The Durham County Council-run festival filled all corners of County Durham with music, as brass bands descended to perform across its communities and venues.
Celebrating 20 years of Durham Brass Festival, the packed programme played to the tune of all music tastes, with unique collaborations, lively street bands and traditional brass for audiences to enjoy.
Councillor Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for Leisure, Tourism, Regeneration and High Street, said: “What a week we have had celebrating the 20th anniversary of Durham Brass Festival! From modern to traditional brass, bands of all shapes and sizes have wowed crowds with their musical talent. It’s been fantastic to see audiences of all ages engaging with brass music, which has such a strong connection to our county’s heritage.”
The festival kicked off in style when visitors in Durham City were treated to a pop-up performance in the marketplace, led by Italian street band Girlesque.
A favourite of the street bands programme, the all-female ensemble gathered the crowds, giving audiences a snippet of the Big and Little Brass bashes that were to come to communities throughout the week.
The Brass Bashes built a crescendo to the weekend, where the historic streets of Durham came to life with the iconic Streets of Brass and Party in the Park. Bands also took to the water, with the return of the festival’s boat cruises.
Other highlights of the festival included opening act ELVANA, a Nirvana-Elvis tribute band, who played their eclectic set at Gala Durham alongside rock n roll brass band Oompah Brass XXL.
