Coast Guard Dixieland Concert 2011

Date: May 18, 2011
Contact: Shera Cohen, [phone]

SPRINGFIELD, MA: One very important fact in the lengthy bio of composer/conductor John Philip Sousa is his contribution in creating the United States Coast Guard Band in 1925. Today, the Coast Guard Band is one of the nation's premier service bands. And on Saturday, June 11th a division of the Band – the U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band – will perform on the grounds of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site and National Historic Landmark. The free outdoor concert will be held from 6pm – 8pm. Sponsor for the concert is Westfield Bank.

The seven-piece band will play classic jazz, Dixieland, and blues. In its 40 year history, the Dixieland Jazz Band has entertained audiences across American. Notable venues include Disney World, the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, the Galaxy Jazz Festival in Milwaukee, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Based in New London, CT, the Band is the musical representative of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, with its members appearing at presidential level functions. A number of notable vocal artists have appeared with the Band, including Lee Greenwood, Andy Williams, Roberta Flack, and Slide Hampton.

This is the first of three free military band concerts to take place, one each month on Saturday evenings, at the Springfield Armory this summer. In addition to the Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band in June will be the U.S. Navy Northeast Pops Band on July 9th and the U.S. 94th Army Rock Band on August 27th.

In addition to Westfield Bank and the Springfield Armory, assistance in producing this concert comes from Springfield Technical Community College; In the Spotlight; and the Springfield Cultural Council, an agency of the MA Cultural Council.

The Armory is located at the corner of State and Federal streets in Springfield. The public is welcome to bring picnics, lawn chairs, and blankets to the concert. The rain site is STCC Scibelli Hall. Handicap parking and indoor rest room facilities are available. Visitors are invited to arrive prior to the concert to tour the Museum which will also be open during all event hours.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site commemorates and preserves the site of our Nation's first armory, established in 1794. Managed together with the Commonwealth of MA, Springfield Technical Community College and the National Park Service, the site holds many layers of history within its buildings and grounds. The site of the repulse of Shays' Rebellion, 1787; production of the nation's first interchangeable parts; and home of the world's largest historic American military firearms collection invites our visitors to share its history and beauty. As a unit of the National Park Service, the Visitor Center, Museum, buildings and grounds are open daily, 9am-5pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission is free. The contact telephone number is 413-734-8551. Our website is www.nps.gov/spar.

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