By Pam McClounie

Published at 11:24, Monday, 20 August 2012

Musicians from Allerdale and Copeland will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in the Paralympic closing ceremony next month.

Harriet Smithson

The Hub in Workington will hold an outdoor community concert – one of hundreds taking place simultaneously across the country making up the Bandstand Marathon.

The event, on September 9, has been organised by SoundWave, Allerdale council and Superact.

People are invited to make a noise in the Djembe drumming or music technology workshops.

If you prefer to take a back seat there will be live performances throughout the day from acoustic artists including Sid Wright, Anne Marie McStraw, Katie Gentry, Oliver Burns and Claire Jackson.

There will also be solo performances from SoundWave’s Workington-based sing group Sing Like a Star.

Dave Roberts, programme leader at SoundWave, said: “It’s nice for these local performers to get the chance to participate in a national event like the Bandstand Marathon.

Music will range from electronic to acoustic and even some opera.

“There will be an opportunity to join in with the electric music and drums.”

Harriet Smithson, Allerdale council’s arts development officer, said: “We commissioned this Bandstand Marathon to bring London 2012 into the heart of Workington and we hope that Allerdale’s musicians and the local community will get involved.”

Katharine Lane, Superact’s associate director and organisers of Bandstand Marathon said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for musicians to showcase their talent to their local community and feel they are playing a part in London 2012.

"The Bandstand Marathon aims to include as much live performance from as many cultures and communities as possible.”

Bandstand Marathon is part of the London 2012 Festival bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK.

For more details visit www.bandstandmarathon.org.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk