Music will return to Deal Memorial Bandstand when the new season of concerts begins on Walmer Green.

Betteshanger Brass Band traditionally start and end the programme of free events and are back again for 2009.

The music starts for the first performance at 2pm on Sunday, May 3, with concerts continuing throughout the summer until September 27.

There is also an evening with the Railway Swing Band on Wednesday, July 8, at 7.30pm.

The big concert of the 2009 season will be on Sunday, July 12, when the Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth make its annual visit to Deal.

This year’s performance will mark the 20th year since the IRA bombed the School of Music in Walmer, killing 11 musicians, and the day will include a street march by the band.

The bandstand was built as a direct result of the explosion and is run by a small committee of volunteers, including ex-Royal Marines.

Karen Griffiths, secretary for the training band of the Betteshanger Brass Band, said: "We have several members of our band who are ex Royal Marines bandsmen so the Deal bandstand is held particularly dear to us.

"We are lucky to have such a lovely bandstand on our doorstep and are really fortunate to be able to start off and finish the season’s music."

The training band will be accompanying the senior band on the bandstand on Sunday and playing three pieces of music during the interval, under the baton of its new director of music Chris Beriman.

For full details about the 2009 concert dates pick up a brochure at the East Kent Mercury office at 13 Queen Street, Deal.

* See page four of Thursday's East Kent Mercury, on sale on April 23,to find out how Royal Marines from Portsmouth are helping to raise cash for the Deal Memorial Bandstand.