Brass at 20
The annual Durham festival to mark milestone anniversary in signature style
Durham Brass Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary this summer with a characteristically wide-ranging programme.
From Nirvana-inspired chaos to cinematic brass, venues across County Durham will be playing their part in marking two decades of stretching what “brass” can mean.
Returning from July 12 to 19, this year’s line-up leans fully into that spirit.
Things get underway at Gala Durham with ELVANA (July 12), whose mash-up of Nirvana’s grunge catalogue and Elvis Presley’s swagger has become something of a cult hit. They’ll be joined by Oompah Brass XXL, adding a dose of high-energy Bavarian brass to the opening night.
From there, the programme moves comfortably between tradition and reinvention. Brass & Pipes with Howard Beaumont returns on July 17, pairing the Stanhope Silver Band with the theatre organ for a programme spanning film scores and musical favourites at Howden-le-Wear’s New Victoria Centre.
On the same day, Redhills - the historic Pitman’s Parliament - hosts Hector Gannet alongside Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band for a special performance of Talking In The Mother Tongue.
Saturday sees Gala Durham taken over by Brassed On, spotlighting a mix of regional talent including Dilettante, Francesca Pidgeon and Isabel Maria, as well as Peterlee indie outfit Vice Killer.
Elsewhere, EverReady Band will bring blockbuster soundtracks to Durham Cathedral with Myth, Magic & More, featuring music from Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Star Wars. The band’s pedigree is hard to ignore, having won the North of England Brass Band Championships a record 36 times.
The festival closes with Grimethorpe Colliery Band, whose place in brass band history and wider popular culture was cemented by Brassed Off, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.
Beyond the headline shows, the week will once again spill out into the streets, with free performances, community events and the ever-popular Streets of Brass weekend and Party in the Park still to be fully revealed.
Cllr Karen Allison said: “We hope that people are looking forward to this year’s event as much as we are and we look forward to seeing residents there as we celebrate 20 years of Durham Brass Festival.”
For full details and updates, visit the festival website.