Industry News

Today (15th May), Durham Brass Festival is proud to announce a host of fantastic new additions to the already spectacular lineup for this year’s edition that takes place 13-20 July.

In a first for the event, Durham Brass Festival hosts Radio 4 Loose Ends on 16th July. Writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie will host the programme from the festival in an edition that celebrates music, comedy and entertainment from and about the North East. Details of the guests for this special one-off show will be announced in the coming weeks. This special broadcast of Loose Ends takes place at Redhills and is a ticketed event.

On the 13th July, the BRASS Tea Dance takes place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. Dance the afternoon away at this traditional social gathering with live music from the fantastic Tyne Valley Big Band, led by musical director Dave Hignett and accompanied by the fabulous vocals of Barbara Hignett. Show us your moves in the popular sequence dancing or sit back and enjoy the music and refreshments. This event is ticketed.

Supporting Bill Ryder-Jones at Gala Durham on 15th July is Pet Snake, the solo project of Evelyn Halls (Clean Cut Kid). After spending the last decade playing and writing for others, Evelyn has taken strides to carve out her own path. Lo-fi folk meets expansive indie pop with nods to early 00s grunge, Pet Snake creates a sonic landscape that’s both nostalgic and fresh whilst delivering every word with a voice that can silence even the rowdiest of rooms.

Also announced today is the annual Party In The Park on Saturday 19th July. Taking place at the fantastic amphitheatre in Wharton Park, this free to attend event provides a unique way to experience the high energy performances from all the street bands that gather from across the UK and beyond to perform at this year’s festival. Come rain or shine, this is always an unmissable part of the festival. The full line up of bands will be announced in due course.

Forming part of the closing weekend (19th-20th July) is the free to attend Streets of Brass, bringing thevery best street bands performing in outdoor locations across Durham City, providing a fresh and non-traditional take on what it means to be a brass band. The full line up for this year will be announced in due course.

Also taking place over the weekend (19th-20th July), Durham Brass Festival will take over the street and the water with Brass Boat Cruises. Cruise along the River Wear on the Prince Bishop, with an amazing street band on board. Enjoy a fully licensed bar, wonderful music and gorgeous views of Durham City, with an atmosphere you won’t forget. Sail from the Boathouse beneath Elvet Bridge to St Hild and St Bede College, and back via Prebends Bridge on the 60-minute cruise. This event is ticketed.

Organised by Durham County Council and supported by Arts Council England, the festival won ‘Performance of the Year’ at the 2024 North East Culture Awards for Public Service Broadcasting featuring NASUWT Riverside Band and Felling Male Voice Choir. Performers previously announced include Bill Ryder-Jones, Barry Hyde, Simon Armitage and LYR, Brassed On, NETOA Wurlitzer & Stanhope Silver Band and The Fairey Band.

Bill Ryder-Jones will perform his critically acclaimed and much-loved album ‘Iechyd Da’ in full, for a special, one-off show with NASUWT Riverside Band at Gala Durham.

The Futureheads’ frontman Barry Hyde will perform music from his forthcoming concept solo album, ‘Miners’ Ballads’ with the Durham Miners Association Brass Band. Commissioned by Sunderland City Council and Paul Emerson, the record is inspired by the coal mining heritage of the North East of England with emphasis on Sunderland and Washington. 

On 18th July, the festival will host BBC Radio 4’s The Verb with presenter Ian McMillan, featuring Simon Armitage and LYR performing Firm As A Rock with Easington Colliery Band at Redhills Durham Miners Hall.

Brassed On will present a show which pairs North East artists including Faithful Johannes, Amateur Ornithologist and Liz Corney. The performance takes place on 19th July and is in partnership with BBC Music Introducing and NARC. Magazine. 

Performing on the 19th July are the NETOA Wurlitzer & Stanhope Silver Band. Howard Beaumont, together with the Stanhope Silver Band will perform a wide variety of music - old and new, popular and classical with world famous NETOA Wurlitzer.

On 20th July, The Fairey Band presents a spectacular concert of music and animation, performing a brass arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition to accompany animated interpretations of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece. The animations, created by Ion Concert Media in collaboration with the USC School of Cinematic Arts, bring Mussorgsky’s musical response to Hartmann’s visual to life, offering an immersive experience filled with rich fantasy, whimsiness, and adventure. 

In a first for Durham Brass Festival and also performing on the 20th July, The Fairey Band presents Acid Brass, its take on Acid House anthems with a traditional brass band.

Sue Collier, Artistic Director of Durham Brass Festival, says: "Durham Brass Festival is about celebrating all things brass and this year we’re cranking it up to eleven. From boat decks to dance floors, schools to care homes, city streets to historic venues, radio waves to park stages, there’s nowhere BRASS won’t go. We can’t wait to share it all with you."

Durham Brass Festival 2025 - Line-up

13th July
BATH Tea Dance featuring Tyne Valley Big Band - Bishop Auckland Town Hall (Minimum age 14)

14th July
Barry Hyde performing “Miners’ Ballads” with Durham Miners Association Brass Band - Redhills Durham Miners Hall

15th July
Bill Ryder-Jones and The NASUWT Riverside Band performing “Iechyd Da” + Pet Snake – Gala Durham

16th July
Durham Brass Festival hosts Radio 4 Loose Ends -  Redhills Durham Miners Hall

18th July
Durham Brass Festival hosts BBC Radio 4 The VerbFeaturing Simon Armitage & LYR performing Firm As A Rock with Easington Colliery Band - Redhills Durham Miners Hall

19th July
Party In The Park - Wharton Park

19th July
Brassed On featuring Faithful Johannes, Amateur Ornithologist and Liz Corney  – Gala Durham

19th July
NETOA Wurlitzer & Stanhope Silver Band: Brass & Pipes - New Victoria Centre

19th-20th July
Streets of Brass – Durham City
Brass Boat Cruises - River Wear

20th July
The Fairey Band present Pictures at an Exhibition  – Gala Durham

20th July
The Fairey Band present Acid Brass  – Gala Durham

Tickets on sale now.