BRASS Takes to the Streets

Live music, spectacular dance displays and carnival parades will fill the streets of Durham City this weekend for the finale of BRASS 2012.
This year, Brass: Durham International Festival, organised by Durham County Council, has seen 17 days of stunning street performances, interactive installations, community and educational activities and mass participation events.
The festival culminates on Saturday, 21 July and Sunday, 22 July, with the best UK and international street bands performing as part of the popular Streets of BRASS event.
Festival favourites, newcomers and local bands offering up a range of musical styles including soul, hip-hop, funk, jazz, ska, Latin and punk will take to the streets between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and between 11am and 5pm on Sunday.
Bboy and break dance company Bad Taste Cru, meanwhile, bring their brand of explosive footwork and hip hop moves to the city on Saturday as part of a joint event with Big Dance 2012. There will also be ‘pop-up’ dance performances by Durham-based TIN Arts around the city throughout the day.
There will also be a final chance to visit BRASS:Pitch installations Immerse at Durham Railway Station, Which is Your Brass Voice? at the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham, and Trigger Shift at Gala Theatre.
Saturday will also see two stunning performances at Durham Cathedral combining music and choral singing with a variety of ‘cosmic’ sounds.
Entitled A Sign in Space, the new composition by John Kefala-Kerr is inspired by Italo Calvino’s short story of the same name.
Performances, which will feature County Durham Big Band and Choir, Durham Cathedral Young Singers, young people from Spennymoor and members of the cathedral choristers, take place at 3pm and 7pm.
A Sign in Space is produced by arts organisation The Forge and is supported by Youth Music Funding, BRASS and bhp Law.
On Sunday, the fantastical Ant Orkezdra featuring 14 giant ants on stilts will be joined by Trimdon Concert Band for a mix of brass classics and ‘ant music’ in the Market Place from 2pm.
Sally Dixon, Durham County Council’s arts team manager, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to the festival so far and I’m sure people will be eager to make the first most of our final weekend.
“With so much going on it’s set to be a packed two days and a fitting finale to BRASS 2012.”
The final day of the festival, Sunday will also see a mass of brass musicians performing a new commission on The Sands from 3.30pm.
The piece, entitled Going the Distance, marks the final stage of the Brass the Baton musical relay race.
Find out more about BRASS events by visiting www.brassfestival.co.uk or follow: