By Dave Babbitt – Special to the Sydenham Current
Sometimes, as the saying goes, “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” Of course, that is just a way of suggesting that someone is oblivious to what should be obvious in what is happening around them.
Recently, I’ve found myself in that very situation. I’ve had a couple of people from outside of Wallaceburg say that they’ve heard there is a very active, burgeoning music scene here. I had to step back and ponder those words.
After some thought, I decided that yes, there has been a music renaissance in our community that began about ten years ago. I’ve been so close to it that I guess I haven’t recognized it—or in other words, “I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”
I am, of course, mostly connected to the wind music scene, but there are also many other musical offerings that have swelled in numbers over the same time period. The Wallaceburg Arts Council is once again quite active in offering concerts, and with the Glasstown Brewery now in full flight, there are plenty of opportunities to take in music several nights per week.
Our community has seen a significant influx of new citizens from parts afar, and I’d like to introduce them—as well as long-time locals who are oblivious to what has happened on our local music scene over the past ten years.
Almost ten years ago, the Wallaceburg Concert Band began with approximately 25 eager yet rusty musicians gathered to form a concert band. Fast forward to today and our band currently consists of 57 members, the rust has been removed, and many are now highly skilled.
Not only do our numbers continue to grow, but the band’s reputation for excellence has spread, and we’ve been attracting some of the finest talent from outside of our community. This season, we’ve welcomed new trumpet, clarinet, alto saxophone, French horn, trombone, and percussion members to our fold.
In its present state, the band is equal in size to that of the largest city in our area, and significantly larger than another. However, numbers do not make great music—great musicianship does—and we have that in spades.
But why is that? It’s most certainly not due to my leadership. I will suggest that its success is due to the “culture” of the group that has been cultivated. One would need to be present at a rehearsal, followed by being backstage before a concert, to understand.
There are fun factors as well as both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards that cannot be quantified. I was recently looking up and down the rows of musicians at rehearsal and realized that 27 of our 57 musicians do not hail from Wallaceburg. That is both incredibly satisfying and disappointing at the same time.
As already mentioned, the band is fortunate to share some top-tier musicians with other area bands, but I’m aware there is great untapped potential here within the borders of Wallaceburg that we would love to welcome.
There are several reasons why anyone should consider joining the WCB. Participating in a band of excellence should be anyone’s first priority. I have personally never had the opportunity to play in a concert band of this calibre, and I’m envious.
Secondly, if one wishes to play but does not have an instrument, we will likely be able to provide one. Thirdly, we do not play as many concerts per year as most other bands, making the time commitment far less onerous. Our members have a month off at Christmas and three months off in the summer, giving members the freedom to enjoy the holiday seasons with no pressure or commitments.
Anyone with a desire to check the WCB out, yet fearing they haven’t played in some time, can join a program that runs on Monday nights where former musicians can revisit their instrument and rebuild their skills before being invited to our most skilled level band.
The most compelling reason for anyone to join, however, is simply fun. The band is a musical family and, aside from making great music, enjoys one another’s company and frequently does other things together.
For those who like to plan, the 2025 WCB Christmas concerts will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 6 in Wallaceburg, and on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Dresden.
But the WCB’s success is only part of the music renaissance that I speak of. The overwhelming success of the WCB introduced me to some great musicians that allowed me to re-form the Brass Factory Big Band, which had been in hibernation since the early 2000s.
My personal love is for the big band format, and with the Brass Factory I get to lead a fantastic group of 18 instrumentalists along with a few dynamite vocalists who let me pursue great swing music in a format only a big band can provide. I purposely keep our Brass Factory performances limited, making our rare outings special.
Last December, the Brass Factory played a Christmas gig in Bothwell of all places, and what ensued was a night to remember. The crowd was fantastic, and the band was on fire. The feeling as we left Bothwell that evening is difficult to put into words.
Most recently, on Sept. 27, the Brass Factory played in Glencoe in support of the Four Counties Hospital Foundation. While that was incredibly fun, we’re thrilled to announce that we will be playing in our hometown on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30, in a fundraising and awareness concert to kick off the CKHA Sydenham Campus Hospital Renewal Campaign.
Be watching for details to emerge in the coming days for *A Swingin’ Christmas with the Brass Factory Big Band.* Wallaceburg has always been over-the-top supportive of our local hospital, and we expect nothing less for this event, so plan accordingly. And we can’t wait to inaugurate the Glasstown Brewery’s third-floor ballroom once it is up and running.
But Wallaceburg’s musical renaissance has spawned other groups and events as well. Dan White formed the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet a few years ago. The group has performed in many venues over the years, created several videos available on YouTube, and twice per year hosts chamber concerts featuring numerous smaller ensembles and soloists.
The next Chamber Concert will be a Christmas one on Dec. 19, and Dan will surely share details as the date approaches. Most recently, the Gavin Warren Oktoberfest Quartet has been sharing Wallaceburg’s music renaissance with a grueling series of 18 engagements across the area.
Yes, the music scene in Wallaceburg is enjoying a major renaissance. Consider joining the fun.
