Curtain comes down on Durham Brass Festival 2024

All have resonated with the joyous sounds of live music, singing, chat and laughter; and witnessed dancing aplenty and smiles galore.

Over the course of a week, Durham Brass Festival 2024, which we organised, navigated some wet weather and brought sunshine to thousands of people across County Durham.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, our Leader and North East Combined Authority Cabinet member for culture, creative, tourism and sport, said: "What a week it's been. We've had some worried faces when studying weather forecasts for some of our outdoor events but, with a few exceptions, the sun has shone and the show has very definitely gone on.

"We'd like to thank everyone who has been part of Brass. From our excellent line-up of bands to everyone who has come out to see them play; the venues and locations that have hosted them, the people who have provided them with accommodation and, last but by no means least, our teams who do all the organising behind the scenes and the volunteers who help our bands get where they need to be.

"It is such a pleasure to put on free events not just in Durham City, but in our towns and villages across the county as well, and to see people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying themselves so much.

"For us, events such as Brass are also all about helping the economy - they bring people out who spend money in local shops, pubs and places to eat and we hope this helps those businesses following what has been a tough few years."

Brass saw a number of sell-out performances, including from Public Service Broadcasting (PSB), and The Cory Band playing with the Durham Miners' Association Brass Band. The Brassed On event, which allowed the region's up and coming talent to collaborate with brass acts, was also a sell-out. This saw Sunderland's Nadedja team up with festival favourites Loud Noises, while North Shields' Hector Gannet performed alongside NuSound Brass.

Overseas visitors

The Public Service Broadcasting gig at Durham Cathedral wowed ticketholders from as far afield as France, Germany and Switzerland. It saw PSB collaborate with Pelton Fell's NASUWT Riverside Band for a special performance of the former's album Every Valley - music inspired by coal mining in this the 40^th anniversary year of the miners' strike. There were special guest performances from Welsh actress and singer Lisa Jen Brown alongside Maximo Park's Paul Smith and the Felling Male Voice Choir, with the acts introduced by Ross Forbes from the Durham Miners' Association.

There was also free entertainment in the form of the Streets of Brass performances across Durham City, Party in the Park at the city's Wharton Park, and Big and Little Brass Bashes at ten towns and villages across the county.

The festival's final scenes saw a DJ set from Smoove & Turrell at Durham Town Hall, and Loud Noises performing at Durham Miners' Gala.

Brass also prides itself on its outreach programme, with 65 performances across the week in schools across County Durham and a number in care homes.

Durham Brass Festival is a key part of our festivals and events programme, which also includes the UK's light art biennial Lumiere, yearly food festivals at Seaham and Bishop Auckland, and October's Durham Book Festival. This programme cements Durham's position as the 'Culture County' and reflects our commitment to culture-led regeneration. This commitment includes delivering key projects within the bid that saw Durham become the first county ever to be shortlisted for UK City of Culture; progressing major capital projects; and raising the county's profile as a fantastic place to live, work, visit and invest.