LOST tourists could be forgiven for mistaking Worcester's Guildhall for Buckingham Palace, when the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards opens the first Worcester Festival today.

The band is usually associated with the Changing of the Guard and Trooping of the Colour ceremonies at the Place.

Now the 48 musicians in the band, which played at the Queen Mother's funeral, are set to march through the streets of the Faithful City and performing outside the Guildhall, in High Street, to mark the official opening of the festival.

"The ceremony is going to begin with us marching through the streets of Worcester in the red tunics and bearskin hats, which is going to be superb," said Major Graham Jones, musical director of the regimental band.

The band is due to be accompanied by Chinese Lion Dancers, adding more colour to the opening ceremony.

The march through the city, set to start at 3pm, is due to be followed by a concert at 8pm at College Hall in College Green near the Cathedral.

Although it was due to be the first time the regimental band, which is more than 200 years old, has visited Worcester, it will be a welcome return for one performer.

"We have a Worcester lad, Corporal Jake Lees, who is performing a solo for If, which is a jazzy Kenny G-type piece," said Maj Jones.

"As he's a fine musician and a local boy so we've given him this chance to shine in his home town."

The programme for the concert also involves another local figure, Edward Elgar, with performances of both the Imperial March and Pomp and Circumstances No 4.

"The last time we performed the Imperial March was at St James' Palace for the Elgar Society," said the director.

As well as arrangements of Greensleeves and Amazing Grace, the band will give its first public performance of Windows of the World, by Peter Graham, a collection of pieces from Rainforest to Drums of Thunder. It will also perform Music for a Festival by Gordon Jacob.

The band is recognised as one of the premiere military bands throughout the world, not least in America.

The band broke with the tradition to perform The Star Spangled Banner, for the Changing of the Guard on September 13, 2001, in sympathy with the American people after the September 11 terrorist outrages.

It was also Maj Jones' first day in the job. "I was focussed," he said.

Parts of the ceremony were broadcast in America, leading to the invitation to New York to perform.

"We were on the national TV programme Good Morning America in Times Square, watched by approximately 23 million people," said Major Jones.

"When the programme asked viewers to choose the single most important TV moment of the year, they voted for us and we came out number one."

n Tickets for tonight's concert are £14 from the festival box office on 01905 611427.