La Banda Rossa: August 24, 2012 - Our Lady of Lourdes Festival

We were invited back for a second year to perform at Our Lady of Lourdes Festival and Bazaar.

Last year we had a later start time and needed to setup in front of the bandstand. This year the start time was changed and we received the honor of playing on the bandstand.

A crowd had gathered to get seats at the picnic tables and others were setting up their lawn chairs as we were getting setup on stage.

We had an additional captive audience as well – our concert started at 6pm and it was at the peak serving time for their famous fish fry dinner. The line going into the tent was situated right in front of us and grew longer and longer with each song we played.

This year our play list included many polkas and marches which added to the carnival atmosphere that surrounded us.

We were sitting with our backs to the Hawkins Amusements and we were accompanied all night long by the sounds of the High-Striker – the game where a strong man (or woman) swings a large mallet, hits the pad to ring the bell, and win a prize.

We opened our second set with “The Barber of Seville” and received a roaring applause from a very appreciative audience.

We concluded the concert as we did last year with an American patriotic salute. This year was a “Salute to the Armed Forces” We ended with everyone joining us as we played “God Bless America”

Our packed house stayed with us – not dispersing until the last Tarantella and Marcia Reale had been played.

“BRAVO” to Our Lady of Lourdes in South Utica – they put on an excellent Festival and we would be honored to be invited back next year