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Band jigs for St. Paddy's Day: The Blue Yonders find pot of gold in partnering with community

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Barnes
  • U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On St. Patrick's Day night, March, 17th, a festive crowd of revelers clapped along as The Blue Yonders played and Irish dancers bounced in time at the historic Theatre DeVille, Vacaville, California.  The ensemble from The U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Base, performed a concert of traditional Irish, bluegrass and even pop tunes with an Irish influence.  As the crowd poured out of the Theatre, they were wearing smiles along with their green.

Throughout the show, audience members were tapping their toes to tunes like "Whiskey in the Jar," "Galway Girl" and even a Beatles Medley.  Performing a variety of music, the Blue Yonders brought the audience to their feet with songs by Mumford & Sons, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and more.  Eight energetic Irish dancers ranging in age from eight to twenty-nine joined the band on six feature tunes throughout the evening.

"I absolutely love The Blue Yonders," said Bobbi Stokes, concert-goer and Vacaville local.  "And I love the fact that the Air Force is part of our lives."

The concept for the event was conceived earlier this year when Master Sgt. Sherry Garza, Band of the Golden West NCO in charge and The Blue Yonders' group leader, met with Brice Mosher, Theatre DeVille productions manager.  Together, the two collaborated to present a free St. Patrick's Day concert as a way to say thanks to the community for the year-round support it provides to Travis Airmen and to the local music scene.

"The band was great!" said Mosher.  "I loved the rock & roll mixed with the bluegrass - perfect balance and very appropriate for St. Patrick's Day.  We hope we can have them back next year."

The free concert was an opportunity for the band to join forces with the Vacaville Irish Dancers, who offer dance lessons and performances throughout the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay areas. 

Candice Foy, Public Relations Coordinator for the dance troupe, saw the "Yonders" perform at Vacaville's Fiesta Days several years ago and contacted Garza about a combined performance. 

"Everyone in The Blue Yonders and Theatre DeVille have been great to work with and we really enjoyed sharing our love of Irish music," said Foy.

In addition to working with the dance troupe and the theatre, The Band of the Golden West coordinated with several local community groups to spread word about the concert.

"As military members, we really value the support of our local communities," said Garza.  "The Band of the Golden West was thrilled to partner with Theatre DeVille and the Vacaville Irish Dancers to highlight the wonderful relationship between Travis Air Force Base and our neighbors."

For more information on the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, including upcoming performances, please visit the band website www.bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil or follow them on social media https://www.facebook.com/bandofthegoldenwest and https://twitter.com/BandGoldenWest.