Welcome to the MBLSB!
The Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band, or MBLSB, is back doing what we like best -- playing great music and contributing to our Mahone Bay community. The Swing Band has had a two part history, divided by the YEAR OF THE COVID. Before COVID-19 brought a halt to rehearsals in 2020, we were often found in local parades, holding a dance or two throughout the year or playing at weddings (and funerals). As of 2021, we no longer do parades. But we hope that there will be opportunities to dance with us once or twice a year in the Legion and we are looking forward to resuming our annual Christmas Concert with the Riverport and Area Community Choir. We know that we bring a tap to your toe and a smile to your face, whether from awakening memories of past times or just forgetting the events of the past 48 hours!
Swing music has been making a resurgence in the past decade, with dance clubs popping up all over the place, from college campuses to downtown watering holes. Whether you are taking lessons now, or have just known how to jive ever since you were in bobby socks, you will enjoy getting out on the wooden dance floor at the Mahone Bay Legion when we appear. We usually put on 2-3 dances a year in addition to our Summer Bandstand Concerts every Thursday evening in July and August. Keep in touch by bookmarking this page and watching the space below..... |
Why We Exist
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COVID-19 Project
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic "lock-down" when the band members had to self-isolate and forego rehearsals for an unpredictable amount of time, a few band members got together virtually, recorded their parts to Green Onions, and sent them to David Friendly (band leader) for production and mixing. Click on this link to hear the final product. Remember, each part was played in isolation and we did not know how many solos there would be until everyone had sent in their contributions. To view the video version of this piece and two others, search YouTube for "Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band".
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Band Announcements
Another summer of bandstand concerts is over, and the weather allowed us to play every week through July and August to very appreciative audiences. At the end of the summer, David Friendly advised the band that due family and other obligations, he would bes Epping down as Director after 7 years "temporarily filling in" while we searched for a new leader. We are happy to announce that Mitch Rees will be joining the band as Director as of September 2022.
Mitch and his partner moved to the area from Edmonton in 2021. He has a BEd and BMus from the University of Alberta. Mitch plays a variety of instruments, but especially the double bass. He has experience with many genres, including jazz, wind band, heavy metal, country, pop culture and others -- and has been a member of the Chester Brass Band, playing third cornet, since arriving in Nova Scotia. He is a self-described "pretty versatile musician". Welcome, Mitch. We look forward to the new directions in which you will steer the band.
Mitch and his partner moved to the area from Edmonton in 2021. He has a BEd and BMus from the University of Alberta. Mitch plays a variety of instruments, but especially the double bass. He has experience with many genres, including jazz, wind band, heavy metal, country, pop culture and others -- and has been a member of the Chester Brass Band, playing third cornet, since arriving in Nova Scotia. He is a self-described "pretty versatile musician". Welcome, Mitch. We look forward to the new directions in which you will steer the band.
What's Coming...
Our Next Public Performances
WATCH FOR OUR TRIUMPHANT RETURN!
Our one-hour summer concerts in the Mahone Bay Bandstand (across from BMO) are held every Thursday at 7 pm through July and August. Our schedule is wide open for gigs, if you are looking for a big band for your event. We inject energy into every note!
Watch this space or go to our EVENTS page for other performances, as we get hired to do them.
Watch this space or go to our EVENTS page for other performances, as we get hired to do them.
Like to dance? Want to learn more about swing dance steps. Meet like-minded people through Meet-Up: Dancing in Nova Scotia
If you are interested in hiring the band for a special event (birthday, wedding, street party), check out our Events/Book The Band page.
Is it a trumpet or a saxophone?
If you can tell the difference, you may be the player we are looking for. We are accepting new members in most sections.
Contact the Director via e-mail>> and join us now.
Currently looking for 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and 1 alto saxophone and 1 baritone sax. Some summer visitors love playing with our band while they are in the area, but come September, we have vacancies in all these sections.
Need a challenge? Students aged 14 and up are welcome. Come and try it out. Grow your talent with us.
If you can tell the difference, you may be the player we are looking for. We are accepting new members in most sections.
Contact the Director via e-mail>> and join us now.
Currently looking for 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and 1 alto saxophone and 1 baritone sax. Some summer visitors love playing with our band while they are in the area, but come September, we have vacancies in all these sections.
Need a challenge? Students aged 14 and up are welcome. Come and try it out. Grow your talent with us.
Stay in Touch
There are two ways you can stay in touch with the Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band and find out about our upcoming events before the general publicity gets out. The first is to get an RSS Feed from our Blog Page. This is a way to have your computer check
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our website every day for any news. That way, you protect your e-mail address.
Or, you can add your e-mail to our mailing list and we will advise you by the usual channels, direct to your in-box. |
Our Location: 21 Pond Street, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Why Not Join Us -- Here Are Our Current Vacancies
The band rehearses every Thursday evening from 7-9 in the Legion at 21 Pond Street (except when we are on the Bandstand).
- Do you like technical stuff? We need a person who can set up and operate our lights and sound systems when we play gigs. There is no need to attend weekly rehearsals, but the commitment would be to attend many of the summer Thursday evening concerts and about once per quarter for the rest of the year to handle this important task. (Check our Events page to see the typical line-up.) This, like the players roles, is a volunteer position. You must have a driver's licence and your own transportation.
- The band is looking to fill out our ranks with 2 trombone players, 2 trumpet players, an alto saxophone and a baritone saxophone. Open to intermediate or advanced players, as long as you are willing to attend all rehearsals and keep smiling between charts! You must have your own instrument.
Photos on this site are by: David Friendly, John Cunningham, Mary Cunningham, Richard Novossiltzeff, Karen Janigan, Maureen Moffatt and Peter Zwicker
