Brass bands back competing after venue hiatus

Brass bands from across the north-east of England will once again compete for prestige and their name on the record, after an annual event found a new home.

Durham County Brass Band Association's competition 'Brass Picnic', which is in its 80th year, will be held at The Story at Mount Oswald in Durham on Sunday.

The free event has not run since 2022 after its previous venue, The Durham Light Infantry Museum, closed.

Chair Julie Carmichael said the 11 competing bands would perform their 20-minute sets outdoors even if it rained, adding: "We just hope that the weather plays ball."

"It's a relaxed, lovely day out," she said. "Bring your deck chair, bring your picnic, bring a blanket."

North East bands Bearpark and Esh, Billingham Silver, Craghead Colliery, Dunston Silver, Durham Miners, EDMG Peterlee, Felling, Ferryhill Town, Spennymoor Town and Trimdon will compete, along with North West-based Valley Brass.

Bands are judged on their adherence to the sheet music and added musicality, she said.

"They [the adjudicator] will have a copy of what you're playing, and it's like reading a book, it's a set of instructions on that page and the closer you follow those instructions the better," Carmichael said.

"It isn't who plays the fast and furious stuff."

Carmichael said bands competed for tradition and pride, but it also helped the groups improve.

"You get promotion and relegation just like football and it goes off your performances in that particular year," she said.

Stuart Gray, conductor of reigning champions Durham Miners Association Brass Band, said they were preparing a mix of traditional brass band music, solos and familiar tunes.

He said: "It's important to start with something quite punchy to get people's attention and then I think your final piece should also let people know when they need to clap."

Gray added being in a band was like being in a "big family".

He said the area had an important brass tradition dating back to the Industrial Revolution.

Competition among bands in the association, formerly known as the Durham Brass Band League Competitions, started in 1946.

"There's always been a proud heritage," Gray said.

The winning band will become the first name on the George Bramfitt shield, named after the man who started the "picnic" contests as they were in 2005.

Carmichael advised bands: "Practise hard, play well, enjoy the day."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.