Events

Tea Dances

Tuesday’s 1.30 until 3.30pm (except 25 August)

Enjoy an afternoon of dancing in The Eden Theatre, under the guidance of expert John Beaty. Dances are a mix of modern sequence dances.

Tickets: £2.00

Refreshments are available.

Everyone on stage

Friday 3 July, 12noon until 2.00pm

Meal at 12noon, concert at 1.00pm

Enjoy a summer luncheon before settling down to listen to the melodious voice of Eddie Gratton, accompanied by George Hetherington on piano. Pre-booking is essential.

All tickets: £6.00

Light refreshments are available.

BRASS: Durham International Festival

Events from Saturday 4 until 19 July

There will be a programme of events happening in Bishop Auckland and throughout the County – for more details please visit www.brassfestival.co.uk

John Tams and Barry Coope

Wednesday 8 July at 8.00pm

John Tams - described by Mojo as "one of the ultimate British songwriters”- has had a career spanning four decades in every medium. A member of the Albion Band and Home Service he is perhaps best known for his work at the National Theatre and as Rifleman Daniel Hagman in the Sharpe TV series. He is a five times winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Barry Coope is a member of celebrated acappella group CBS.

John and Barry are a unique collaboration. Together they bring experience, innovation and tradition to their humorous and captivating performances. In 2008 they won the prestigious Duo of the Year trophy at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Lacewing play a variety of traditional and contemporary songs, some of them self-penned.

All Tickets: £10.00

Durham County Youth Big Band & Teesdale School Soul Band

Monday 13 July at 7.15pm

Durham County Youth Big Band and Teesdale School Soul Band join forces to present an evening of Jazz, R & B and Soul as part of the Durham Brass Festival. Both bands have a reputation of providing an evening of high quality musical entertainment.

Come and join the cream of County Durham’s young musicians before they embark on their tour of Belgium.

Tickets: £5.00 / £3.50 concessions

Tickets are available from: 01388 608421

Issie Barratt

Thursday 16 July at 8.00pm

Issie Barratt is an internationally acclaimed composer, conductor, arranger, baritone sax player and educator, who has performed at a majority of Britain’s leading concert halls, jazz clubs and festivals.

We are delighted to welcome her to Bishop Auckland as part of BRASS, Durham International Festival.

Known for her commitment forging creative relationships between musicians from the orchestral and jazz worlds, Issie has worked with Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, 4th Dimension String Quartet, Delta Sax Quartet, Vortex Foundation Big Band, and more recently Sweden’s Bohuslän Big Band. She featured as one of the Jerwood Foundation's Rising Stars in the Cheltenham Jazz Festival of 2001. With more and more performances on the international stage this is a rare opportunity to hear this fantastic player and composer alongside a band recognised as one of the best jazz orchestras in the UK.

Tickets: £10.00 / £8.00 concessions

'Barratt’s arrangements are full of zip, characterized by pungent, often angular themes and instrumental voicings.' Jazzwise Magazine

Proms in the Park at Auckland Castle

Friday 17 July at 7.30pm (doors open at 5.30pm)

Auckland Castle provides a superb setting for this spectacular outdoor concert. Join us for a wonderful array of classical music guaranteed to make you wave your flags and sing out loud. This year’s programme includes a selection of opera excerpts sung by mezzo soprano Maggie McDonald and film scores alongside regular Proms favorites.

Conducted by Xenophon Kelsey, the Mowbray Orchestra frequently performs at Ripley Castle and provides orchestra for Opus 1 Opera Productions, touring throughout the UK and Ireland and accompanying choirs and choral societies in Cumbria, Teesside and Yorkshire.

Suitable for all ages. As this is an outdoor event, we recommend that you wear suitable clothing and suggest you bring a seat or blanket and a picnic if required.

Tickets: £12.00 / £8.00 concessions / Family ticket £25.00 (2 adults and 2 children)

To offer you great value for money we have kept the ticket prices the same as 2008. Early booking is recommended as previous Proms concerts have sold out.

Snake Davis in Concert

Thursday 3 September 8.00pm

Phenomenally talented saxophonist, flautist and composer, Snake Davis is instantly recognisable for his soulful and searing sound, as heard on Lisa Stansfield’s ‘Change’ and ‘Someday’, M Peoples hits, Paul Hardcastle’s albums and Take That’s ‘Million Love Songs’.

On the road with his own band he plays a wonderful mix of soul world funk and jazz his uplifting raw-power style. Featuring the haunting Japanese shakuhachi and Irish whistle along with his saxophones, something for everybody here, young old or in between.

All tickets: £12.00

www.snakedavis.com

In Tune with Life

Friday 4 September at 1.00pm

George Hetherington, on piano, is joined by special guest Ann Chadwick, whose soprano voice is sure to delight

All tickets: £2.50

Light refreshments are available.

George Welch and Stewart Hardie

Wednesday 16 September at 8.00pm

George Welch has a laid back style and wacky sense of humour oft disguising his musical skills and mellow vocal tones. He’s a proud Tynesider that is often reflected in the tunes and songs he performs. Stewart Hardie is, without doubt, one of the UK’s most talented fiddlers. A regular tutor at the Sage, Newcastle, Stewart’s period with the John Wright Band brought him to main stage folk festivals and he continues to be in constant demand.

Individually as different as chalk and cheese, but together it works like magic, not to be missed!

All Tickets: £6.00

A Tribute to Buddy Holly

Friday 25 September at 8.00pm

Dave Wickenden is the number one International Buddy Holly tribute. Audiences are left thrilled, amazed at the likeness vocally and visually to the legend he portrays. Dave has starred in the West End production of "Buddy" as well as with numerous Rock 'n' Roll shows and theatre shows including Rocking on Heaven’s door.

The vocals and looks are superb together with the guitar work and even the perfection in his voice. With meticulous attention to detail - this is a show not to be missed.

The night will include music from Idol Disco.

All Tickets: £12.00