MarchFourth Marching Band is a mobile big band spectacular, consisting of a 12-piece horn section (4 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets), a 10-piece drum/percussion corps, anchored by electric bass (battery powered). The sound is huge, melodic, and dynamic, taking audiences on a musical journey around the globe. MarchFourth writes and performs its own material, and also draws inspiration from an eclectic range of worldwide influences, such as Eastern European Gypsy Brass, Samba, Funk, Afro-Beat, Big-Band, Jazz, and Rock music, as well as television, film, circus, and Vaudeville.
Stilt-walkers, unicycles, fire eaters, puppets, flag twirlers, burlesque dancers, clown antics, and acrobatics are just some of the things you'll see accompanying this eclectic big band. MarchFourth Marching Band's four stilt-walkers are world-class, performing acrobatics, dance routines, and even fire dancing on stilts-all in fanciful costumes. The other six beauties can fill the stage with mesmerizing original dance routines (inspired by styles such as bellydance, hip hop, jazz, cheerleading, burlesque, and ballroom) or spread out into the audience and get everybody dancing. The musical quality, the energy of the band, and the spectacle of the dancers all combine to create an original performance that appeals to everyone.
To MarchFourth Marching Band, art is life. Aside from being performers, the members of MarchFourth are also full- or part-time artists, designers, and craftspeople. All of our drum harnesses (made of welded bicycle parts), stilts, costumes, merchandise, audio, and propaganda are designed and produced by members of the band. In addition, we also conduct workshops for children and adults in the areas of musical instruction, stilt-walking, fire-spinning, make-up, and costuming.
One of the biggest things that sets us apart from other bands is that M4's impact is immediate and infectious, with an audience demographic that is wider than your average rock or jazz band. Hippies, hipsters, toddlers, and octogenarians have all been seen enjoying MarchFourth shows. All agree that M4 is one of the most exciting acts emerging out of the NW, and the band is already performing on a world-class level.