![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jam3-e1374906579582.jpg)
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
7:17 PM: The first of more than half a dozen marching bands is on the field right now at Southwest Athletic Complex across from Chief Sealth International High School, for this year’s Band Jam – something the Seattle All-City Band and its director Marcus Pimpleton (photo below; he’s also music leader at Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School) came up as a way for ACB and visiting bands to have fun and tune up the night before the big Seafair Torchlight Parade.
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jam7-e1374938965647.jpg)
Good crowd already in the stadium stands, but still lots of room for you to drop in – no admission charge, but if you buy concessions/merchandise from ACB volunteers, that’ll benefit their ongoing operations. The Junior All-City Band, which Pimpleton explained as a “two-week camp” – including its performance in last Saturday’s Rotary Kiddie Parade before the West Seattle Grand Parade – is up first. Others to come include not only the ACB but also the Calgary Round-Up Band (seen in the WS Grand Parade as was the ACB), Pacific Northwest Drumline (video below), Sumner High School Marching Band (top photo), and more.
9:07 PM: Over after two high-energy hours.
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jam10-e1374905771528.jpg)
Surprise of the night, Chaotic Noise Marching Corps (photo above), a self-described ‘renegade marching band’ – wow! (Video added:)
11:05 PM: We’re adding photos and video now, some inline, some in this last section. Here’s our video of how the night ended – with members of all the bands getting back out on the field for what was indeed a band jam:
Aside from that, Calgary put on what was literally the biggest show:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jam5-e1374907217415.jpg)
It was a field-wide, theatrical presentation with a circus theme, including acrobatics, and even, as shown in our photo above, a few costumes. Video:
Shadows fell on the field as dusk approached, but spirits and sound blazed brightly:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/jam14-e1374906453456.jpg)
Some of the hosts’ choreography:
All-City Band has been practicing at SWAC this year instead of their traditional site, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/IMG_1507-e1374960163344.jpeg)
ADDED SATURDAY: Thanks to Steve White for the view above of the stands from the field’s south end!
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