Scotia Band Music Night

SCOTIA BAND’S “MUSIC NIGHT” TO FEATURE AUSTIN ALLEY
Vocalist Austin Alley, of the locally popular group Rustlers, will highlight Scotia Band’s upcoming Music Night at Fortuna River Lodge at 7:30 pm on March 15. Music Night is an integral part of this Humboldt community band’s history, having originated in Scotia nearly 85 years ago. Pacific Lumber employees, not wanting to make the long trek to Eureka for entertainment, organized Music Night as a kind of talent show about the same time Scotia Band was born.

This year Scotia Band’s conductor, Dr. Ken Ayoob, will “Strike Up the Band” with Gershwin–accompanying tenor Austin Alley in two Gershwin tunes as well as Jerome Kern’s ”They Didn’t Believe Me.” Ayoob has sampled the full breadth of music’s diversity for this concert. As if the hilarious (and comprehensive ) “Instant Concert” by Harold Walters isn’t showpiece enough, add “Original Suite,” written especially for band by Gordon Jacob; Rex Mitchell’s “Song of the Sea” which interprets in music the ebb and flow of moody tides; and Frank Ticheli’s “Cajun Folk Songs” introducing the asymmetric meters and rhythms of the Mississippi bayous. Throw in some Ralph Vaughan Williams. And what is a band performance without a John Philip Sousa march? There will be surprises! Among them, Roger Sanderson and his band Alluvus performing classic popular tunes and Fortuna’s ukulele ensemble will enrich the evening. As usual, Music Night is designed to appeal to audiences from all walks of life and all ages as well as every musical taste. Relax and enjoy a good time, familiar tunes, and numerous surprises.