How do you know it’s Tuesday night? Our clue is the gentle strains of a marching band banging out what I take to be the Muppet Show theme song wafting in through an open window.
Why? Because we have the distinct pleasure of living next door to the regular rehearsal space of the Yellow Hat Band, a Klezmer-Zydeco-Sousa Marching Band (or that’s what it sounds like to us). So close and plugged in as we are, it comes as no surprise, but much anticipation, to hear that Honk Fest West is coming back!
Honk Fest is a gathering of tribes, a coming together from all over the country of a new type of street band:
Acoustic and mobile, borrowing repertoire and inspiration from a diverse set of folk music traditions – New Orleans second line brass bands, European Klezmer, Balkan and Romani (Gypsy) music, Brazilian Afro Bloc and Frevo traditions, as well as the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnivale.
It runs April 10 – 12th here in Seattle at venues all over Ballard and Georgetown. Sunday, April 12th, however, may be Easter to some of you (and just another Sunday to we Jews) but it’s going to be Honk Sunday in Gas Works Park. All afternoon, rain or shine, the bands will be banging and honking and frolicking.
See the Honk Fest web site for details. In their honor, we share with you here our home made iPhone ringtone plucked from the Muppet Show Theme. Download, drag into iTunes and you’re good to go.