THE Mellstock Band, which play dances, songs, carols and music of English village and church bands from the 18th Century to the present day, make a return to Worc-ester later this month.

The band play the city's Huntingdon Hall on Saturday, January 19, at 8pm with a show entitled, Love and Liquor, Death and Dancing, the "great things" in life, according to Thomas Hardy.

The band's musical backgrounds include folk, jazz and early music and they use their skills, plus authentic 19th Century-style instruments, to create a vital musical experience rather than a dry museum-like relic.

The repertoire and style comes from village musicians' manuscript books and from living traditions of song and instrumental music from all parts of England and beyond.

They have toured America, Europe and Africa, and have been seen on TV in adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Hardy classics The Return of the Native and Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

For tickets and more details, call the box office on 01905 611427.