Bristol hosts 26th annual Drum & Bugle Corps. Competition

Performers from seven of the top drum and bugle corps. in the US and Canada took to the field at Mt. Hope High School on Friday.

The annual performances in Bristol are part of a national competition series.

"I want to do music for as long as I've live and to be able to perform in such a high stakes competition like this,” said 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. member Brendan Abrahamson. “It's exhilarating, nerve-racking, terrifying. But, it's good it's worth it in the end."

Hundreds packed the stands and surrounding fields to cheer on the performers.

"We come every year. We love it. You got the best corp. in the country from California and the second best or third best corp. from Pennsylvania,” said Pat Devlin.

That excitement is something the musicians say they can feel while performing.

"It's fantastic. I love the atmosphere, love the crowd. It's really positive and gives us the right amount of atmosphere to perform,” said Cori Snyder of the Jersey  Surf Drum and Bugle Corps.

"I really like this show. I like the scenery and I like how community oriented it is,” said Gabby Tober of the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corp.

There were two winners Friday night.

The open class corp winner, the Spartans from Nashua New Hampshire and the world class winner the Blue Devils from California.

(C) WLNE 2015