3rd Field Artillery Regiment Band host drop-in practice in Saint John
Those walking past the Barrack Green Armoury in Saint John’s south end Saturday would’ve been drawn inside by the sound of music.
That music was courtesy of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment Band who held an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to offer the public a chance to see, and hear their work up close.
“The public doesn’t always get to see what we do as military musicians,” says Bombardier Ashley Robinson, who is a drum major in the band.
“Whether it be playing a mess dinner, it could be a parade in town where they might get to hear us come down the street, but the general public wouldn’t normally get to come and experience what we do here. We play concerts, we play different venues throughout the year so it’s really good to bring people into our house to see what we do so when we are in their house they are saying I remember those guys.”
The band practices once a week out of the armoury and tries to do as many gigs as possible throughout the year to spread their music. Robinson says they aim to do at least four major concerts a year, on top of the various parades sprinkled throughout the calendar.
The 3rd Field Artillery Regiment Band practices once a week at the Barrack Green Armoury in Saint John, N.B. (Avery MacRae/CTV Atlantic)
The music played by the band isn’t just your typical army marching tunes. The band also mixes in some classic songs like Michael Jackson, “Jump in the Line”, and familiar tunes from classic cartoons.
“People relate to that,” says Robinson. “And when they relate to that they relate to what we do as a band and in turn they think okay, the pride of the military could be the band.”
The open house also served as a way to help recruit more people into the regiment for both military and band purposes. Those interested and are somewhat skilled in brass, reed, or percussion instruments can contact the recruiting office at the armoury.
Robinson notes joining the band can lead to a number of interested and memorable opportunities, and even get the chance to meet high ranking officials.
“We have performed for every member of the royal family,” Robinson points out. “Just last year we performed from Princess Anne in Sussex and Moncton, we have performed for the queen, and Prince Charles before he became the king. It’s a lot of opportunities playing in this to meet some high brass.”
The event was the final public gathering hosted by the military as part of the Canadian Army Reserve Job Fair 2024, which saw various recruitment events take place across the country.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Election deniers: West Virginia voters must pick from GOP candidates who still dispute 2020 election
When West Virginia Republicans vote in Tuesday's primary, they will have a hard time finding a major candidate on the ballot in any statewide race who openly acknowledges that U.S. President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.