Seattle’s Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band takes you on a fun-loving romp through the greatest hits of marching band music. The band’s cult following keeps growing. Huge crowds at the Ballard Locks summer concert series. Sold-out Sousa’s birthday celebrations. Hundreds of fans at the Northwest Folklife Festival. The enthusiasm and good-will of this spirited group never fails to make people smile. What sets the band apart?
Unique Fashion Sense. The 30-plus musicians wear colorful band jackets collected from high schools and colleges across the United States.
The World’s Only Sedentary Majorette. Edith Farrar takes her place at the front of the band and performs stunning feats of seated baton-twirling. Occasionally she may literally stun a band member if her baton flies out of control. Such mayhem increases the rapt attention of the audience.
No Marching. This band will not march under any circumstance: a rare and daring distinction.
Storytelling. The band is poised to play. Suddenly director, Liz Dreisbach, turns to the audience with, “Let me tell you about Sousa’s first job conducting a vaudeville show of unclad beauties.” These moments stimulate intellectual sensibilities.
