 |
|
|
We started 2020 doing what all big bands are supposed to do on New Year's Eve - Working. Our frequent venue, the Pittsboro Roadhouse had a public New Year's Eve celebration after being closed for a private event last year. We were really glad to be back on the stand in 2019 and welcomed 2020 with misplaced optimism. Then for our "Early Bird" fans who are not up to staying up so late we were back to the Roadhouse on January 7 for a "New Years Light" show, featuring the best of our New Year's show plus other tunes. We played our "Near Valentine" show in February and a salute to Glenn Miller on March 2. The following week the COVID pandemic struck North Carolina and our world turned upside down. 2021 was a "bust" as we say in the business. We did manage to sneak a few gigs in after a solid year of no rehearsals and no performances. Our great Roadhouse" venue permanently closed during the pandemic and we miss seeing our many friends from our seven years there. We inevitably had some personnel changes but our focus remains the same. We will provide the best in big band entertainment to the best of our collective ability. While some other bands, including some well known professional ones are cutting back to "small big band" size, or worse assembling a "station wagon band" that plays gigs with no rehearsal or planning, we remain a full sized 17 piece band with two outstanding singers and no corners cut. At least one very well known big band is still citing COVID as an excuse for cutting down to six brass instead of the eight the music is written for. They don't charge any less but are simply giving their customers a cheaper product.Those hiring us will get the full band, rehearsed and ready. We play the authentic music written for a full big band. We resumed rehearsals after a year in March 2021 and played a total of four performances that year before the bug came back, precluding any holiday performances. We resumed regular rehearsals in February 2022 and played several noteworthy performances including anniversary parties for the "Little German Band and Dancers" (50 years) and also for the North Carolina Ballet (25 Years), The kickoff event for a research fellowship at UNC and several other universties, The highlight event for 2022 was the Ava Gardner 100 festival for the Ava Gardner museum. This was a huge event celebrating the 100th birthday of North Carolina's iconic Movie Star Ava Gardner. We weound up our year with one of the coolest wedddings we have ever played at Raleigh's finest country club. This brings us to 2023 and we are rehearsaing weeklly, have great tunes prepared and have played two high profile private performances but alas no recent public events. We are actively seeing another place to do our "Roadhouse" style monthly show and will be happy for any suggestions. We are actively seeking and booking performances for later in the year and hope to see you all soon! OUR MUSIC| | LISTEN | | BOOK THE BAND! GALLERY| CONTACT US | RESOURCES| JOIN US PLANNING YOUR EVENT | WEDDING RECEPTIONS| CONVENTIONS | CONCERTS| FUND RAISERS |