— Military Band to Entertain Guests with Rock, Pop and Country Hits;
Galaxy Joins Returning Local Rock Band, “Echoswitch”, and Danish Trio,
“Manne”, in Free Danish Days Concert Line-Up —
Solvang Danish Days, California’s premier Danish heritage festival, is welcoming three returning musical acts to this year’s 80th Danish Days celebration, Friday through Sunday, September 16 through 18. In an effort to expand the festival’s free, family-friendly entertainment opportunities, the event’s organizers are recalling three of last year’s event weekend highlights, including the special performance by US Air Force Band of the Golden West, Galaxy, who will once again delight guests with a free concert on Saturday, September 17, after the Danish Days Parade. The returning event, which will run from approximately 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, will take place on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days’ Viking Beer & Wine Garden.
Galaxy is the USAF Band of the Golden West’s newest ensemble, this year comprised of MSgt Denny Pack (lead guitar and vocals) and SSgt Megan May (vocals), who will perform their popular mix of musical styles encompassing rock, pop and country hits from the past to today’s Top 40. Representing diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, the members of Galaxy combine their innate musical talents with their passion for high-energy performance, while they effectively share the Air Force story with audiences throughout the western region of the U.S.
Galaxy takes great pride in their ongoing musical support of the morale and welfare of U.S. warrior-airmen and our joint-combined forces deployed across the globe. The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West is dedicated to engaging communities and building partnerships, telling the Air Force story, honoring military heritage, enhancing morale for uniformed service members, and recruiting the finest Americans to serve in the United States Air Force.
In addition to the generous community spirit of military band, Galaxy, members of the 216th Space Control Squadron and the 101st Squadron Civil Air Patrol will, once again, volunteer their time to assist with this year’s Solvang Danish Days Parade. The 216th Space Control Squadron is an Air National Guard unit located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which deploys around the world to provide space support to global and military operations. The squadron is made up of 88 citizen Airmen who are long-standing members and have been active volunteers in the local community.
The 101st Civil Air Patrol (CAP), also located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a congressionally-chartered, federally-supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force. CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership and three key missions: emergency services, aerospace education for the youth and general public, and cadet programs for teenage youth.
Galaxy’s Saturday, September 17 Danish Days performance precedes the Danish Days “Rock ‘n’ Roll Street Party” (6:00 PM, on), which also features a live rock band performing on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage. Street Party revelers will once again be treated to returning musical headliners, Echoswitch, a local 80s hard rock band consisting of Santa Barbara County Sheriff Deputy, Charlie Uhrig, and his two sons. The Street Party concert is also free and open to the public; all performers are donating their time and talent to the community.
The Danish Days Midgaard Pavilion Stage sits in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden (Copenhagen Drive, between 1st and 2nd Streets). All ages are welcome at the Saturday concerts; must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden.
The ever-popular Danish musicians, Manne, also return to this year’s Danish Days weekend with three live – and free – performances: Friday afternoon, to kick off the event weekend, 4:00 PM at the Solvang Park Gazebo (Mission Drive and First Street); approximately 3:30 PM on Saturday, in front of Wandering Dog Wine Bar (1539-C Mission Drive); and after Sunday’s Closing Ceremony, approximately 3:30 PM, in Solvang Park. Manne is a Danish music trio that plays old Danish hits – some dating as far back as the 1920s. Manne’s songs are presented with a story, alongside their simple and clean piano, string and saxophone arrangements.
For more information about the USAF Band of the Golden West, please visit: www.bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil/events/index.asp, facebook.com/bandofthegoldenwest, twitter.com/BandGoldenWest, youtube.com/user/USAFGoldenWestBand or instagram/usafbotgw.
