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Published 6th Sep 2012

Come along, watch and listen to a jam-packed musical programme as part of the London 2012 Festival closing celebrations

Middlesbrough is delighted to announce a Bandstand Marathon event at Albert Park, Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough. Albert Park will come alive with music on Sunday 9 September, marking the end of the London 2012 Festival and an amazing summer of sport and culture on the final day of the Paralympic Games.

It will be a truly memorable day, showcasing the best local talent and an eclectic musical programme including bands, groups, choirs and individual musicians. This free event will entertain audiences from 1pm to 5pm, offering everyone who comes along a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the nationwide finale celebrations for London 2012.

The local event line up will include Steve Roxton, Afraid To Sleep, Ska Beats, Steel River Blues Band and Mondays Company.

The Albert Park event will be one of hundreds of outdoor concerts taking place simultaneously in bandstands and outdoor performance spaces across the UK, making up the nationwide Bandstand Marathon – the official closing event of the London 2012 Festival.

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, London 2012 Festival, said: “The Bandstand Marathon is encouraging local music groups to showcase their talents and be part of the London 2012 Festival. I am proud that we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in creating a cultural legacy post-London 2012.”

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “The spectacular summer has shown off the strengths of our country in style and it hasn’t ended yet. It continues with the Bandstand Marathon and everyone should come out to enjoy the musical events at their local bandstand.

“2012 has been the year for all our communities to come together, from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympic Torch Relay and of course the Games themselves, reinforcing our shared identity and celebrating our great country.

“We have seen how these big national events can have a positive impact on local communities, bringing people out into our parks and onto the streets in their thousands, bringing a sense of joy and championing all those things we share together rather than keep us apart.”

Superact Associate Director Katharine Lane said: “It has been a summer of incredible events and we are very proud that Bandstand Marathon will bring the London 2012 Festival to a close by bringing local bandstands, parks and outdoor performance spaces alive with the whole community joining in - it’s going to be a memorable day!”

Bandstand Marathon is brought to you by not-for profit arts organisation Superact and Making Music, the UK’s number one organisation for voluntary music.

Support from The Department for Communities and Local Government is enabling Bandstand Marathon to expand and enhance its existing annual programme, doubling the length of each event to four hours this year, and providing opportunities for training, community networking and audience participation, and linking musicians together across the country.

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