Melham Park in Broken Bow will be filled with the sound of live music this Thursday (July 4) as the 43rd Army Band kicks off their summer 2024 tour. The free admission show is open the the public and scheduled to start at 7 PM. If inclement weather happens, the concert will take place at the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
Paul Kenney, a 20 year veteran of the program and commander as of 2019, told KCNI/KBBN that the band has a busy two weeks ahead.
“We have eight total performances based, kind of, in and around the southern central part of Nebraska. So we’ll be kicking off our concert series at Broken Bow on the 4th which should be a fantastic concert, it’s going to be great it being right on the 4th of July, so we’re really excited about that,” said Kenney.
Shows after Thursday include Ogallala on the 5th, McCook on the 6th, North Platte on the 7th, Cozad on the 8th, Gothenburg on the 10th, North Platte on the 11th, and Grant on the 12th.
Kenney said the group uses the annual two week training period to practice and then tour the state. In the case of the Broken Bow show, the group first gets together just three days before the performance. Outside of the two week period, the band operates on the same National Guard schedule of one training weekend per month year round.
Those who see the 43rd Army Band perform can see the full concert band or a smaller music performance team such as woodwind, brass, country specific, rock specific, or pop specific. Thursday’s performance in Broken Bow from the full concert band will feature concert, patriotic, and marching music selections.
Some of the best musicians from the state and surrounding area are a part of the band, Kenney said, and he relies heavily on their skill to put performances together quickly.
“Every single member of our unit of the band is part of the Army and the Nebraska National Guard. So we’ve gone through all the same training, basic training, and specific music training to be in an army band. Every single member has been through that. We have some who have a lot of experience who have been doing this for almost 40 years and we have some who are coming fresh out of basic training and this will be their first tour with us.”
Other performances during the year for the group include Veterans Day, school tours, collaborations with school bands where kids learn from them, and military ceremonial events. The July 4th Independence Day crowd will see an inspiring performance.
“We know our audience, we know what day we’re performing on and we want to make it a special experience for everyone in Broken Bow as well as everywhere else we’re performing this summer,” said Kenney.
Listen to Brent Apperson’s KCNI Public Affairs interview with Paul Kenney below:
