About
An eclectic, vibrant and colourful celebration of brass music in all its forms – artistically excellent, rooted in our communities, and welcoming to everyone. Durham Brass Festival promises a week of spectacular performances, new commissions, free concerts, community activities, and a full programme of lively street bands when it returns from Friday 5th to Saturday 13th July 2024.
Taking inspiration from the brass band heritage of County Durham, the festival weaves together all musical genres into a vibrant and entertaining festival taking place across the County. With headline performances in iconic locations from some of the UK’s finest artists, to school gigs, and an inclusive engagement programme, we are ready to celebrate with BRASS.
An album which tells the story of the rise and fall of coal mining is to be performed in full at Durham Cathedral. Critically-acclaimed artists Public Service Broadcasting are to perform their album ‘Every Valley’ at the World Heritage Site on the opening night of Durham Brass Festival 2024, and 40 years on from the miners’ strikes that have grabbed the headlines in recent weeks.
Public Service Broadcasting will be joined by another band with a strong mining heritage. The NASUWT Riverside Band, from County Durham former mining village Pelton Fell have appeared at previous Durham Brass Festivals, collaborating with Richard Hawley in 2022 having been part of the internationally renowned ‘Miners’ Hymn’ performances of 2010 and 2014.
As well as Public Service Broadcasting, Welsh brass band competition veterans The Cory Band will also be appearing at this year’s festival.
Ranked the world’s number one brass band from 2007 to 2023 and multiple-time competition champions at world, European and British level, they will be performing a set inspired by the legendary film King Kong, at Gala Theatre on Sunday 7 July.
This year’s Durham Brass Festival will also feature the return of the popular free outdoor events, Streets of Brass (Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July) and Party in the Park (Saturday 6 July). These take place at Durham City and Wharton Park respectively.