Magicaboola Brassband from Livorno in Tuscany played an impromptu gig at East Durham College, Peterlee, before they flew home to Italy.

Very big and very jazzy, Magicaboola bring an Italian twist to the New Orleans style street jazz. The band has played at street and jazz festivals throughout Europe and came to County Durham for the first time, especially for the Big Meet, as part of Brass: Durham International Festival 2010.

They played an hour set including Misirlou by Dick Dale and the Del Tones (made famous in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction), a Bob Marley medley plus Vaporize your Mind and Speedyman which are their own compositions.

Billy Nicholson, Programme Leader for Performing Arts at East Durham College, organised for the band to call in after he saw them at the festival. He said: “I was completely wowed by them – the energy and passion they have is fantastic.

“I contacted the Arts Development Team at Durham County Council, who organise the festival, and they kindly arranged for the band to come into the College to perform for the students and staff. They were fab and certainly put massive smiles on everyone’s faces.”

Band Leader Lorenzo Pioppi added: “La scuola è bellissima e il pubblico caldissimo!” (The College is beautiful and the audience were hot!)

As part of the Brass Festival, the Arts Development Team have also helped arrange for 14-piece band Quiche Lorenes to play at this Friday’s Freaky Weasel, held at the Peterlee Leisure Centre.

Brass: Durham International Festival has been supported by a selection of organisations including Durham County Council and a number of the ward councillors in the East Durham area and a number of Area Action Partnerships.