The warm-up to BRASS 2015 begins next week with the Big BRASS Bash, a series of free outdoor music extravaganzas. Aimed at audiences of all ages, the event will tour Durham over five nights, bringing fantastic live music and entertainment to the following five locations:
Blackhill and Consett Park Monday, 13 July
Timothy Hackworth Park, Shildon – Tuesday, 14 July
Trimdon Community College Association, Trimdon Village  Wednesday, 15 July
North Terrace, Seaham
Thursday, 16 July
Jubilee Park, Spennymoor Friday, 17 July
The tour will prepare the way for the main BRASS festival, an annual celebration of the county’s musical culture and tradition developed and delivered by Durham County Council.
Six-piece BRASS favourites New York Brass Band will visit schools each morning to perform and host workshops for pupils. On the afternoon, the band and pupils will be joined by Leeds-based Hope and Social to attempt to write a song about the local area.
The evenings will see them perform in each of the five parks – shows that audiences are sure to remember for a very long time. Both bands will also be making an appearance at the festival’s Alternative BRASS event on Saturday, 18 July in Durham City, where they should have a full set of new songs to perform following their tour.
Completing the Big BRASS Bash line-up are boundary-pushing Italian street band Bandakadabra and French street band Les Traine-Savates, who will undoubtedly bring some extra funk to the party.
The final night of the tour in Spennymoor will also see appearances by Land Of The Giants, who are sure to get crowds jumping with their raucous, feel-good show, and German Trombone Vibration, who combine charming trombones, a fancy rhythm section and a lot of humour.
Michael Eavis, founder Hope & Social, said: “We’re having a ball working with New York Brass Band and can’t wait to unveil what we’ve got planned for the Big BRASS Bash tour. We’re looking forward to hitting the road and getting everyone in Durham partying in anticipation for BRASS.
Kate James, Durham County Council’s festival and events manager, said: “Big BRASS Bash is a high-energy highlight of BRASS and a great way to get into the festival spirit. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to take these incredibly talented bands from the UK and beyond and bring them to towns and villages in Durham that wouldn’t ordinarily have such events on their doorstep.
“We can’t wait to see what Hope & Social and New York Brass Band have in store for us.” All Big BRASS Bash events are free to attend. For more information, visit www.brassfestival.co.uk/bigbrassbash