Organisers of the Bolsover Festival of Brass 2019 (Sunday, 6 October) are planning to beat their record worldwide audience of 25,000 that was achieved for the 2018 festival.
All 58 live entertainment performances will be broadcast from the Derbyshire town across two channels during a 13-hour telethon to be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The live stream will be hosted by 4 Bars Rest Editor Iwan Fox and regular contributor to Brass Band World, Chris Thomas.
Principal sponsor Warwick Music Group, creators of pBone, pTrumpet and pCornet, is supporting the video streaming initiative which uses the latest online broadcast technology and enables the worldwide audience to participate in online voting. Last year, more than 500 people submitted votes via the online poll. Footage will be captured and retained online for bands and viewers to enjoy after the event.
58 bands will descend on Heritage High School in Clowne to take part in the festival that was first staged in 2005 and first broadcast live in 2015. First-time entries for 2019 include Brass of the Saff, a community band from Leicestershire (Midlands), Amersham (South West), Llwydcoed (South Wales), Roberts Bakery (North West), Langley Band (Midlands), Ratby Co-op (Midlands), Hoover Bolton (North West) and Greenfield Band (Yorkshire) emphasising the growing geographical attraction of the event in the UK.
The festival includes five sections (Championship, First, Second, Third and Fourth) with competing bands in two halls all performing a 20-minute programme of entertaining music with a featured soloist. Bands are provided with a 30-minute rehearsal room prior to their contest performance.
Live stream producer James Parkinson, said: “Thanks to the sponsorship of Warwick Music Group, for the first in the Festival’s history, not only will the whole event be streamed for free, but the footage will be captured and retained online enabling viewers and musicians to enjoy all the day’s performances again in the weeks following the event.”
Steven Greenall, Chief Executive of Warwick Music Group, said Bolsover Festival of Brass is inspirational in the way it is extending the festival experience online.
“We are delighted to be working with one of the leading brass band championships in the UK – which has extended boundaries and encouraged thousands of people worldwide to enjoy brass music – no matter where they are.
“We share their philosophy of making brass and wind music more accessible – encouraging people of all ages, no matter where they live, to enjoy playing and listening to music together. It is great to be associated with such an inspirational team of musicians and teachers.”
The broadcast will encourage viewers to share their messages of good luck, opinions on the performances, enter give-away quizzes – and crucially, participate in the online voting. It is the third year running that Warwick Music Group has supported the festival which has now become an established fixture in the brass band calendar.
Kate Greenall
Kate has always had a love for music and after starting to play the clarinet aged six went on to study music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She joined Warwick Music Group in 2010 as Social Media Manager and now serves as Chief of Staff where her role is the day to day management of the team. She ensures activities are streamlined within the organisation, supporting the priorities of the business to help it grow. She now spends most of my spare time supporting my three children as they learn their own instruments!
