The Public to be part of a nationwide celebration of music in communities.
Our Big Gig will see over 200,000 people attend music events in communities across UK from 11 – 14 July
On Sunday 14 July, The Public will be taking part in Our Big Gig, a huge celebration of music in the community featuring over 300 events across the country. Running from 11 to 14 July, Our Big Gig will showcase new and existing talent and increase participation in music making.
From 12 noon until 4pm a number of local musicians will be showcasing their talent for audiences to enjoy. Highlights include beatboxing, Dhol drumming, dancing and poetry. There will also be an opportunity to make your own musical instrument and take part in a dance and badge making workshop.
Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public said: “It’s fantastic to be part of this national celebration of music. With the festival coinciding with the launch of the New Square Development, this summer there’s set to be a real buzz in West Bromwich town centre and we’re incredibly excited to be at the heart of it.”
From a Punk Rock Ukulele gig in London to a Roman Palace recital in Sussex, Our Big Gig 2013 will see the whole country come together, celebrate and enjoy music together during a weekend of musical merriment, and today Communities Minister Don Foster announced the locations of over 330 free concerts part of Our Big Gig, a UK-wide community-led musical celebration for 2013.
With over 200,000 people due to attend, the concerts – which run from 11 to 14 July – are expected to draw even bigger crowds than events such as Glastonbury. The concerts will be free both for people to attend and open to musicians looking to get involved, and all will be accessible to families and children.
Taking place thanks to funding secured from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Arts Council England the eclectic variety of free music events are set to bring people from all backgrounds together to listen to the best local musicians including new talent as well as existing; showcasing unique talents in unusual places and giving the public a chance to pick up an instrument and get involved in music making.
The full list of participating venues across the UK can be found at www.ourbiggig.co.uk
Communities Minister Don Foster said: “This summer hundreds of thousands of people across the country are going to see fantastic local performers, get to hear a huge variety of music from around the world, sometimes for the first time, and get to know other members of their community better into the bargain.”
Our Big Gig 2013 builds on the success of previous annual Bandstand Marathon events. The initiative is coordinated by arts organisation Superact, and last year’s event marked the closing of the London 2012 Games with 200,000 people attended 224 community-led performances.
Don Foster added: “The 2012 Olympics should not just be remembered as an excellent sporting event, but must continue to deliver on their fundamental principle of bringing people from all different backgrounds together. The government pledged that the games’ legacy would carry on and through events like Our Big Gig, free and open to everybody, we are making good on this promise. I hope this summer’s concerts will be even bigger and better than last year’s.”
Katharine Lane, Delivery Director at Superact, said: “Superact have been overwhelmed by the amazing response we have had from communities wanting to get involved in our Big Gig this year. Our network of Regional Managers have been recruiting local volunteers for the past 6 weeks and have programmed a diverse range of musical activities up and down the country. Thanks to support from DCLG and Arts Council all events are free for local people to go along to and get involved with their local events and we really hope that people will be inspired to get involved in music making after attending an Our Big Gig event in July”.
According to Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England: “Our Big Gig will be a real summer highlight. Up and down the country, communities will be involved in running their own music events, in a range of venues, introducing audiences to new bands, artists and styles of music.
“This is a great opportunity for communities to think big, to nurture home grown talent, and to come together, in celebrating the many joys that music can bring. I can’t wait to see the results.”
