Marty's Goldenaires picnic draws crowd

By CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Bessemer - Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps' annual picnic fundraiser drew a large, steady crowd to Bluff Valley Park in Bessemer on Saturday.

The Dweebs, "a family band from Wisconsin," headlined the event with costumed, and charactered performances of popular music from a variety of eras. The band interacted with the audience from the get go. Lead singer Claire Blue, was walking on tables, as she sang "Walking on Sunshine." Many audience members were able to strum along on fake guitars, or wear flamboyant and silly costumes provided by the band.

It was just one of many musical performances through the day under the pavilion. Many people danced along to the music.

Marty's also performed to a good sized, appreciative crowd. The Goldenaires dedicated the event to the memory of Keith Graham, a soprano horn player who passed away unexpectedly last month. A member said Graham was instrumental in getting the Dweebs to perform at the event.

"That's really a great show," said Marty's band director Dan Pitrone, of the Dweebs. "I saw them at Lambeau Field. ... They're great, great musicians."

Other featured performers included Jim Fravero the "polka king," and Daniel Jack (Dan Pitrone).

Along with music, the event offered food, refreshments and a variety of children's games. There were also numerous raffles through the day.

Several volunteers manned a bake sale and were later rewarded with purses featuring Marty's logo from Candy Pogliano.

The fundraiser and picnic celebration has been an annual event since 1980, according to picnic chair Chris Wuorinen. The band was unable to have the event in 2020 because of the pandemic. The event will help to provide uniforms for the band, which according to Jake Zielinski, band commander, cost $500 a piece.

Wuorinen said he would not know for a while how much they raised, but that they were hoping to serve over a thousand people at the event.