Peterlee Gold Stars Jazz Band

Peterlee Gold Stars Jazz Band on Eden Lane, Peterlee Festival, 1964.

The Peterlee Emeralds are the most widely recognised jazz band from the town and are fondly remembered across several generations of the town’s residents. They weren’t however Peterlee’s only jazz band. On July 13, 1964, The Northern Daily Mail reported that “a big crowd watched a derby jazz band contest on Eden Lane playing fields, a side show to Peterlee Festival Day… The overall winners of the jazz band contest were Horden Melody Makers. Other bands competing were the Peterlee Gold Stars, Horden Blue Stars and Easington Tip Toppers.”