ITS BAND TIME ON CAPE COD!

Director Jeremy Cadrin

We may switch uniforms but our mission is still the same, brining timeless musical classics to Cape Cod Summers. Tom Jahnke Sandwich trombone player and Chatham Band Director on the left. Sandwich Town Band Director and Chatham trumpet player Jeremy Cadrin on the right

The 1890 Sandwich Brass Band under the direction of George T. McLaughlin.

First of all I want to thank you for stopping by our website and for your interest in the Sandwich Town Band. The town band as we know it on Cape Cod can be traced back to 1932 with the formal founding of the Chatham Band in that year. Of course before that time towns did have bands but they were more of your small brass band or quartet type groups. As a matter of fact the Town of Sandwich had such a brass band in 1890 under the direction of Mr. George T. McLaughlin. It wasn't really until Chatham got started though that band members and directors across Cape Cod knew that they really had a gem that would spark an over 92 year staple that would draw thousands of people each year. Chatham set the tone for what would become one of the most iconic Cape Cod traditions. Following Chatham bands appeared in Harwich, Brewster, Barnstable, Sandwich and Falmouth. To this day all of those bands are active and perform summer concerts in their respective towns. In esence you could plan a weeks vacation to Cape Cod and see a band on almost every night of the week. In the height of the summer concerts take place on Sundays (Brewster), Tuesdays (Harwich), Wednesdays (Barnstable), Thursdays (Sandwich and Falmouth) and Fridays (Chatham). There is nothing that stirs the heart more than to hear a rousing John Phillip Souza march or watch your children march around the band while enjoying a Cape Cod sunset in the beautiful summer weather on one of the most beautiful places on earth. The musicians of Cape Cod come together every spring to begin their rehearals for their upcoming seasons. Not one of these people are paid. Every musician gives of their time and talents simply because they love music and sharing it with you. Beleive it or not our music family is so close that members play in multiple bands. Chatham Band Director Tom Jahnke not only directs Chatham but also directs Harwich and plays trombone in Sandwich. My musical journey began in the 3rd grade taking up the violin. After that in the 4th grade when my grandfather handed me a trumpet he bought at yard sale and said "if you can make this thing make noise, it's yours". The rest was sealed in history. My town band journey began during my 8th grade year of middle school. I was playing trumpet under the direction of my music teacher Mr. Wil Harrigan who as mentioned in the band's history page was the director of the town band at that time. I distinctly remember Wil asking me what my music plans were between my 8th grade and freshman year of high school. I told him I had no plans to stop playing and that I would be interested in finding a band to play in while not in school. He said to me "why don't you come to a Sandwich Town Band rehearsal?" and so I did. That was 1997 when I was at the age of 15. 27 years later at the age of 41 I find myself holding the directors baton and loving every minute of leading one of the most amazing groups of musicians on Cape Cod. Why do I bring this up? It only speaks to the point I make during my announcements before each concert. Music and playing music is timeless. The band has been playing some of the most popular songs for over 40 years. There are pieces in our library that I pull out of the master folders each year while compiling the new seasons "menu" as Wil so lovingly dubbed it, that are so worn from being played year after year that its soon going to be time to make new copies. Music is indeed the universal launguage and speaks to us all in its own way. There's a song for every mood. If you love music and want to see an iconic Cape Cod tradition that resembles something out of a Norman Rockwell painting then you have to get yourself to a band concert. I'm fairly certain I can speak for all the band directors on Cape Cod when I say that we have no intention on seeing what we and those before us built come to an end. As long as I have air in my lungs I will work tirelessly to make sure that the Sandwich Town Band remains a fixture on the Cape for the next 40 years and beyond. We hope that you will join us on a Thursdays in July and August. Come, sit and relax. Let your worries and anxieties of the day go. Be part of Americana and think back to when things were simple and listen to some great timeless music!