A MUSICIAN is returning to his Rossendale roots to give a concert in Newchurch.

James Bulger, 20, of Pendleton Avenue, Rawtenstall, is a trumpeter in his third year at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester.

Together with four of his friends he has formed 'Pentatonic Brass' and they have already given several concerts in the Manchester area.

The group regularly has coaching sessions from trumpet player John Miller, who has played for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

St Nicholas' Church, Newchurch, is their chosen stage for this leg of their mini 'tour' on Saturday.

The recital will form part of the church's concert series.

James, a former pupil at All Saints CE Primary School in Clayton-le-Moors and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, still performs with the local group ,Grange Brass,, whose conductor Roger Nicholls is organising this concert.

For the ensemble's first concert outside Manchester, James decided it was time for a homecoming.

He said: "I've known Roger Nicholls, who organises the concert series at St Nicholas' for a long time and asked him to arrange for our group to play at one."

'Pentatonic Brass' consists of James, Joe Cooper, 19, Elizabeth Robinson, 21, David Pearce and Paul Hughes, both 20.

The concert starts at 7.30pm. For any more information on the group you can e-mail: pentatonicbrass@yahoo.co.uk