Fans of music and dancing will be transported back in time to the 1920s – if they know the password – as a speakeasy comes to BRASS Festival.
For one night only performers will be putting on the Ritz at Durham Town Hall as part of the 10th annual celebration of County Durham’s musical culture and traditions.
Cllr Neil Foster, cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture at Durham County Council, which develops and delivers the festival, said: “Back in the 1920s dancing was among the top social activities and was a great way to meet people.
“BRASS too helps to bring people together, be it the tens of thousands of music fans who come to the area, bringing hundreds of thousands of pounds into the local economy, or the cracking line-up of big names and local talent who help us showcase the very best music from around the world.”
To get people into the swing of things, on Monday July 11 at 6pm, BRASS favourites Xaral Dixie will be performing outside the Ebony Champagne Bar at Walkergate, near Durham’s Gala Theatre. There they will be joined by members of Newcastle-based dance group Lindy Jazz, who will be offering a taster of a 1920s favourite, the Charleston.
The BRASS Speakeasy itself takes place on Thursday 14 July from 7pm to 11pm. And from the moment they arrive visitors will step back through the decades, with a chance to visit a vintage hair and beauty parlour, or pick out some glamorous accessories in a vintage clothes store, before capturing it all in the 1920’s inspired photo booth.
After that they will be led into a secret dance hall where Xaral Dixie, Lindy Jazz and German Trombone Vibration will be ensuring that the party is in full swing.
Tickets for the BRASS Speakeasy cost £16, and include a free cocktail courtesy of Ebony, and a photograph from Moonbooth.
For more information and to buy tickets visit the BRASS website, www.brassfestival.co.uk