JUVENILE jazz bands from across the country are marching on the North-East for the first major competition of the performing season this weekend.

Kazoos at the ready, hundreds of young bandsmen and women will hope to put on polished performances for an appreciative audience of about 1,500, families, friends and other spectators at the North-East Extravaganza, at Rainton Meadows Arena, in Houghton-le-Spring, on Wearside.

But the 17 bands competing, who are from Wales, northwards, will hope to particularly catch the eyes and ears of judges.

Each will give a 15-minute performance before the judging panel announces which band gave the best display, plus the overall winner.

The draw to determine the running order for the day has resulted in one of the North-East’s top entrants, the Teesside Golden Dragoons, national champions on a dozen occasions, having the honour of starting proceedings.

Sunday’s (April 28) event is organised by the North-East Association of the UK Federation of Jazz Bands and is expected to run from 9am - 4pm, when the presentations will be made to the winners.