musicians and give their time freely to represent and support the Royal Navy at military and non-military functions and events. The Royal Naval Volunteer Bands can trace their ancestry back to the Royal Navy Blue Jacket bands and as such have been a part of naval life for over 100 years.

In addition to the volunteer bands, visitors to the Hoe will be able to enjoy performances from the award winning Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps of Drums, based in 30 Commando Royal Marines barrack’s in Stonehouse, and The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth, based at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint.

The event will follow the return of the popular Armed Forces Day which takes place on Plymouth Hoe on Saturday 27 June and will provide an exciting weekend of military displays, air shows and family activities.

More information about Armed Forces Day can be found here.

Disabled Parking: There will be limited disabled parking for Blue Badge holders on the Hoe from 9am to 5pm. This is allocated on a first come, first served basis and can be accessed by Elliot Street.