The Sounds of World Brass Return to England with Brass 08 – Durham International Festival

Brass 08 – Durham International Festival will be held 5th – 20th of July 2008 at County Durham (North East England, UK). The musical spectacle of Brass 08 has the unenviable task of emulating the creative benchmark set by the legacy of last year’s showcase. The festival will build upon the feedback generated by hoards of music fans from across the globe as they voiced their support from as far afield as the U.S. to Australia, towards the ambitious cultural event. "This line-up shows that Brass 08 really means business, as we look to strengthen our claim of being one of Europe’s fastest growing Brass-based music festivals," said Neil Hillier, Strategic Manager of Heritage and Culture for Durham County Council’s Adult and Community Services.The festival, supported by the Durham Brass Initiative, announced the first three headlining acts for this year’s showcase. They are:

 

• 11 piece Folk Big-Band Bellowhead [2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners for Best Group and Best Live Act] – Gala Theatre, Durham, Friday 18th July [Bellowhead look to repeat their near sell out performance from last year’s festival]
• Award winning British Jazz alto saxophonist Soweto Kinch – Gala Theatre, Durham, Saturday 19th July
• The world famous Brighouse and Rasrtick Brass Band – Gala Theatre, Durham, Saturday 5th July

Neil Hillier continues: "We have Jazz, Folk and Traditional Brass Band music all represented in our first three announced acts, so watch this space as we intend to make ‘Brass’ an annual international event that people pencil into their diary year after year – as we aim to craft and nurture County Durham into one of Europe’s elite cultural destinations."

Tickets are on sale now from the Gala Theatre, Durham Box Office – people can book by calling +44 (0) 191 332 4041, or online via www.galadurham.co.uk alternatively by simply visiting the Gala Theatre in Durham City centre [Box Office address: Gala Theatre, Millennium Place, Durham, County Durham, DH1 1WA]

Brass 08 is supported by Durham County Council, One NorthEast, Durham City Council, Durham Vision 2020 and all other members of the Durham Brass Initiative.

More at http://www.brassfestival.co.uk.