Guerrilla Fanfare takes Rock & Rails by storm

Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band brought its high-energy brass to Niwot last Thursday. Aug. 3, and the crowd loved it. The group, featuring trumpets, trombones, saxes, drums and a tuba, crowded the stage and entertained the audience with funky instrumentals that everyone enjoyed.

The weather cooperated as predicted storms bypassed Niwot, unlike the rain and windstorm on Tuesday night that took down the entry-gate structure at Whistle Stop Park. One of the two tipi-like tripods was damaged when it fell, and repairs are underway.

Most members of Guerrilla Fanfare are graduates of the University of Colorado, and the band leader admitted that a few hailed from the University of Northern Colorado – but he was emphatic that none were CSU grads.

Rather than take a break between sets, the band formed a conga line and marched through the crowd, gathering more energy in the crowd with an up-close personal experience of the horns.

The night opened with The Beloved Invaders, who performed an instrumental set that harkened back to the 1960s and "surf" music. Featuring familiar tunes such as "Walk Don't Run" by The Ventures, the 3-member band with Bob Cannistraro on lead guitar, J. Scott Johnson on bass guitar and Andy Sweetser on drums had the crowd on the dance floor well before the headliners took the stage.

The Niwot High School Education Foundation and the NHS Cheerleaders were the tip jar recipients, with over $1,600 donated by patrons of the free event.

August 10 will feature the return of One-On-One, a Motown group that has entertained Niwot crowds for the past several years. Megan Burtt opens with music starting at 5 p.m.