Sunday, August 26, 2012

August 24, 2012 - Our Lady of Lourdes Festival - Utica, NY

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

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!
For more photos please click on the following link

Monday, August 13, 2012

August 11, 2012 - Mechanicville, NY - The Feast of the Assumption

The Red Band returned to Mechanicville, NY, after a year’s absence and was welcomed back with opened arms.

We were there to celebrate the Feast of Mary’s Assumption into Heaven.

Because the Church was closed in 2009, a Mass was held this year at the Gazebo in Tallmadge Park.
At the end of the Mass we played “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” and when we played “Marcia Reale” the Roman candle fireworks soared up from the hilltop and exploded over the park.

The Procession consisted of a Police car escort, an American Flag bearer, little girls dressed in their pristine white Holy Communion dresses followed by the older girls in pretty blue dresses carrying the Saint. Their banner declared this Feast has been celebrated since 1903! That’s two years older than La Band Rossa!

Next came the Parishioners, the Red Band, and the Italian flag decorated float carrying the Dignitaries and five 700 count bags of Tootsie Rolls to hand out along the way.

Our lunch break was at Costanzo’s Restaurant. The sausage-stuffed peppers - mild, cherry, and long-hots were delicious. We played a Tarantella and Marcia Reale in appreciation.
No sooner did we resume the Procession when a sprinkle of rain became a shower and then a downpour. Everyone scurried to the nearest porch.

Musicians in the rain just naturally break into a pick-up rendition of “Singing in the Rain”.




We gave an encore of “When the Saints Go Marching In” (the floorboards on the porch held up quite well)


The rain stopped and we continued to the ice tea, lemonade, and Sambuca stop. Then we crossed over the creek and onto our next big food stop at the Clements family home.
On the way back to the park the rain returned to soak us once more as the Procession ended with the music of the Red Band and another volley of fireworks.

This year there was no concert – our work was done. It was back to the bus for a long, wet ride home.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

Many more photos can be found at


Sunday, August 5, 2012

August 5, 2012 - New York Mills, NY - Sacred Heart-St. Marys

On Sunday The Red Band was invited to play outside its’ “ethnic zone”.

We performed in a Church Procession at New York Mills Sacred Heart-St. Mary’s Our Lady of Czestochowa. This was the weekend of their Polish-American Festival.

We assembled and waited at the front door of the Church and when the 11am Mass ended we played “Marche Reale” as the doors opened.
Out came the Parishioners carrying an assortment of flags and banners, followed by a large group of people dressed in beautiful, brightly colored Polish outfits.




Next were the Clergy carrying a censer of fragrant incense and holding the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa.







The Icon was brought to the Parish from Poland by the current Pastor, Fr. Arthur Krawczenko.



The Procession circled the Church three times in honor of the Holy Trinity.

We then followed everyone back into the Church where we lined up in the back to play our final selection “Inno E Viva Maria”


VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

For more photos please click on the following link