AN ANNUAL music festival has been hailed as a success.

Durham’s Brass festival took place between Thursday and Sunday (July 16-19), with 250 musicians and performers from 13 countries playing 29 shows across the county.

Last weekend saw free open air performances around Durham City in Streets of Brass, as well as various concerts and events.

There was also Brass’ first fringe programme, run with arts outfit Empty Shop.

Last week, the Big Brass Bash tour had taken the festival to Consett, Shildon, Trimdon Village, Seaham and Spennymoor and there were classical performances too.

Kate James, festivals and events manager at Brass commissioners Durham County Council, said: “We’ve had four jam packed days of every kind of brass music, fantastic audiences, dancing, laughing and singing along. It’s been a great year.

“Streets of Brass is always a great weekend but this year we had a full house of our favourite bands from around the world entertaining crowds on Framwelgate Bridge, Millennium Place, the Market Place and other gathering points around the city centre.

“All these bands really know how to play to the crowd and soon had everyone, young and old, clapping and dancing along.”

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