New Prague Area Community Band
The New Prague Area Community Band is a dynamic, non-profit organization of volunteer musicians who share a love for playing music that entertains diverse audiences. Our members range from high school students to grandparents, united in their passion for making music that’s enjoyable for all.
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.
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.
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.
Lake Wobegon© Brass Band
The Lake Wobegon© Brass Band is a British-style Brass Band from Anoka. The British style is a tradition noted for its characteristic dark, mellow tone. The name Lake Wobegon© does come from Garrison Keillor’s radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, and was allowed on 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.
Brio Brass
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!
Southside Aces
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.
La Clave Orchestra
La Clave Orchestra is a Twin Cities-based,12-piece band depending on your needs and budgets, 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.
Shelby Avenue Brass Band featuring Thomasina Petrus
The Selby Avenue Brass Band is a relatively new voice in the Minneapolis/St.Paul music scene.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.
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 the Roseville Lutheran New Year’s Eve service on December 31, 2005. They now play a free concert every New Year’s Eve, and it has become a very popular event. Downbeat is at 7 PM and 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 including riverboat cruises, weddings, ballroom dances, community events (Taste of Rosefest) and even went on tour in 2016!