By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Get ready for some spectacular drumming sounds at Dunn Tire Park Monday night. It is the eighth annual "Drums Along the Waterfront."
Buffalo continues to host what is considered a "world-class" event for drum corps teams from across the country. This year, it will feature drummers from as far away as Santa Clara, Sacramento and Denver and from the north of us -- a Canadian drum corps will also compete. "Drums along the Waterfront" will include a performance from the eight-time world champion "The Cadets" from New Jersey.
Jack Gaylord produces the show. He says each drum corps has 135 members, making it an "enormous" event to coordinate. But Gaylord says Buffalo has become the premier host of this event.
"The Corps have been coming here long enough where they are familiar with the area," Gaylord said. "They love the facility because it is one of the finest to perform in. We turn it into a football field, but the seating is set in such a way that it is an intimate setting. There are so many pluses to it."
Monday night's show is dedicated to all US service men and woman and will feature the US Army Drill Team. The event also gives some young Buffalo drummers a chance to play at the entrances to Dunn Tire Park. They don't compete -- but hope to someday. One of the group comes from School 77.
"I think it is fun and exciting. We go places and people watch us, sometimes they applaud for us and that makes us happy," said one of the kids.
Their teacher Susan Peters leads the students in what is called "Street Beat." She wrote a poetic rhyme that delivers a powerful anti-gun message to children.
"This is my original poetry that we use. Our hope is it will sink in," Peters said. "Our's is a traditional street beat which I learned when I was in junior high. So I feel like we are carrying out a long-standing American tradition."
Drums on the Waterfront begins at 6:30pm, rain or shine. Tickets can be purchased at the ballpark.