Band Night draws huge crowd

When you invite nine bands from across the St. Vrain Valley School District and beyond to perform what are traditionally their football game halftime shows, the turnout of parents, students, fans and athletes can fill the stands at Everly-Montgomery Field at Longmont High School.

Wednesday, Oct. 4, bands from Erie, Frederick, Longmont, Lyons, Mead, Niwot, Silver Creek, Skyline and even Roosevelt high schools put on quite a show for their fans. Though the event is not a contest, many of the bands will take their shows on the road to perform at contests later.

This event provided an opportunity for marching band fans to see nine different shows, all at the same event. The Niwot High School Marching Band, under the direction of Wade Hendricks, performed a "Star Wars" medley of songs from the popular movie series.

After each band performed its own show, the nine bands combined to perform Neil Diamond's classic, "Sweet Caroline," complete with audience participation, in an arrangement composed specifically for "massed bands" according to the PA announcer. With upwards of 400 musicians on the field, directed by drum majors from each of the participating schools, the performance went off flawlessly, giving the audience goose bumps, and a chance to sing along with the "bom, bom, bom" and "so good, so good, so good" traditional lines in the chorus.

Doug Carmichael, former Band Director at Niwot High School and later Erie High School, was there to support the students, having retired from teaching last May. Niwot High softball coach Bobby Matthews was also on hand with most of his softball team members to support the musicians, including two band members who are also part of the softball team.

You can see the Niwot High School Marching Band perform at the next NHS home football game, Friday, Oct. 27, at Everly-Montgomery Field.