The Hometown Band strives to provide a friendly and supportive environment in which band members can learn and enhance their musicianship while offering challenging performances that enrich the local community.
The Hometown Band was founded in 1982 by Ed Swanzey and a dozen musicians for the Kingston 4th of July parade. In 1983 Jas Linford saw the Hometown Band perform in Winslow before the Fourth of July Parade. They had an extra tuba, and Jas sat in. He has been with the band ever since, and In 1986 he took over the reins as conductor. He served as the sole conductor and heart of the band until he retired at the end of the 2024 concert season. Jas was essential in the ongoing existence of Hometown Band for 38 years and is still an active member as a tuba player.
We are comprised solely of volunteer musicians; our members include retirees, students and, people with a wide range of occupations who all share an interest in playing together and bringing music to the community. We perform an average of thirty concerts per year at local civic events, festivals, and public gatherings.
Our concert programs encompass a variety of musical genres. Spring and summer audiences enjoy our traditional concert music, military marches, patriotic songs, and an occasional jazz or swing number thrown in for good measure. In the fall, we roll out the barrels with lively polka music and Oktoberfest beer hall standards. In December our concerts feature holiday favorites.