A touch of Brass
Durham is a special city whatever the time of year, but come July it really becomes the centre of my universe because that’s when Durham Brass hits me up with the kind of live performances that lift my very soul. Naturally, the city has a rich brass band heritage, but this festival showcases brass music in all of its myriad of forms, often in some surprising and incredible ways. One only has to look to past events to see the calibre of artists that the festival has attracted with the likes of Richard Hawley, Public Service Broadcasting, Field Music, Ibibo Sound Machine. LYR and Fat Freddy’s Drop all serving punters up with the good stuff. And this year’s shindig looks especially enticing so without further ado, let’s delve into that programme to highlight the best of it.
It’s all kicking off at Bishop Auckland Town Hall with a special Brass Tea Dance (Saturday 13 July, 2pm). This will feature the splendid Tyne Valley Big Band and give you the chance to dance the afternoon away at a traditional social gathering. Led by musical director Dave Hignet, and accompanied by the fabulous vocals of Barbara Hignett, no dancing experience is necessary – either join in the popular sequence dancing or sit back and simply take in those fabulous sounds.
One of the real highlights of this year’s festival is sure to be Barry Hyde & Durham Miners Association Brass Band who will perform Miners’ Ballads at the Redhills Miners’ Hall (Monday 14 July, 7pm). Barry Hyde – frontman with Sunderland heroes The Futureheads – will bring his deeply personal and evocative new solo album ‘Miners’ Ballads’ to life. At the heart of the album is ‘This Miner’s Life’, a stirring single that Hyde describes as “a traditional collier’s song about the dangers, hardships, and bravery of those who worked underground.”
Another festival highlight is also in the offing at The Gala Durham when Bill-Ryder Jones & NASUWT Riverside Brass Band perform ‘lechyd Da’ (Tuesday 15 July). Ryder-Jones, of course, first rose to prominence as a founding member of The Coral. Since then he’s enjoyed a remarkable solo career releasing five critically acclaimed albums including 2024’s stunning chamber-pop masterpiece ‘lechyd Da’. This show will bring a bold new reimagining of that album to this year’s festival – a show that has been arranged by JF Abraham of Public Service Broadcasting. Don’t miss what is sure to be a unique performance.
Everything will then switch to Redhills Durham Miners’ Hall for UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and LYR with Easington Colliery Brass Band (Friday 18 July, 7pm). This talented bunch will be performing a powerful restaging of ‘Firm As A Rock We Stand’, which was first presented at the festival at Durham Cathedral in 2022. This piece reflects the tragic history of Durham’s ‘Category D’ villages (background: In 1951, local authorities declared 121 villages in County Durham economically unviable, cutting off their public funding. This sparked decades of hardship with entire communities erased).
Another stand-out of this year’s festival will be at Gala Durham and that’s Brassed On (Saturday 19 July, 7pm). This unique programme pairs north-east artists with talented brass ensembles and this year those artists include Liz Corney (pictured – founding member of The Cornshed Sisters), Faithful Johannes & Neocia (these Durham types deal in some of the finest rap to come out of the region) and Amateur Ornithologist (whose neurodivergent members fuse pop, orchestral, jazz and rock into a grand melodic sound).
The New Victoria Centre in Howden le Wear is the place you need to be to catch NETOA Wurlitzer & Stanhope Silver Band (Saturday 19 July, 7pm). They will be presenting a one-off, commissioned show entitled ‘Brass and Pipes’.
The Fairey Band are recognised as one of the world’s finest brass bands and they’ll be at Gala Durham to present ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ (Sunday 20 July, 1.30pm). This unique concert will pair a stunning brass arrangement of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece with mesmerising, animated interpretations, creating an unforgettable audio-visual experience.
The Fairey Band will also be on hand for Acid Brass – again at Gala Durham (Sunday 20 July, 7.30pm). This will be an amazing first for the festival and will be a presentation of conceptual artist Jeremy Deller’s stunning and exciting fusion of acid house anthems performed by a traditional British brass band. I’ve been lucky enough to catch Acid Brass in the past and it truly is jaw-droppingly special.
As ever, there will be absolutely loads going on over these eight days, so be sure to check the Durham Brass website for the up to date programme along with everything else you need to know such as ticket details etc. GM
Durham Brass 2025, 13-20 July. brassfestival.co.uk
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