The free concert, sponsored by BlueScope Steel, will cover musical styles from swing to jazz and toe-tapping classics.

The concert will be held from 11am-2pm and organisers suggest those attending bring picnics.

The festival runs from September 28-October 4, with concerts at Melbourne University, Federation Square and the Forum Theatre, where tickets will range from $10 to $45. Bookings at www.mifb.com.au

About 40 bands are expected to take part in Brass in the Park events across Victoria, filling music rotundas that once were used every Sunday for concerts in the parks. The Melbourne International Festival of Brass is in its sixth year of bringing together, in performance and workshops, brass instrumentalists from around the world.

The Victorian Bands League, the association of amateur community bands, is backing the festival by encouraging community brass bands to support the event.