The full line-up of this year’s BRASS festival has been announced, with events ranging from popular Northern Soul band Keep the Faith to a unique play-along screening of iconic British film Brassed Off. Returning for its 11th year, Durham’s popular BRASS festival celebrates the best of brass across ten days in one of the North East’s most stunning cities. Organised by Durham County Council, this year’s festival is the first under the leadership of new Artistic Director Paul Gudgin and will showcase the broadest possible range of brass music from Broadway to 17th century Venice. Tickets on sale Friday, 19 May.
Popular Yorkshire-based band Keep the Faith joins forces with North of England Champion Band NASUWT Riverside Band to celebrate Northern Soul – the movement that emerged in the North in the late 1960s from the British mod scene and which continues to sweep dance-floors across the UK to this day. Covering classic songs from the likes of The Specials, Billy Ocean, Frankie Valli, Edwin Starr and Stevie Wonder; Keep the Faith creates its own authentic arrangements of these original songs and provides a live experience that brings together two of the North East’s great musical traditions. Joined by local BRASS favourites NASUWT Riverside Band for some special brassed up arrangements, get set to dance! This year’s festival – which takes place from Friday, 7 July to Sunday, 16 July – also includes the chance to experience iconic British film Brassed Off as never before, with its first ever play-along screening.
In this special show, brass players can bring their own instruments to the theatre to rehearse and play along with the BAFTA nominated music in the company of professional brass players and characters Andy Barrow (Ewan McGregor) and Gloria Mullens (Tara Fitzgerald) on screen. In Cutting Edge Brass, the 1960s avant-garde and free jazz inspired Family Band brings its powerful and dynamic music combining jazz, brass and blues into simple, repeated riffs.
Tickets are already on sale for a number of other events, including BRASS on Broadway, which sees stars of the West End Matt Corner (Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys) and Kate Graham (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Billy Elliot) who hail from the North East perform swing versions of songs from a range of musicals. Other highlights include Venetian Surround Sound, where the audience will experience early surround sound in Durham Cathedral with the Cathedral Choir and His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, while the 100th anniversary of Dizzy Gillespie will also be celebrated with American jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham and the BBC big band.
The ever-popular Streets of BRASS also returns to the festival, bringing international favourites such as Mr Wilson’s Second Liners to the streets of Durham, while brass and voices join together for a newly arranged version of William Walton’s thrilling Belshazzar’s Feast. For more information and tickets visit: www.brassfestival.co.uk
