Great American Brass Band Festival continues to grow

For this year's Great American Brass Band Festival think four days of nonstop fun.

The planning committee for the 17th annual festival, set for June 8-11, is including even more offerings this year.

"I'm really excited about Friday," says Mary Quinn Ramer, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "For years it's been a great Saturday-Sunday festival, but now we offer a ton of things to do Friday night."

The lineup for Thursday night is not too shabby either. Events on that day include a Chautauqua tea in a new location - Old Crow Inn Winery- and the kickoff of Pioneer Playhouse's theater season with "My Sister Eileen."

A new offering on Friday will be a concert at the gazebo in Weisiger Park with Great Olympian Traditional Jazz Band. Ramer says this group, which always performs as the finale on Saturday night at Centre College main stage, appeals to the younger crowd and this concert is geared toward that age group.

"Even the high schoolers are down in front dancing. I think Olympia has really enjoyed interacting with that age group. We hope this will help cultivate the younger festival-goer."

Many people will see the performance as they view works by 40 artists participating in a downtown gallery hop.

One of the stops on the gallery hop - the Community Arts Center - will have the creator of this year's art for the poster signing his work. This is the second year a local artist was chosen to create the festival poster.

Danville artist Paul Sirimongkhon will sign posters made from his design, a colorful acrylic he titled "Brassy Razzmatazz." The poster, which incorporates performers from Olympia and Circle City Sidewalk Stompers, also will be used in some form on this year's T-shirts.

This will be the first festival without ragtime pianist Scott Kirby, who has retired, but a suitable replacement has been found in Dick Domek of Lexington. Domek, who also will perform with a movable piano, is no stranger to Danville.

"If you've been to a Norton Center performance, Dick's always been the guy on the piano there," Ramer says.

In terms of new performers, the festival will welcome Piedmont Trombone Society of Atlanta and soloist Jens Lindemann.

"He's a fantastic musician and clinician," Ramer says of the trumpet soloist who will lead sessions at Friday's history conference at Centre College.

The festival again will cross county lines with a Friday night performance by Rhythm & Brass on the lawn of Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg. Ramer says last year was the first time for a performance at this historic site, but she is excited that Beaumont Inn will host it again.

"Mercer County is our first step, but it's nice to see it spreading out."

For those who choose not to go to Mercer County or stay in downtown Danville, the balloon race at the airport is a tried-and-true event. If the weather cooperates, lift-off is at 7 p.m.

Concerts begin at 9 a.m. Saturday

On Saturday, the festival keeps rolling with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Main Street.

"The breakfast brings people downtown earlier and keeps them in the thick of things," Ramer says.

The concerts start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Weisiger Park, Constitution Square and Farmers Bank until time for the parade at 11 a.m. to Centre College's main stage. Music continues with an hour break to allow for set up for the picnic at Centre. Ramer says before Olympia's performance, festival-goers are in for a treat. Brass Spectacular, composed of Boston Brass, Millennium Brass and Rhythm & Brass, will perform at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, a community worship service begins at 9:30 a.m. and the music on the main stage is from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ramer says the festival continues to draw accolades from various people. It has been named a top event by the American Bus Association, the Southeast Tourism Society and the Kentucky Tourism Council.

"The festival is amazing to me because it is a volunteer festival. Not only is it becoming nationally recognized, but it is volunteer-driven," she says.

Know the brass facts

17th year for the festival
18 brass bands, plus one soloist
More than $250,000 budget
40,000 visitors from around the globe
$3 million in economic impact for area
450 overnight rooms already sold out
Festival activities throughout the weekend -- parade, picnic, fireworks, gallery hop, pancake breakfast, Chautauqua tea, band history conference, community worship service and balloon race.
Information from the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Tourist Bureau

This year's bands are:

202nd Army Band
8th Regiment
Advocate Brass Band
Boston Brass Band
Circle City Sidewalk Stompers
Danville Pipe Band
Euphouria
Great Olympian Tradition
Indiana Wind Symphony
James Madison Symphony
Lexington Brass Band
London Citadel Brass Band
Millennium Brass Band
Ohio Wheelmen
Piedmont Trombone Society
Rhythm & Brass
Saxton's Cornet Band
Soloist Jens Lindemann

This story ran in the Advocate on April 16, 2006.

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