A SIZZLING cast of contemporary pioneering spirits which bluró the borders of brass, aBrassive features five widely different acts under one banner – instruments, instrumentals and instrumentalists.

Mercury Prize-nominated Portico Quartet are four young musicians from South London. Living and playing together, they have described their sound as “like an indie band that plays post-jazz”.

Their unique sound has won them fans from Gilles Peterson to Radio 4 and Notion to BBC Music Magazine, as well as Time Out’s Jazz, Folk and World music album of the year 2007 for their album, Knee-deep in the North Sea.

Leeds-based These Monsters are an instrumental group who perform cinematic prog-rock with a saxophone in place of a singer.

They have developed their unique sound painstakingly through hours of playing and constant touring.

The group formed during the members’ first year at Leeds University and are known for their riffs, harmonies – and volume.

With BBC airplay, live sessions on Kerrang Radio, an exciting debut album and national magazine coverage, Kid iD have gone from strength to strength, rapidly gaining a reputation for their original and upbeat performances, mixing skiffle and ska.

Sarah Kenchington operates a pedal-powered brass orchestra via pumps, inner tubes and balloon membranes, enabling one woman to play as a six-piece brass band.

The sound produced is a rich, shifting mix of deep drones and free jazz-style melodic outbursts.

Sarah will be accompanied for this live performance by Daniel Padden.

Based in Newcastle, Balaclava perform instrumental music, aiming at a coherent balance between improvisation and arranged material that reflects the diversity of influences and playing styles brought by each member.

After the show, DJ Bass Clef will play a free session at The Slug and Lettuce, Walkergate, from 11pm.

■ aBrassive, Saturday, July 18, from 6pm, Durham Town Hall, Market Place. Price: £5 in advance (£4 if bought in advance with a Jimi Tenor ticket) or £6 at the door. Box Office: 0191-332-4041.