Brass 2010: Durham International Festival will feature concerts and events across County Durham, from Durham City to rural village halls, until July 18.
Musicians from more than 20 countries will perform at the festival, which includes the 126th Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday.
The weekend in Durham City signaled the start of a programme of brass music, from traditional to funk, classical to jazz and Afro-beat to soul.
Among the acts taking part in Streets of Brass were the Japanese band Black Bottom Brass Band, who travelled 6,000 miles to perform.
The band, formed in Osaka more than 17 years ago, describe themselves as a New Orleans-style band with their live music being a blend of guerrilla, buzz and Kansai.
Oji Junjikimura, 37, who plays snare drum for the band, said: “We were really impressed during our street performance by the warm response we got from the people of Durham. It was a very emotional and spiritual experience.”