Make a hit on festival Web site

By Sheila J. Clark

The Great American Brass Band Festival offers GABBF lovers the opportunity to tune into the festival all year around via the festival's virtual homestead on the Internet at http://www.gabbf.com. 

To go along with the international theme of this year's festival, the Web site has taken on a new global look and feel.

The site was initially launched in 1996 by the Advocate to provide brass lovers with the most comprehensive Web site for the festival.

Organized in a user-friendly fashion, GABBF goes can easily obtain information about this year's festival as well as ones held in previous years. For instance, everything pretaining to this year's festival, from the schedule of events and festival articles to a printable order form, can easily be found, by clicking on the GABBF 2000 button.

The site also provides easy access to The Advocate Brass Band's site, host band of the festival.

Other features on the GABBF site include:

* The Chautauqua Tea featuring the prelude to the festival held the Thursday before the festival.

* Directions to Danville that also include a venue map of the festival site.

* Photo Gallery features submitted photos of past festivals.

* Band History Conference spotlights conference information, the schedule and a printable registration form.

* Area Sights to See offers information about area historic sites.

* Featured Band spotlights randomly selected brass bands.

* The Bands section features the current year's performers, includes background information and photos.

* Dine & Recline serves up suggestions on things to see and do during festival downtime.

* GABBF Archives features things from past festivals including posters, logos and Festival Guides.

* Brass Links offers links to brass-related Web sites. This year there will be additional links featuring content from the countries of our international performers.

* Interact features an unmoderated IRC chat area on Talk City.

Visitors may also read about the tour the festival went on in the GABBF On Tour section.

Also included on the site are a Guest Book and information about the Great American Picnic.