The Bolsover Festival of Brass, which takes place on Sunday 2nd October, has announced plans to reach out to an even wider audience this year, with the news that the First Art organisation which partners the event will be providing additional interactive multi-media support.

Special broadcast feed

A special live broadcast feed will be made available to a number of community venues across the geographical area of North East Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to enable supporters and brass band fans to enjoy the action from the Heritage High School in Clowne on large screen televisions.

A number of Care Homes and Miners Welfare Institutes have already been approached and have agreed to host the coverage — providing a fantastic new way to enjoy brass band contesting.

Community venues

Rachel Carter of First Art told 4BR: "We will be providing support for the Bolsover Festival of Brass with an additional series of 'fringe' events that will include broadcast links to community venues.

It will showcase the live broadcast of the First and Championship Sections through the First Arts website, as well as recording the action from all the other sections on You Tube. This means every band will be given full coverage of their performances for their supporters to enjoy time and time again in the future."

Bands involved

Rachel also hopes that a number of bands in the First Arts area will also be interested in hosting their own Bolsover 'Fringe' broadcast in their bandrooms — giving them the opportunity to make it into their own fundraising events in the process.

"We are looking for as many people as possible to be involved — and we want them to interact with us on the contest day too.

We will set up a social media link for Twitter and for messages to be featured on the live broadcast throughout the day so that people can send messages of support, congratulate their favourite bands and players on their performances and express their opinions on who they think may win!"

We will be providing support for the Bolsover Festival of Brass with an additional series of 'fringe' events that will include broadcast links to community venuesRachel Carter of First Art

Fantastic addition

A Bolsover Festival of Brass spokesperson added: "This is a fantastic new addition to build on the success of last year's event, which reached 22 countries around the banding world.

We want to make the festival inclusive to everyone who enjoys brass bands — from those who will be with us throughout the day at the contest venue to those who can enjoy the music making at home or in communal venues."

Find out more

Any band or venue in the North East Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire area that wishes to find out more about this great opportunity please contact: rachel@firstart.org.uk