The 3rd Annual Bands 4 Band Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013. The Blanco Band Boosters are thrilled to be hosting the third year of this all-day music festival, the proceeds from which go to support the Blanco High School and Blanco Middle School band programs – most significantly, the high school marching band.
“The festival started out as a way to earn the funds to purchase new marching band uniforms, and call attention to the support of our music programs in our schools. But the festival is also a good event for our community. It brings new visitors to town and it gives our community an easy and fun way to support our music students,” stated Libbey Aly, president of the Blanco Band Boosters and co-originator of the event.
Grammy award winners Grupo Fantasma are featured guests at this year’s festival. Grupo Fantasma has been praised as one of the most important independent acts in the Latin genre and has continually defied expectations to create one of the most unique musical voices to come out of the United States in the last decade. In 2011 they garnered further acclaim by winning a Grammy (their second such nomination) for their self-produced release El Existential on Nat Geo Music which the Wall Street Journal called “Latin music both new and traditional…vibrant fusions that transcend easy classification.”
Singer, song-writer Patrice Pike is also confirmed in the line-up for Bands 4 Band. Patrice Pike, a professional musician since the age of 16, has fronted the quintessential Austin bands Little Sister, Sister 7, and her own Black Box Rebellion. She’s also performed with Dave Matthews, Natalie Merchant, Ray Charles and more. Her fame rose to new heights recently as she made the cut, out of 25,000 applicants, to appear on CBS ’ “Rockstar: Supernova”.
Other artists who will be playing the festival this year include local favorites Zydeco Blanco and Bobby Mack. Hunter Hendrickson and his band will join the line-up from Dallas as will Allen Wallace and Southern Comfort from Llano. A twist on the festival this year will be a performance by Lannaya: West African Drum and Dance Ensemble.
“I’m very excited about Grupo Fantasma, and Lannaya coming to the festival. Salsa and African are two genres of music very close to my heart and I’m happy to be able to share these loves with the students in the band. The kids that have been in the band since I started as a Booster know my musical tastes and have teased me about it. Since this is my last year as a Band Booster officer, it will be a nice way to share a little something that feels personal to me with the kids. Also, since our band marched a Latin Show this year, Grupo Fantasma will be able to join in with our band for at least one song”” said Mrs. Aly.
The festival will be held at Yett Memorial Park, Saturday, April 27 from Noon until 11:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate or through bands4band.com. The website has the link to the ticket sales as well as more information on the artist line-up. Grupo Fantasma will take the stage at 2:00 p.m., immediately following the performance by the Blanco Panther Marching Band. Make plans to attend early and don’t miss a moment!
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