Superact presents: The Bandstand Marathon

The Bandstand Marathon brings live music performance to bandstands and outdoor performance spaces across the UK - all at the same time - on the same day.

The event, now in its fifth year, celebrates local music talent. Hosted in the many historic bandstands that adorn our local parks and town centres this festival has something for everyone: from Blues to Reggae, Bangra to Rock. The 2012 Bandstand Marathon will be one of the largest national closing events of London 2012.

This year we are teaming up with the Department of Communities and Local Government and Making Music to bring you a much bigger, brighter and exciting four hours of live entertainment and fun.

Our challenge this year – to run over 500 events at the same time on the same day – 1pm on the 9th September 2012 across the UK.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said:

"The Bandstand Marathon is encouraging local music groups to fulfil their potential. I am proud that with the help of partners such as Superact we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in creating a cultural legacy post-London 2012.”

Eric Pickles Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government recently said: "The Bandstand Marathon is a great opportunity to come together with a real sense of community to celebrate the best of your local area”.

The key elements of a Bandstand Marathon in 2012 event are:

• Must take place in an outdoor performance space which can be a bandstand, public park, town centre, shopping centre, public garden etc.
• All events are free to all members of the public and can therefore not form part of a ticketed event.
• Performance opportunities should be offered to a wide variety of genres of music, performed by both amateur and professional musicians and support youth engagement.
• The Bandstand Marathon strives to inspire local communities to engage in community music activities therefore opportunities should be made available at every event for audiences to engage in the performances in some way.
• All events must display a Bandstand Marathon banner on the day and adhere to the licensing rules on the use of the Olympic Inspire Mark (guidelines available from Superact).
• Local Event Programmers should work closely with local partners such as community groups to create a celebratory community event.