Northern Michigan University's Pride of the North marching band, under the direction of Professor Stephen Grugin, is taking its show on the road for performances in the Grand Rapids and Gaylord areas Oct. 21-23. The 140-member group will provide halftime entertainment for two football games and perform a downtown concert on the return trip to Marquette.
The band will perform at halftime of the Ottawa Hills vs. Kenowa Hills high school football game at 7 p.m. tonight (Friday) at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. On Saturday, when the Wildcat football team faces home team Grand Valley State University at 3 p.m., the Pride of the North and GVSU marching bands will take the field together, 300+ members in all, for a combined halftime show. They will play music from Michigan singers and bands, including Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper and Madonna.
On the trip back to Marquette on Sunday, the NMU band will stop in Gaylord to perform a concert at 1:30 p.m. at the Pavilion in downtown Gaylord. The concert will feature music from this season's halftime shows, plus other Wildcat Band favorites. Admission is free.
NMU alumni and friends who reside in those areas are encouraged to attend one or more of these events and support the 140-member Pride of the North.
Grugin and the band thank Jamie DeVoe of Grand Rapids Public Schools, John Martin of GVSU and Aaron Hotelling of Gaylord Public Schools for serving as host directors for the performances.