Brass bands aim to be on song for miners' picnic

A collection of 300 players from four brass bands based in the south east of the county will perform together for the first time at the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic today (Saturday).Their performance, called Reflection Connection, is a new piece of music which has been created in partnership with Ashington Colliery Band, Bedlington Brass Band, Ellington Colliery Band, Jayess Newbiggin Brass Band, Music Partnership North – Northumberland, composer Lucy Pankhurst, Woodhorn Museum and Sage Gateshead.It has been co-commissioned by Woodhorn Charitable Trust through the bait programme.The annual miners’ picnic is a one day festival at Woodhorn Museum, celebrating local communities.It will feature live performances, traditional music and dance, brass bands, family craft activities and the Miners’ Memorial Service, which commemorates the mining industry and its people.It runs from 10am to 5pm.