For the first time in its 27-year run, the Bristol Fourth of July Drum & Bugle Corps competition is moving outside town, and is actually after the Fourth.
While Drum Corps …
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For the first time in its 27-year run, the Bristol Fourth of July Drum & Bugle Corps competition is moving outside town, and is actually after the Fourth.
While Drum Corps International’s scheduling change is keeping some of the bands out of Bristol, parade-goers will still get the chance to see and hear some of the world class musicians.
The “Summer Music Preview” is being moved to Cranston Stebbins Stadium, 9 Flint Ave., Cranston, on Tuesday, July 5. As has been the case in previous shows, a blockbuster lineup has been assembled which should please the most discriminating drum corps fan. Several of those bands have traditionally hung around Bristol to march in the parade the day after the competition, previously held at Mt. Hope High School.
While many of the drum crops won’t be traveling into town, three of them — The Cadets of Allentown, Penn., the Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas, and the Saints Brigade of Port Chester, NY — will bring their world class music to the parade.
“This is a Bristol event, but what are we going to do when they close the doors on us,” Bands Chairman Antonio Medeiros said. “They said they couldn’t do the high school anymore. They chose Cranston because its centrally located. The show is a big part of our celebration, but we’re in the parade business first. We’ll have a nice array of music in the parade.”
In addition to the three drum corps, the popular Royal Bahamian Band will be returning this year, along with the Army and Navy bands, local fife and drum corps and several high school bands. Among the fife and drum corps is Bristol County Fifes and Drums, formerly of Seekonk, Mass., representing Bristol for the first time.
The full lineup of 19 bands marching in the parade this year include:
Drum Corps
Military bands
Fife and Drum Corps
Miscellaneous bands