Durham City Vision
BRASS transforms Durham into region’s live music and entertainment hot-spot
9th June, 2008
BRASS: Durham International Festival, a celebration of current and emerging brass music from across the world, is set to transform Durham into the region’s live music entertainment hot-spot, from July 5-20.
BRASS: Durham International Festival 2008, is expected to attract audience numbers in excess of last year’s 80,311 visitors, and will see venues in historic Durham City and County hosting award winning acts from five continents, including bands from Colombia, India, Australia, Macedonia, France, Germany and the United States.
Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of the County Durham Tourism Partnership, said: “Durham is the perfect place to host an international Brass music festival and this summer’s event will see the city and county become the region’s must-visit destination for a live music and entertainment experience.”
BRASS 2008 sees a host of international performers playing jazz, funk and ska music as well as traditional and classic brass band genres. Acts will perform in a variety of venues, including the Gala Theatre, with tickets on sale through the festival website, www.brassfestival.co.uk and through the Gala Theatre Box Office (0191 332 4041).
Several acts will perform for free on the streets of Durham in the unique, musical walkabout “Streets of Brass,” and selected performers will appear in Darlington, and at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon.
Durham’s traditional Miner’s Gala takes place on the middle weekend of this two week festival, with over 30 brass bands marching through Durham City centre on Saturday July 12.
They will be joined by the Indian Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, whose participation in the Miner’s Gala reflects the cultural diversity and international flavour of Brass.
Programme highlights - BRASS 2008
• Bellowhead – BBC Radio Two Folk Awards, Live Act of the Year 2008
• Canadian Brass –world renowned Brass quintet playing sole UK date at BRASS
• Les Hors de Rails (Zic Zazou) – renowned French Street Theatre company who burst out of a train, performing its UK Premiere at Locomotion, Shildon
• Youngblood Brass Band – vibrant, edgy blend of Hip Hop and Brass
• Hypnotic Brass Ensemble with Bass Clef – New York based Jazz group, playing UK Tour Premiere event at BRASS
• Soweto Kinch – winner of Best Jazz Act Award, MOBO’s 2007
• LA33 – Colombian Salsa Band
• Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band – one of the UK’s finest traditional Brass Bands
Neil Hillier, strategic manager Heritage and Culture services for Durham County Council, said: “The best of current and emerging brass musicians will fill the streets and venues of Durham with vibrant, soulful music. Exciting spectacles, including musical street theatre and classical big-band performances, will make visiting Durham during BRASS a fantastic day out for people of all ages and musical persuasions.”
BRASS 2008 is a Durham Brass Initiative project. DBI is a partnership designed to raise the profile of Brass music through a programme of high quality events and participatory opportunities, with help from lead partner and organiser Durham County Council, and external funding body PRS, the Performing Rights Society.
For full programme details and information about how to book tickets for Brass: Durham International Festival, log onto the festival website at: www.brassfestival.co.uk. Smooth Radio is the official Radio partner of BRASS: Durham International Festival 2008 and will present live from Durham during the festival.
