GABBF

News release

The musical lineup has been set for the 2021 Great American Brass Band Festival in historic downtown Danville and Weisiger Park, June 11-12. Several fan favorites are set to return, as well as a slew of faces new to the festival.

The Todd Hill Orchestra presented by Whitaker Bank returns to headline the 2021 music lineup on Saturday, June 12. The eighteen-member Todd Hill Orchestra has been entertaining audiences for over 35 years! Shows feature the orchestra’s star soloists on swinging jazz standards, along with the piano and vocal talents of their leader, playing big band hits of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and many more. Their high-energy performances combined with light banter results in joyous listening, tapping toes, and many return engagements.

Matt Hightower, assistant professor of Tuba/Euphonium at the University of Kentucky, will be featured as the 2021 soloist, performing in the afternoon with the 202nd Army Band. Hightower is a professional tubist, and his performance experience covers a wide range of chamber, orchestral and solo music that spans three continents and nine countries. He is a prizewinner of international solo competitions and has presented master classes to tuba/euphonium students around the world. He earned a bachelor of music degree in music education from Murray State University, a master of music degree in tuba performance from Indiana University, and a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also an award-winning composer, as well as a B&S performing artist.

A festival favorite, the Storyville Stompers from New Orleans, will return again this year and will perform in the parade as well as on the main stage on Saturday afternoon.

Scott Kirby will return to the festival after several years to delight the GABBF audience with his lively jazz and ragtime piano performances. His repertoire includes works by such artists as Scott Joplin, John Philip Sousa and Jelly Roll Morton, to name a few, as well as original pieces.

As previously mentioned, the 202nd Army Band of the Kentucky National Guard out of Frankfort will also return for their 23rd year at the festival. The host band of the festival, Danville’s own Advocate Brass Band, will welcome everyone to our town once again, playing in both the parade and on the Main Stage on Saturday evening.

The North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) is an organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the British-style brass band in North America. There has long been a relationship between the Great American Brass Band Festival and NABBA, and this year as a special treat the festival will play host to several NABBA member bands: the Cincinnati Brass Band led by Dr. Benjamin Chamberlain, Five Lakes Silver Band directed by Christopher Ward, Motor City Brass Band under the baton of Craig Strain, and the Saint Louis Brass Band conducted by Dr. John Bell.

Local favorite, “rock n soul with horns” band, PowerPlay, will perform on Friday, June 11 from 8–10 p.m. during a Gallery Hop After-Hours Concert in Weisiger Park, which is presented by the festival. During this event, GABBF encourages patrons to order takeout from downtown restaurants and enjoy dinner in the park while enjoying the free live music. Draft beer will be sold during the After-Hours Concert, with proceeds directly supporting the festival.

The Walnut Street Ramblers will also return to provide music for the Great American Swing Dance on Friday, June 11 from 6:30–8 pm at the Boyle County Public Library.

Band performance times will be released shortly. Stay tuned to gabbf.org as more information becomes available.

Full weekend event schedule

Friday, June 11

Downtown Gallery Hop: 5:30-8 p.m.

Sponsor Reception: 6–8 p.m.

Great American Swing Dance: 6:30-8 p.m. (Boyle County Public Library)

Gallery Hop After-Hours Concert: 8-10 p.m. (Weisiger Park)

Saturday, June 12

Run for the Brass 5k: 8 a.m. (Millennium Park)

Yoga in the Park: 8:30 a.m. (Constitution Square)

Main Street Parade: 11 a.m.

Great American Brass Band Festival Main Stage Music: 12-10 p.m. (Weisiger Park)