Band festival features 76 trombones and more

There are more than just “76 Trombones” in Mason City for tonight’s start of the North Iowa Band Festival. The 63rd annual fest is gathering 25 community and high school bands, 24 of them from Iowa and one from Minnesota. Festival director Vance Baird says there are seperate concerts every night and through the weekend.The music ranges from jazz to rock and roll and from blues to country. Besides the tunes, other family entertainment includes a craft show, a car show, a carnival and a Saturday parade. Baird says one highlight is Friday night’s concert by Shirley Jones, who performed in the movie version of “The Music Man” by Mason City native Meredith Willson.Tonight’s opening concert features french horn soloist Kristian Davidson, who plays in the U-S Marine Corps Band. For more information on the festival which runs through Sunday, call 800 423-5724.