Summer Concerts are in full swing!

First a reminder: Tuesday the 30th is the only concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band at Humboldt park this summer. Concert begins at 6:30. See you there.

I've mentioned the Shorewood Concert Band schedule and the Whitefish Bay Band schedule in a previous post. Here's the schedule for one of the longest running bands in the metro area - our neighbors to the South, the Racine Concert Band.

The Racine Concert Band has been in existence since 1877. In 1923 they officially were sponsored by the City of Racine (named the Racine Park Board Band) and began a series of free concerts. There were a couple of other name changes as well, the Racine Municipal Band in 1967 , and the Racine Concert Band in 1996.

The Racine Concert Band is one of 37 community bands in all of North America to be honored by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. In December of 1995, they were awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll, the highest honor a community band can achieve. While a number of groups can receive the award in any given year, to this day there are only 37 bands to be so honored.

Since then the group continues the tradition began in the late 1800's, performing high quality free concerts for the people of Racine and its visitors. At the end of last season, the band had performed over 1400 free concerts! Quite an impressive run!

This year the summer season begins on July 4th with the Racine Independence Day Parade on Main Street in the morning and a concert of Patriotic music at North Beach beginning at 8 PM, just before the fireworks.

The summer season at the Zoo begins on Sunday July 12th at 7:30 PM. (If you come to the Zoo for the day, remember that the Racine Zoo is now charging admission. If you come just for the concert, admission is free.) Concerts will also be held at the Zoo on July 19 and 26, also at 7:30. In August, the concert time changes to 7:00 due to the available daylight. Those concert dates are August 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Director Mark Eichner has a lot planned for this season. Be sure to take in at least one of these fine concerts. Better yet, enjoy them all! See you there!

Sorry I'm Late

It's been one of those weeks, and in all the confusion, I did not prepare a post for Sunday. I apologise. My intention was to let you know about the summer concert series of the Racine Concert Band. I'll push that back to this coming Sunday.

In the meantime, don't forget the next concert by the Shorewood Concert Band, this Thursday evening at 7 PM in Atwater Park, corner of Capital Drive and Lake Drive. I'll be there, and I hope you will be too!

Summer Band Information

Here's some information about the schedules for two community bands in the North Shore area.


First, is the Shorewood Concert Band. This last Saturday was their first concert, in conjunction with the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Dinner at Atwater Park. (By the way, the chicken was great and the concert was too!) Here's the rest of their schedule for the Summer.

• June 25 at 7 PM in Atwater Park


• July 4 in Atwater Park as a part of the Independence Day Celebration at 6:30 PM


• July 17 at 7 PM in Atwater Park

Whitefish Bay also has a community band, with concerts held in Old Schoolhouse Park.

• June 24 at 7 PM


• July 8 at 7 PM


• July 22 at 7 PM


• August 2 at 3 PM


• August 9 at 3 PM

I'll have concert listings soon for one of the longest running community bands in the area, the Racine Concert Band. And if you know the schedules for your favorite community band, leave a comment with the schedule and we'll all benefit. Thanks.

So, there are some options for your calendar for free summer fun. Enjoy the concerts!

Forgot to include this

I forgot to include this reminder in the last post...

This Saturday is the first concert of the Shorewood Concert Band, appearing as a part of the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Dinner. The festivities are all day at Atwater Park (Capitol Drive and Lake Drive) with the Shorewood Band performing at 4:30 PM.

So stop by, enjoy the music, and have a great barbecue chicken dinner prepared by Rupena's. Yum!

A Milwaukee Music Tradition Continues

Don't forget the concert June 7th by the Milwaukee Festival Brass at Wisconsin Lutheran College at 3 PM...now back to our regularly scheduled posting.

This tradition will continue in 2009...

The Milwaukee American Legion Band will perform a concert in Humboldt Park this summer. This performance continues a tradition as long as I can remember. Even when I was a kid, our family would go to see the American Legion Band perform concerts in the park during the summer. Unfortunately, this year, like last year, the band will perform only one concert. However, that does keep the tradition going! It also means that we all need to set the date aside on our calendars!

The concert will be held on Tuesday June 30th at the Music Chalet in Humboldt Park, as one of the concerts in the Chill On The Hill series. The music begins at 6:30. At this time, I am not aware of any music on the program. Needless to say, it will begin with the traditional March of the Champions, and end with the traditional encore.

So, don't miss out on a Milwaukee Tradition, from the great setting at Humboldt Park, to the traditional opening and closing numbers of the concert. See you there on Tuesday June 30th!