Meet the VBF bands part 3

It’s T-3 days until Vintage Band Festival 2025. So far we’ve featured 7 of the bands that will be performing on Saturday. This installment of VBF News showcases the remaining four ensembles.

Lake Wobegon© Brass Band

The Lake Wobegon© Brass Band is a British-style Brass Band from Anoka, Minnesota. The British style is a tradition noted for its characteristic dark, mellow tone. The name Lake Wobegon© comes from Garrison Keillor’s radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, and was the band was given permission to use the name with the stipulation that the band perform at a picnic sometime for Keillor. The ensemble gives concerts throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas and has toured twice in Great Britain. The band is led by Dr. Matthew George. Lake Wobegon© Brass Band is a Vintage Band Festival veteran performer.

RLC Jazz

RLC Jazz, an 18-piece big band, was formed in 2005 by members and friends of Roseville Lutheran Church (RLC) and is led by John Helgen on keyboard. The band’s first event was Roseville Lutheran’s New Year’s Eve service on December 31, 2005. They now play a free concert every New Year’s Eve, and it has become an annual tradition. Listeners and dancers are both welcome! The band also plays for Sunday morning worship, concerts, and other events throughout the year, utilizing a wide variety of repertoire ranging from big band standards to contemporary jazz to arrangements of hymns. They have played numerous venues in the Twin Cities area including riverboat cruises, weddings, ballroom dances, community events (Taste of Rosefest) and even went on tour in 2016!

Selby Avenue Brass Band featuring Thomasina Petrus

The Selby Avenue Brass Band takes its name from an extremely well-known neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. The group is led by Tom Wells, tubist, arranger and composer and music educator in the Twin Cities area. Tom’s compositions and arrangements fuel a band comprised of enthusiastic and experienced musicians (including a couple of Grammy winners). While their musical roots come from the streets of New Orleans, they expand from that genre into many others. Thomasina Petrus is a Minneapolis actor and jazz vocalist, known for her signature role as jazz icon Billie Holiday. Selby Avenue Brass Band is a veteran Vintage Band Festival ensemble.

New Prague Area Community Band

The New Prague Area Community Band is a dynamic, nonprofit organization of volunteer musicians who share a love for playing music that entertains diverse audiences. Their members range from high school students to grandparents, united in their passion for making music that’s enjoyable for all. Rush Wagner is their conductor and he has a flair for creating wonderful programs. This ensemble has been the first band to perform at every Vintage Band Festival!

VBF board members take a Trek Through Time!

This week four members of the Vintage Band Festival board of directors joined host Kosmo Esplan on his KYMN radio show “Trek Through Time.” The hour-long interview explores the history of the festival: how and when the festival was begun, what inspired its creation, and the challenges and achievements that the organization has experienced during the past 20 years.

Kosmo is a very engaging high school student who asked some terrific questions. He’s been a fan of Vintage Band Festival for a number of years and did a deep dive on the VBF website and Facebook page in his preparation for the interview.

Thanks to Paul, Randy, Joy and Dan for taking us on a trip down memory lane. It’s remarkable how the festival has grown and evolved since 2006.

Tune in to 95.1 FM on Monday, July 21 at 9am to hear the show or stream it on demand from the KYMN radio archive after that. We hope you enjoy the show!

Meet the VBF bands part 2

Last week we showcased 3 of the Vintage Band Festival 2025 bands. This week we’re going to brag on 4 more bands that are appearing in the Bridge Square Stage on August 2, 2025.

Jack Brass Band

Based on the traditions of New Orleans brass bands, the Jack Brass Band is an ambassador of the Crescent City’s rich musical history. The 8-piece band plays “Feel-Good Music” for audiences of any age and any occasion. JBB has the ability and repertoire to play everything from old New Orleans jazz from Louis Armstrong’s era, to the modern street Mardi-Gras anthems with the instrumentation, feel and energy they have mastered through countless gigs, parades, festival appearances and trips to New Orleans to listen, learn and play alongside the masters.

Bavarian Musikmeisters

The Bavarian Musikmeisters are a 35-member wind instrument band from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota that have been sharing the beauty, enjoyment, and history of traditional Germanic band music and culture with people of all ages at festivals, park concerts, senior residences and private parties since 1985.

The Musikmeisters are modeled after the traditional village bands found in the German-speaking areas of Europe. Their attire, instrumentation, and musical arrangements of marches, polkas, waltzes, folk dances, and ballads are all authentic.

The Freier Department

The Freier Department is a seven piece band that effortlessly plays nasty Funk, swingin’ Jazz, and driving Latin music. Ethan Freier, leader and trombonist, has been a band director in Northfield for 26 years while continuing a busy freelance schedule in the twin cities. In The Freier Department, Ethan is joined in the horn section by Rich Manik on saxophone and Bob Case on trumpet. These are horn players that can blow!

The amazing rhythm section of Bill Chouinard on bass, David Schmalenberger on drums, Chris Olson on guitar, and Ted Godbout on keys will keep the grooves deep and the jazz smokin’. Freier’s arrangements of classic funk and jazz tunes are fresh and exciting. The Freier Department will also be performing some of Freier’s original compositions which can be heard on their 2021 album “Dysfunktion”. When you hear this band, you’ll know why these are some of the most sought after musicians in the Twin Cities.

