Big Band Extravaganza!

Summerland and surrounding areas, you are in for a treat: the BIG BAND EXTRAVAGANZA is coming to Summerland again this year on Saturday, June 14 at the Memorial Park band shell! In June of last year, the Extravaganza attracted hundreds of people who gave wonderfully positive feedback.

Each band has pretty much the standard big band configuration of 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and a rhythm section. Oh yes, and singers! Here’s the line-up, allowing a 15-minute changeover time in between performances:

12:00 – South Okanagan Big Band (Summerland)

01:15 – Okanagan Valley Big Band (Vernon)

02:30 – Lake Country Big Band (Lake Country)

03:45 – Thursday Night Jazz Band (Penticton)

The music and sound of Big Bands seems to be making a comeback. In recent years, swing dance groups have been attending big band events, and many of these groups comprise young or middle-age adults. They have added fantastic energy to the performances. Let’s hope they come and don’t mind dancing on the grass!

It would cost over $7,000 to pay all the musicians in a big band for four hours at union rates. Yet these musicians are not only willingly paying their own way over to play for you for the love of it, they are also on a mission to help raise funds for the Summerland Community Centre. So, the proverbial “hat” will be passed around to collect donations. Come support their efforts, and enjoy! Bring your lawn chairs and some refreshments and take in some great music.

In case the weather does not cooperate, the event will take place indoors at the Summerland Community Centre with seating for about 100 people, for admission by donation. (Sorry, the kitchen and bar cannot be open at that time.)