National Film Music Band Competition (16th edition)
An open-air evening where touring concert bands perform movie soundtracks synced to film clips on the big screen, competing for a 16,000-euro prize pool. The 16th edition features bands from Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Gran Canaria, opening with a street parade at 21:00.
The clever twist here is the synchronisation. Each band plays a film score live while the matching scene runs on a big screen behind them, so the music lands exactly with the action on screen. Things kick off at nine with a street parade, the bands marching in to their own chosen pasodoble, before the competition proper starts at ten in the Jardines del Mercado.
Three groups travel in for it, from Gran Canaria, Ciudad Real and Cuenca, each judged on tuning, technique and how tightly the music tracks the picture. There's prize money on the line, including a separate award for the best parade. A youth band from Cullera closes the night off-competition. Warm August evening, decent brass and a few film themes you'll know by heart, it's a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.