Sheldon Theatre Brass Band

The Sheldon Theatre Brass Band was founded in 1989 as the resident performing ensemble at the newly-restored, turn-of-the-century T. B. Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing. The band is made up of cornets, trombones, tenor horns, euphoniums, tubas and percussion. They use the instrumentation of the traditional British Brass Band and play a broad variety of musical styles including original pieces for brass and percussion, marches, orchestral transcriptions, and unique arrangements for brass. In addition to regular performances at the Sheldon Theatre, the band performs at a variety of venues throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin and has performed at many brass band festivals throughout the United States, including NABBA Great American Brass Band Festival. Jim Kurschner is the Director of the band.

For more information and the complete schedule for VBF 2025, visit the Vintage Band Festival website.

A message from VBF board member Jan Stevens

Why I gave the lead gift to begin the Vintage Band Festival Fund at Northfield Shares:

Early in my life I realized that I had won the lottery by being born in the United States, in the Midwest, on a farm into a strong family with unconditional love plus a deep and strong religious life. My wonderful parents were major volunteers in the church and in the community where we lived. They lived a life of generosity, kindness and love, providing an excellent template for my own life.

Newly married and employed in the Dean’s Office at the University of Illinois I was working with an older colleague who was weathering some serious family trouble. Jeanne suggested to Stan and me that we should build a memory bank into our lives, as she had done. “Celebrate everything, plan special events, travels, family events, make your own traditions. When trouble comes, and it will, you can withdraw happiness and joy from this bank to help you get through this trouble.” IT WORKS!

OK, the world is a mess. World history is war, pestilence and starvation. My graduate education is in economics, “the Dismal Science….”

However, I have made it a practice in my life to wake up every morning looking for every sparkle of joy I can find to savor! It is a good thing to do.

My 19 years of volunteer service for the Vintage Band Festival provides me with great memories and joy in spades! Everyone involved, Board members, musicians, volunteers, friends, family, audiences, townspeople and the many assorted, random folks who find themselves surprised and delighted to be here during the festival enjoys this event. Live brass music, in the open air, in this (admit it) idyllic town connect the audiences and the musicians with one another. WE ARE NOT BOWLING ALONE!

Our audiences are very inclusive and varied. You will find families and individuals of all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds, economic status and social classes. All are welcome here.

My great good fortune is to be able to support this event with a lead financial gift to ensure VBF continues to delight everyone in the future. I want to especially honor Paul Niemisto for his brilliant ideas, knowledge and enthusiasm and Dan Bergeson for his superb management skills and his enthusiasm. The Vintage Band Festival is a mature organization and ready to receive your charitable donation to the fund managed efficiently and prudently by the local board of Northfield Shares. This fund is separate from our yearly fundraising.

The Vintage Band Festival is a secular event that may appeal to your specific philanthropic plans. We have been a 501C3 nonprofit organization for many years, providing donors with tax advantages.

Our website, www.vintagebandfestival.org has more information or text me anytime. If you would like to donate today, click on this link https://northfieldshares.org/vintage-band-festival-agency-fund/.

WELCOME TO JOY!

Janet (Jan) Gettings Stevens

JULY 18, 2024

Meet the VBF 2025 bands!

Brio Brass has delighted and entertained audiences throughout Minnesota’s Twin Cities Metro area since 1999.Composed of more than 50 adult musicians, the group performs its own unique arrangements written specifically for its members. The ensemble’s large repertoire features a broad spectrum of musical styles. Audiences are entertained with fluid ballads, pop of all eras, show tunes, funky rock and lots of jazz. All of the music that Brio Brass plays has been composed or arranged by the director, Rick Rueckert. He has written more than 200 arrangements and compositions. Expect lots of humming, toe tapping and even dancing in the aisles!

La Clave Orchestra is a Twin Cities-based,12-piece band bringing music from the Latin-American/Spanish speaking regions. Established with the drive to provide great music for the Twin Cities salsa fans, the musicians of La Clave Orchestra represent some of the finest among the Twin Cities. They perform many styles of music including Salsa, Montuno, Guaguanco, Cumbia, to name a few.

La Clave Orchestra performs locally at several venues, Latin festivals, private events and other locations. If you are looking for the best Salsa Music Entertainment available in the Twin Cities, be sure to follow them on social media. This is La Clave Orchestra’s first appearance at Vintage Band Festival.

Southside Aces perform traditional New Orleans jazz. The six-member band began as the brainchild of clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson. The Aces possess a diverse repertoire, with a roll call that includes the names of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke. The Southside Aces have performed at the Vieux Carré and Dakota jazz clubs, Crooners Supper Club, Twin Cities Jazz Fest, and the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest. The band has also played events in Chicago, Denver, and Des Moines. The Southside Aces are veteran performers at Vintage Band Festival.

For the complete schedule of Vintage Band Festival 2025 and more information, visit www.vintagebandfestival.org or find us on Facebook.

