Heat Batumi: UK brass band opens festival with public show

A British band known worldwide for their entertaining skills has opened a three-month creative festival in Georgia's Black Sea city Batumi.

Local and visitors enjoyed a public performance by the New York Brass Band, who walked along Batumi streets into public parks, performing for locals to mark the opening of this year's Heat Batumi Festival.

The British band visited several public spots, including Batumi Park where local pensioners typically gathered to play chess and backgammon, and performed several of their trademark repertoire of varying styles.

New York Brass Band musicians formed an instant connection with Batumi locals during their street performance. Photo from Gela Bedianashvili/Check in Georgia/Facebook.

Before hitting the streets the New York Brass Band performed a concert on the coastal boulevard, where they were joined by Georgian folk song and dance ensemble Erisioni.

The mix of national themes with the contemporary twist of the North Yorkshire band saw a large crowd gather to watch the seaside public show.

The British group were joined by Georgian folk song and dance ensemble Erisioni. Photo from Gela Bedianashvili/Check in Georgia/Facebook.

After opening the Heat Batumi festival yesterday, the New York Brass Band will continue to entertain Batumi guests by hosting a series of street performances for three more days.

Since establishing in 2011, the band has performed at festivals, sports events and private occasions in the UK and Europe. Last year alone the New York Brass Band made over 200 appearances alone.

Young artists of Erisioni folk ensemble play drums at the Heat Batumi opening concert. Photo from Gela Bedianashvili/Check in Georgia/Facebook.

This year the Heat Batumi Festival is organised within Check in Georgia – a country-wide series of festivals, concerts and other cultural events open to visitors for the rest of the year.

Within Check in Georgia, four headlining artists are visiting Georgia to perform in separate occasions for thousands of fans and music lovers.

Batumi will host the third headline act later today, when popular American band Maroon 5 takes to the stage in the city's Miracle Square.

The show, along with the Heat Batumi Festival, marks the beginning of this year's summer season in the Black Sea city.