UNIQUE bandstands inspired by the social, industrial and musical heritage of County Durham are being unveiled at three historic sites this week.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of BRASS: Durham International Festival, artists are building three new bandstands to be used as stages as part of the annual music spectacular.

County Durham light artist Mick Stephenson, best known for his sculpture The Rose at last year’s Lumiere festival, is leading the project and has created a bandstand at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, at Shildon.

He is inspired by Shildon’s transport heritage and utilises the last wagon to be built at Shildon Wagon Works.

Today, 60 children from the local Timothy Hackworth School helped Mr Stephenson put the finishing touches to the stage by creating a multi-coloured sign spelling out ‘Shildon’.

The sign was made from 2,750 bolts, the number of workers that were employed at the Wagon Works in its height, with the children adding them and painting it.

“The idea was to do something a little bit different,” Mr Stephenson said. “Each bolt represents someone who worked here. I think it deserved a tribute with great respect to the people who worked here.”

At The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, the French-style chateaux’s original bandstand has been reimagined by artist Stuart Langley while in Bishop Auckland, Auckland Castle will provide a setting for Jackie Stonehouse’s bandstand which is shaped like St Cuthbert’s Cross.

Performances began today at Locomotion, with the Big Brass Bash from 6pm until 9pm.

The performance will be repeated at The Bowes Museum from 6pm to 9pm tomorrow.

On Thursday, from 1pm to 2pm, the Auckland Castle bandstand will host the German band Beat ‘n Blow, and on Friday the Portuguese band Xaral’s Dixie will take to the stage at Bowes Museum from 1pm to 2pm.

Saturday will see Craghead Band perform at Auckland Castle from noon to 1pm, and on Sunday Bear Park and Esh Colliery Bank will perform at Locomotion from 11.30am to 1.30pm. The Reg Vardy Band will also give a performance at The Bowes Museum from 2pm to 3pm on Sunday. For more information visit brassfestival.co.uk