The full programme for Brass: Durham International Festival 2014 has been announced:
The annual celebration of the
county’s musical past, present and future returns to Durham next month, with
innovative new commissions, a great line-up of live music and fantastic free
family events running from Friday,11 to Sunday, 20 July.
This year’s event will include
three spectacular world premieres – chart-topping indie rock band British Sea Power’s Sea of Brass (17
July, Gala Theatre); Steamsong, a multimedia opera from John Kefala Kerr inspired by the locomotive Mallard’s record
breaking run (12–13 July, Gala Theatre); and Fractal Sparks, featuring stunning
visual effects accompanied by music from Jo
Hamilton and a brass-inspired performance from Lanterns On The Lake with the Durham
County Youth Big Band (18 July, Durham Cathedral).
Other highlights include
performances by jazz trumpeter extraordinaire Jon Faddis, Onyx Brass, The BBC Big Band, The Brighouse and Rastrick Band and The Stars from The Commitments.
BRASS 2014 also welcomes the
return of family favourite Streets of
BRASS, a fantastic free event which sees the best UK and international
bands bringing a party atmosphere to the streets of Durham City.
Families are also encouraged to
bring their deckchairs and a picnic to the Big
BRASS Bash at Spennymoor (17 July) and Chester-le-Street (18 July), where
street theatre companies and funky brass bands will be entertaining the crowds.
The BRASS Samba Blow Out! in Crook
(11 July) will feature a performance by Runaway Samba, a new youth band created
for BRASS by Jack Drum Arts featuring young performers from across the Durham
Dales.
Once again there will also be a
range of events giving children and young people, communities and local
musicians the opportunity to engage with BRASS in new and inspiring ways.
The festival’s popular Community
Tour returns with bands bursting into village halls and community centres
across Durham on 13 July while BRASS Fusion will see street band New York Brass
Band performing with Blackhall Youth Band at Castle Eden Village Hall on the
same date.
The full line- up is detailed in
the festival brochure. Copies are available from all BRASS venues or can be
downloaded from www.brassfestival.co.uk
