Desire draws the 8th Regiment Band back

By Brenda S. Edwards
Staff Writer

Desire brings the 8th Regiment Band, a Civil War band of Rome, Ga., to Danville's Great American Brass Band Festival.

The desire to participate came after members of the Georgia band attended the brass band festival two years ago, according to 8th Regiment Bandsman Tom Carr.

Carr said there is no place in the United States that offers such an grandeur of brass music, musicians and ensembles to gather for a three-day weekend. And his band is excited to be a part of it.

``It's such an intense few days to soak up brass music,'' said Carr. Just being with the musicians, participants and the ``brass'' has drawn this amateur brass band back to perform for the second year.

The 18-member band members and six spouses that work closely with them come to the festival without any pay; the group gets reimbursed for their travel expenses.

``This group would do just about anything just to watch,'' said Carr.

``We feel like we're in impressive company to be there.''

They like the festival for the sheer self-fulfillment, Carr said.

Last year was the 8th Regiment's first performance at the local festival; eight members came up the year before to watch. ``Just to watch the performance is an education,'' Carr said.

``After we watched, we decided we would like an invitation (to perform),'' said Carr. They talked with organizer George Foreman, told him about their performance on the ``Good Morning America'' television show, and got their invitation. Then got another one to return this year. ``One of the nice draws is the conference the Friday before,'' said Carr.

``It's unique because of the collection of high caliber people, brass musicians and teachers that show up. I don't know of anywhere in the United States where this many brass musicians and ensembles gather for a weekend,'' said Carr.

Danville also plays its part in enticing people to the festival. ``The environment of the town, the way it is laid out and the way the city embraces the festival also is a draw.''

The weather conditions really haven't interfered with the 8th Regiment's visit to Danville. Three years ago during the June heat wave, Carr, who doesn't like hot weather, didn't even notice the sweltering weather. Neither did he remember the rain showers during the picnic last year.

``It's so absorbing,'' he said. The whole group feels the same way.

``If you travel and perform for nothing, it's the desire that drives you,'' he said. ``We're paying our own way.''

So it has to be the desire that draws this southern group to attend the Great American Brass Band Festival.