The UniBrass Championship promotional 'UniTour' is back — bigger and better than ever before, with the intrepid students set to visit no less than 17 university bands across the country between the 14th October and 1st November.
In addition, the group will also pop into see the wonderful 'Brass for Africa' Brasstoberfest, and the European champion Black Dyke.
Live broadcast
At each stop off, each band will perform a micro-concert each day, broadcast live through unib.co.uk/youtube, including the daily premiere of a 'Never the Same Twice', a new composition from Dave Collins and Jacob Ashworth.
The UniTour marks the beginning of the new academic year for university bands and the start (hopefully!) of their serious preparation for the ever growing UniBrass Championship event.
Journey
Following the success of last year's UniTour, where the participating band's recordings of the commissioned work, 'UniTed', were amalgamated and premiered at the UniBrass 2015 closing ceremony, this year's UniTour is set to go even further, with bands also performing this year's composition, 'Journey', as part of their concert programme.
The work was composed in collaboration between Dave Collins and Jacob Ashworth, with the concept being that the work is a whole series of sections that each band can combine in a different order to perform.
Live stream
A spokesperson told 4BR: "We hope this will make each band's musical journey unique and each concert will be live-streamed on the UniBrass website."
Meanwhile, the participating university bands are already organising their performances just a few weeks into the start of their terms.
Focus
Durham University Brass Band President Abi Groocock told 4BR: "UniBrass has become a central part of our annual focus and is something that we begin working towards as soon as term begins.
UniTour is an exciting way to introduce UniBrass to our new intake of band members and really get them involved with our programme from an early stage."
Besson support
Once again the UniTour will be generously supported by Besson Instruments who are continuing their support further with workshops at the UniBrass contest. This year there will also be the exciting chance for one of the bands to win a new Besson instrument!
UniTour is an exciting way to introduce UniBrass to our new intake of band members and really get them involved with our programme from an early stageDurham University Brass Band President Abi Groocock
The Route
The UniTour will kick off on the 14th October by visiting the 2014 Champions, Huddersfield University.
Tour dates:
Huddersfield — 14th October
Black Dyke -15th October
Brass for Africa Brasstoberfest -16th October
Nottingham -17th October
Warwick -18th October
Cambridge — 19th October
Bristol — 21st October
Southampton — 22nd October
Cardiff — 23rd October
Keele — 24th October
Bangor — 25th October
Durham — 26th October
Leeds — 27th October
Salford — 28th October
Lancaster — 29th October
Manchester — 30th October
Oxford — 31st October
York — 1st November
Brasstoberfest!
UniTour will be visiting Brass for Africa's festival style Brasstoberfest — a fun fundraising evening of brass music, beer and bratwurst!
Brass for Africa is a charity committed to making a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and their communities in Africa through music and music education.
The spokesperson added: "UniBrass is proud to be working once again with Brass for Africa, and hopes to surpass the £1000 raised for Brass for Africa last year.
Tickets
Tickets to Brasstoberfest are £12.50 each, and includes entrance as well as delicious Bratwurst in rustic bread! Tickets are available at http://buytickets.at/brassforafrica.
Alternatively, contact info@brassforafrica.com
