Popular Pelican concerts April 27 at high school, VFW; Perham concerts May 11

The Red River Valley Veterans Band will perform April 27 in Pelican Rapids, with a concert at the Pelican Rapids Fine Arts Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. and a second concert at the Pelican VFW Club at about 8:15 p.m. Pictured, the band at the Pelican VFW, on last year’s tour.

An annual tradition in Pelican Rapids, the Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band will return April 27 for two concerts in Pelican Rapids. 

The first performance will be at the Pelican Rapids High School auditorium, 6:30 p.m. on April 27.

The second concert will follow, as in the past, at the Pelican VFW Club—at about 8:15 p.m. 

The band’s Perham performances are 6:45 p.m. at Perham Living, and 8:15 p.m. at the Perham Center for the Arts. Both Pelican and Perham are traditional stops on the band’s spring tour. 

The band has numerous members with Pelican area connections, and the performances have drawn concert-goers from throughout the Pelican and lakes area. 

The Veterans Band’s variety includes traditional marches & anthems, theme songs & show tunes, big band swing, Dixieland jazz, and once in a while, a little rock ‘n roll with some blues.

The mission of the band is described as “Promoting Patriotism Through Music.”

“The Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band is a group of individuals that love music, love people, and love veterans. As a director, it’s been my experience that we not only reach out to those who are unable to reach out, but we provide a relationship through music that lasts forever!” said Aaron Romaine, director. 

The band features more than 40 players. The band, which is based out of Fargo but has players from the region—including the Pelican lakes area, honors all veterans with patriotic music, music recognizable to veterans.

Performers in the band span multiple generations, with musicians ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old. Many of the performers are veterans themselves. 

The band rehearses together every Thursday night, and they perform in the Fargo-Moorhead area or within about a 100-mile radius.