Regional Spotlight™

Hear the horns of River City Rhythm drum and bugle corps

River City Rhythm is a Twin Cities-based drum and bugle corps that competes as part of Drum Corps International.Provided


Regional Spotlight: River City Rhythm

14:36


August 02, 2021

Editor’s note: Drum and bugle corps are back this summer for the first time in more than two years because of the pandemic. Anoka-based River City Rhythm’s field show is making its only Minnesota appearance on Thursday, Aug. 5, in Rochester at March On! Also appearing will be the Colt Cadets and Colts of Dubuque, Iowa; the Cavaliers of Rosemont, Illinois; and the Blue Stars of La Crosse, Wisconsin. After the field shows, Twin Cities rapper Nur-D will join RCR for a genre-mixing performance. Until then, enjoy these performances from RCR’s 2019 show, Breaking the News, when the corps’ horns visited Minnesota Public Radio for a special recording session for our weekly Regional Spotlight.

Imagine the sound — 14 trumpets, 10 mellophones, 14 baritones and eight tubas! The horns of the Twin Cities-based River City Rhythm drum and bugle corps, along with director Bo Hoover and drum major Katherine Stone, join Steve Staruch for a big, bold and brassy experience.

The performers of River City Rhythm, who also include percussionists and color guard members, are in the midst of summer competitions and are at the top of their musical game.

Now, get ready for a Regional Spotlight special event, recorded live at Central Presbyterian Church in downtown St. Paul. The RCR horns play two numbers from their 2019 field show, Breaking the News — the title tune and the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" — as well as the corps' song, the hymn "The Water Is Wide."

River City Rhythm also has granted permission for listeners to download an MP3 of the latter.

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment‘s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.