Brass bands to light up Durham's streets and parks

BRASS Festival favourites New York Brass Band and Oompah Brass will lead five nights of free evening entertainment, with ten acts performing 10 concerts from Monday, July 11 to July 15.

Coun Neil Foster, the cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture at Durham County Council, which develops and delivers the annual celebration of the county’s musical traditions, said: “Once again our Big BRASS Bash tour will be a high-energy highlight of the festival.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to take incredibly talented bands from the county, the UK, and beyond and bring them to towns and villages in Durham that wouldn’t ordinarily have such events on their doorstep.”

Each weekday evening there will be two concerts, with four bands at each from a pool of performers that also includes Les Traine-Savates, Beat ’n’ Blow, German Trombone Vibration, Always Drinking Marching Band, Funky Style Brass, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, Xaral’s Dixie, and the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band.

The shows are at major attractions and parks including Seascape Primary School in Peterlee and Park View Pavillion in Murton.

On Saturday, July 16, bands will then come together in Durham City for a free grand finale in the recently re-opened Wharton Park.

Between 6pm and 9.30pm they will be joined by Hetton “pit-pop” performers Dennis, and indie rockers Hope and Social, who will look to reprise their collaboration with New York Brass Band that wowed audiences last year.

•For more information about the Big BRASS Bash tour, or to book tickets for other events at the festival – which is put on with support from Arts Council England’s National Portfolio - visit www.brassfestival.co.uk.