The countdown is on to the return of one of the region’s biggest celebrations of music.
Durham Brass Festival is back from this Sunday, 12 July, bringing seven days of exciting concerts, unique collaborations, free performances and street entertainment.
As the festival celebrates its 20th year of bringing iconic acts to County Durham, organisers Durham County Council have promised this year’s event to be bigger and bolder.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “We’re so excited to welcome residents and visitors to this year’s Durham Brass Festival. We’ve got a wide range of talented artists and exciting events lined up, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We can guarantee that audiences will be spoiled for choice.
“Brass music is such an important part of the county’s heritage and as we celebrate 20 years of Durham Brass Festival, we’ve shown just how brilliant brass can be in bringing people together. With just days left to go, we’d encourage everyone to take a look at the line-up and make plans to come down and enjoy the amazing events that the festival has in store.”
Durham Brass Festival kicks off on Sunday with ELVANA, a dynamic crossover tribute band who play Nirvana’s music in the style of Elvis Presley. Performing their set Viva Brass Vegas, the band will be joined by Oompah Brass XXL – the UK’s original rock ‘n’ roll brass band.
Also starting the party is the Tyne Valley Big Band, who will bring their hugely popular tea dances, opening in Easington on 12 July then moving to Pelton on 18 July and Bishop Auckland on 19 July.
In an expanded programme, Tyne Valley Big Band will be joined in Pelton by rhythm and blues band The Revolutionaires. Exclusively for the Durham Brass Festival, they will perform with an eight-piece brass section, bringing their biggest sound yet.
Monday welcomes back the Big and Little Brass Bashes, a staple of Durham Brass Festival which will see 10 communities come to life to the sounds of street bands.
The free concerts will happen in different locations each day of the week, starting with Shildon and Quarrington Hill on 13 July, followed by Crook and Barnard Castle on 14 July; Willington and Bishop Auckland on 15 July; Spennymoor and Coxhoe on 16 July; and Seaham and Newton Aycliffe on 17 July.
Friday 17 July will also welcome back up-and-coming band Hector Gannet, who made their Durham Brass Festival debut last year. Accompanied by the Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band, the North Shields trio will headline at Redhills Durham Miners Hall. Performing their show Talking in the Mother Tongue, the band will play tracks from their upcoming album The Great Shakedown.
Supporting Hector Gannet is alternative folk singer and cellist Ceitidh Mac, who combines contemporary instruments with electronic elements.
The festival’s finale promises to be a weekend to remember, with a host of events to close the festival off in style.
Across one unforgettable weekend, residents and visitors to Durham City will be able to experience Streets of Brass on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. The historic streets will be filled with free live music during the day from some of the world’s greatest street bands.
Those with tickets on Saturday 18 July can drop into Gala Durham for Brassed On which, for its third year, will bring together an eclectic line-up of rising musical stars with live brass ensembles for unique and unforgettable performances.
This year’s line-up includes Peterlee’s Vice Killer, who will perform with Easington Colliery Band; Manchester-based Dilettante, who will take to the stage with a new trio headed by Faye MacCalman; and Isabel Maria, from Sunderland, who will be accompanied by Brazen.
Meanwhile, inside within the atmospheric surroundings of Durham Cathedral, the EverReady Band will bring epic stories to life with its new programme Myth, Magic & More, featuring the most iconic scores from the likes of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Star Wars.
And the fun doesn’t stop there; the Brass Boat Cruises are also back for 2026, taking the sounds of brass to the River Wear on Saturday and Sunday.
And as day turns to dusk, Party in the Park will ensure the brassy beats go on, with a free concert at Wharton Park’s amphitheatre from 5pm to 9pm on Saturday 18 July featuring a must-see line-up of street bands.
Closing the festival is Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who achieved a worldwide reputation when they appeared in the hit film Brassed Off. In the same year the film celebrates its 30th birthday, Grimethorpe Colliery band will be playing a special concert for Durham Brass Festival at Gala Durham on Sunday 19 July.
Across the week, Durham Brass Festival will also be delivering its community programme to schools, care homes and community settings.
Over 15,000 children and young people will get to experience the sounds of brass, with street bands delivering lively performances in school settings across the county. Youngsters will also get the opportunity to try their hand at being a musician, with chances to play instruments themselves.
Meanwhile, the Sound of Sunday programme will bring the spirit of Durham Brass Festival directly into care homes. With 12 local traditional brass bands performing in homes across the county, the scheme helps creates moments of joy for residents, families, and staff alike.
For more information about the festival, and to book tickets for events, visit www.brassfestival.co.uk
