Ladner Bandfest Report 2008

Report by Jesse Oliver

 

The morning dawned somewhat gray and iffy, but by 8:00 A.M. the weather had cleared up enough to give the Bandfest organizers hope for a rain free day.

 

As the musicians began to arrive the weather held and when all was ready, the first performers, Delta Concert Band took the stage in the new "Delta Show Stage". From the first band to the last band to play, it was generally agreed that all the bands had made great improvement over their fine performance of last year. As one band was playing on the Show Stage, the next would be setting up in the Picnic Gazebo and so on back and forth all day long.

 

We were very fortunate to have the loan of 2 sets of timpani and 2 bass drums and music stands from both Delta Secondary School and Seaquam Secondary School. Long & McQuade generously supplied two complete drum sets and two bass amplifiers.

 

Each band were awarded a $100.00 gift certificate from Long & McQuade and a $50.00 gift certificate from Matterhorn Music Inc. Hugh Martell Photography took group pictures of each band as they played - photos will be supplied as they are printed.  The Delta Music Makers, the host band, provided a number of services: coffee and cookies, secure storage for instruments while on site, directions for loading and unloading instruments, parking directions and volumes of verbal information.

 

Our thanks to a great job done by the two emcees, Brian Ellis and Curt Jantzen, who kept the day rolling without any delays between performances. There were many other volunteers who also worked very hard to make Ladner Bandfest 2008 the huge success that it was. We are starting to plan next year's Bandfest even now.

 J.O.