Great American Brass Band Festival Celebrates 25 Years

Fans of brass-band music from around the world are expected to descend upon Danville this weekend for the 25th annual “Great American Brass Band Festival”.

Executive Director Niki Kinkade says part of this year’s celebration will be looking back on the last 25 years and collecting materials for a coffee-table book.

“The prelude to that is this booklet. It’s an 18-page book full of photographs and anecdotes and our pins and posters and kind of a historical perspective over the last 25 years,” said Kinkade.

Kinkade says the event is expected to draw 30-thousand people this weekend.

“The best brass bands play on our stages – it’s quite an honor for them to do so. And so we bring the best of the best, and I think that’s part of the reason we’ve survived for 25 years and we intend to be around for many more.”

On Friday night (June 6), the festival features a “Bayou & Brass” street party featuring New Orleans-style music and food; on Saturday the festivities include a parade through downtown.