Brass music extravaganza in Vienna this weekend

Some of Europe’s best brass bands will perform at this weekend’s Blasmusikfestival Vienna.Organisers of the festival – which first took place in 1980 – said today (Mon) highlight of events this Friday and Saturday will be a march from Helden Square to City Hall Square on Saturday (3pm) in which 1,800 musicians will take place to perform in front of City Hall.Late Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Helmut Zilk was honoured with the composition of a “Helmut Zilk March” in 1989 for initiating the festival which will bring live music to 23 markets and squares across the city this weekend.Blasmusikfestival officials said 36 bands from Austria, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and Liechtenstein will take part this year.