Press release

One week to go to country’s biggest free music festival

330 concerts will take place on 11 to 14 July in towns across England.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Don Foster with performers at St Pancras Station

For all those suffering Glastonbury withdrawal symptoms or who missed out on going to a concert or festival this summer help is just around the corner: on 11 to 14 July towns right across England will be hosting 330 concerts in venues such as pubs, parks, cafés and community halls.

Created to encourage people of all backgrounds to get out and participate in community events the ‘our big gig’ series of concerts will feature a huge variety of musical styles, from classical and opera to punk rock via jazz and reggae. Events are organised by local people for local people and celebrate local talent.

To find out where the nearest event is go to: www.superact.org.uk/ourbiggig

330 concerts – all free to attend and enter

With over 200,000 people in total expected to attend, our big gig concerts are due to exceed crowds at Glastonbury and achieve in a long weekend similar attendance to an average week at Wimbledon. And all for free.

Communities Minister Don Foster said:

This is going to be a fantastic long weekend of free music bringing people of all backgrounds and communities together and I encourage everyone to get involved in a local event. And why not invite your neighbours too whilst you’re at it?

I’m doing my bit for the events: I played at St Pancras station with the Uke Choir and the Olympics opening ceremony Pandemonium Drummers to encourage people to get involved, and I’m taking my ukulele on the road again to concerts next weekend to see if anyone will let me join in.

Organised by local volunteers with funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government and Arts Council England the events are part of the government’s Olympics legacy commitment to reconnect communities and ensure the benefits of the Games are spread across the country long after the sporting events ended.

Katharine Lane, Delivery Director at Superact said:

All of us at Superact have been overwhelmed by the way communities up and down the country have united to deliver over 330 Our Big Gig events.

From castles to libraries, barges to palaces, we have some amazing venues hosting a wonderfully diverse range of music.

Bringing people of all backgrounds together, we can’t wait for Our Big Gig to start. You can find out where your nearest event is happening by visiting www.ourbiggig.co.uk.

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Updates to this page

Published 4 July 2013