Including this year, there are currently 12 bands that have appeared in at least 10 European Championships (top section). Five of them are in the field this year, with this experienced quintet having made 97 appearances between them! All of the bands playing this year have appeared at least once before, with the exception of the debutants - Tongwynlais Temperance and University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Brass Band (although the Austrians have made five previous B section appearances).

Cory is making a record 12th consecutive appearance (and will extend this to 13, no matter the result of this year's contest, having won this year's Welsh Area) and a 25th appearance overall.

Bands, with number of appearances, are as follows:

25 - Cory (Wales) *

22 - Black Dyke (England) *

19 - De Wâldsang (Netherlands), Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Norway) *

18 - Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium) *

14 - Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland), Manger Musikklag (Norway)

13 - Co-operative Funeralcare (Scotland), Whitburn (Scotland) *

12 - Lyngby-Taarbæk (Denmark)

10 - Hammonds Saltaire (ex-YBS) (England), Brass Band Midden-Brabant (Belgium)

selected others

7 - Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Switzerland) *

4 - Concord Brass Band (Denmark) *, Brass Band Schoonhoven (Netherlands) *

2 - Paris Brass Band (France) *

1 - Tongwynlais Temperance (Wales) *, University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Brass Band (Austria) *

* competing this year