For anyone visiting the island of Madeira during the middle of October, the town of Ribeira Brava provides the chance to experience some traditional local music and culture.

Local festivals and celebrations are not always advertised widely on holiday islands like Madeira, probably because most local people already know when things are happening so there is no need. That often makes things difficult for tourists who want to get away from their resort locations and experience a little local flavour of life.

October is the month when the many traditional local feasts conclude and when Ribeira Brava, a small village on the River Brava 10 miles west of Funchal, hosts its annual Regional Meeting of Bands. The village is a picturesque town that straddles the point where the River Brava reaches the ocean. This river is sourced by a number of freshwater springs higher up the valley in the pretty area of Serra de Agua. Here the Encumeada Pass cuts through the steep, lush, terraced hillsides.

The festival, a cultural event that has also been adapted to suit tourists visiting the island, was first created in an attempt to preserve Madeira's musical heritage and to pay tribute to the island's orchestral bands for their part in entertaining the islanders and paticipating in Madeira's traditional feasts.

This annual festival takes place early in the afternoon of Sunday 18th October, starting with a procession through Ribeira Brava's main streets by all the bands taking part. Once the parade is complete, the bands will assemble on the seafront promenade, where each will give their own short concert performance. The festival continues with the massed bands playing an anthem that has been composed specifically for the occasion. Next comes the prize giving ceremony followed by a large party, where everybody is invited to join in with the celebrations.