IF YOU like your music big, and with plenty of spectacle to boot, then Southampton Guildhall is the place to be later this month.

Wessex Military Band is hosting a Massed Bands Spectacular involving more than 350 musicians on Monday, September 27.

The audience will be able to enjoy not only the sounds of English bands but also bands from Poland, Belgium, Germany, Scotland and Nepal.

Each band will take the stage to perform its own programme, before all of them come together for an impressive climax.

The finale will give the audience a chance to join in with a selection of music including a sing-a-long of classic songs such as There'll Always Be An England and, of course, the rousing Land of Hope and Glory.

Many bands will be making a welcome return visit to Southampton.

The Pipes and Drums of Nepal's 1st Battalion Royal Ghurkha Rifles, the Scottish Portlethen Pipe Band, the German Lippstadt Brass Band and the City of Zweibrucken Military Band have all been invited back for this varied spectacle. Other bands, such as the Antwerp Police Band from Belgium - recognised as one of the top police bands of Europe - are playing here for the first time.

Home-grown talent will be supplied by the hosts, Wessex Military Band, Horndean Band and Yorkshire Volunteers Band

The show starts at 8pm. Box office: 023 8063 2601. You can also see it at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, on September 23 and Salisbury City Hall on September 26.