New VBF marketing video launch

Vintage Band Festival recently released a short video presentation in anticipation of the 20^th anniversary of the festival in 2026. Vintage Band Festival: Making Music and Memories Since 2006 combines festival history with an invitation to community members to assist in long-term financial support of the organization. Designed by the VBF Marketing Committee and produced by local actor and videographer Wendy Placko, the 10-minute show features clips from past VBF band performances and interviews with several members of the VBF board of directors.

This project was initiated by board member Jan Stevens to raise awareness of the recently established Vintage Band Festival Agency Fund for legacy giving. She makes a strong argument to current and future donors of the need for giving that goes beyond annual operational contributions to insure that the VBF tradition continues for years to come.

You can watch the video by clicking this link.

VBF spring 2025 fund drive

Last fall, the VBF Fundraising Committee set a goal of $25,000 for the purpose of staging a one-day event in 2025. It’s a good time to report on the progress of the effort and the running total today. We sent out a letter in mid-November to a number of past donors and the response has been wonderful, but not record-breaking. As of May 1 the campaign total stands at just under $14,000. We’ve reached the 70% mark!

Recently, some of you have received a letter in the mail with in invitation to make a contribution to this effort. We hope that you will give it thoughtful consideration and if you haven’t made a donation in the past six months, please consider one at this time. Gifts in any amount are welcome, but contributions of $100 or more are critical at this time. We are hoping to reach our goal by June 15 to be confident of meeting our 2025 budget.

As we reported at the beginning of April, VBF 2025 will take place on August 2 in Northfield, Minnesota’s Bridge Square. The lineup we’ve secured is terrific and we hope that you are making plans to attend. Click on this link for the complete schedule and follow us on Facebook for more information and updates as they happen.

If you wish to make a donation using a credit card, visit www.vintagebandfestival.org and click on the big green “Donate” button. Then follow the prompts. If you wish to donate by mail, make your check out to Vintage Band Festival and send it to Vintage Band Festival/204 W. 7th Street #130/Northfield, MN/55057.

2026 will be the 20th Anniversary year of Vintage Band Festival. Stay tuned for forthcoming news about that milestone celebration!

Vintage Band Festival announces the VBF 2025 bands!

The Performance Committee of the Vintage Band Festival has finished another difficult round of decisions and is pleased to announce the roster of ensembles for our event on August 2, 2025 in Downtown Northfield, Minnesota.

Beginning at 9:00 am, the New Prague Area Community Band will play the national anthem and then provide us with a wonderful concert to open the festival. Next up will be the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band from Red Wing, Minnesota, one of two British-style brass bands in the lineup this year.

At 11:00 am we’ll hear the feel-good music of the Jack Brass Band. It will be great to have their NOLA sounds return to the VBF stage. The Bavarian Musikmeisters will be the band that plays during the noon hour and every time they come to town they get the entire audience to their feet for a couple of singalongs.

The Freier Department will take the stage at 1:00. They’ll likely be smokin’ hot like they were last year. At 2:00 Brio Brass returns from a VBF hiatus. Rick Rueckert and his band will treat us to many lively tunes, a number of them arranged by Rick himself.

The Lake Wobegon© Brass Band will follow Brio Brass at 3:00. The Lake Wobegon© Brass Band hasn’t played at Vintage Band Festival for several years and this year they have a new conductor!

The next group, Southside Aces, plays “vintage jazz for modern times”. They are a superb sextet from south Minneapolis and a don’t miss act beginning at 4:00.

La Clave Orchestra joins the fun at 5:15 with an amazing sound showcasing salsa, montuno, guaguanco, and cumbia rythyms. At 6:45 Selby Avenue Brass Band with Thomasina Petrus will again be on the VBF stage for a set featuring a true diva.

The last show of the festival will begin at 8:15 when RLC Jazz makes its VBF debut. The swing band from Roseville, Minnesota will play as many of the swing standards as they can while the street in front of the stage comes alive with dancers of all ages.

Be sure to put August 2, 2025 on your calendar right now so you don’t miss all the fun. Stay tuned to the VBF website and our Facebook page updates through the coming spring and summer.

Merry Christmas from Vintage Band Festival!

On December 7 we kicked off the holiday season with Tuba Christmas in Northfield, the 5^th year that Vintage Band Festival has presented Tuba Christmas on the campus of Carleton College. The event exceeded our expectations. We welcomed over 600 people in the audience and more than 60 tubists and euphonium musicians to the stage at Skinner Memorial Chapel.

Thanks to Carleton College for sponsoring our event. Thanks to Dr. Paul Niemisto for his conducting and his musical history lessons. And thanks to all those who donated and to our faithful volunteers. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Oooooops! Tuba Christmas is December 7

My mother always told me to double and triple check dates when putting them in writing. Sorry Mom!

Tuba Christmas in Northfield is Saturday, December 7, not December 2 as the previous post indicated. December 2 wasn’t a Saturday so you probably figured it out, but just to be sure, we’re publicly admitting our mistake.

Hope to see some of you there!