Before the first drum even hit, you could feel the buzz in the air. It was one of those perfect early summer parade days - sunny and warm, with that classic steady Midwestern wind kicking up flags and parade banners. Off in the distance, you could just make out some clouds building on the horizon, hinting at a storm maybe rolling in later, but right now? It was pure, golden parade weather.

Kids were everywhere, running around with ice cream cones melting faster than they could eat them, faces already sticky and happy. Parents camped out in folding chairs, some sipping on cold beers, others with giant lemonades or whatever drink they managed to snag from a food truck. The smell of popcorn, sunscreen, and street food just hung in the air. People were chatting, laughing, catching up with neighbors - everybody just ready for something good.

You could tell - this wasn’t just another parade day. The energy was up. People came ready to celebrate. And honestly, with the lineup of groups getting ready to perform, they had no idea just how good it was about to get.

The event has begun:

(performance order based on submission order)
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Spirit of the Raiders

Parade song: "The Battle" by Hans Zimmer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-YYZiJvwpc

Director: JMIKE18 - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/9277

Right from the start, you could tell it’s different. It started off softly but with a subdued intensity and built suspense in a way that you rarely, if ever, hear in a parade. Hearing this low, ominous rumble getting closer and closer had everyone thinking: What is happening? What’s about to come around the corner? The intro was a bit long. I could tell people with short attention spans were starting to get bored. It’s a slow burn that pays off in a big way.

I loved hearing the ominous bass line grow underneath everything, pulling you into it. Suddenly, you started to feel the full weight and intensity of it. Honestly, it painted a whole picture in your head: you could almost see troops or warriors marching into battle. It's cinematic, it's powerful, and it’s absolutely not what anyone was expecting.

The vibe was palpable: the audience was a little confused at first (which was kind of the point), but you could see it slowly clicking with people. Heads started nodding. You could tell they were starting to feel it. And musically and visually, I’ve gotta say, the group was super balanced. No section overwhelmed the others - the winds, percussion, guard, everyone - they all held their ground and delivered a clean, powerful show. That right there is the foundation of an effective performance: being tight and controlled without losing emotion.

You could feel the discipline and the determination with every step they took. It was like they were sending a message to the judges and the crowd: We are here. We mean business. The audience totally lost their shit when Spirit of the Raiders marched passed the judges booth with their horns cocked in the judge's direction. This was a great way to kick off the parade!
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Conmer Regional High School Marching Band

Song: Amparito Roca March" by Jaime Texidor - https://youtu.be/M0c6LGL7tN0?si=70c_iGMe7tHmh0jI

Director: AZXTNT - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/11654

I really liked this one. I could totally hear it fitting into a parade setting - it just had that energy. I’ve honestly never heard this march before, but I ended up really enjoying it. People waved their flags as the group marched by. There were shouts of “Oh yeah, get it piccolos!” - I, being one of them – during the piccolo feature. It kind of felt like the minor- key cousin of "Stars and Stripes Forever.” The audience marched in place, including the little kids, as they clapped along the whole time.

I liked how the soft sections were handled too - you just knew a loud, exciting moment was about to pop off, and sure enough, it delivered. This wasn't an easy parade song to pull off either, but it was very well done. I especially liked the french horn/euphonium counter-melody towards the end - super strong winds overall and great music effect.

On the visual side, it wasn’t bad, but it did feel like there was a little more room for growth. It was still effective visually, but not quite as strong as the music side of things.

Overall, I really appreciated that it wasn’t your typical Sousa march. It was something different, fresh, and way more interesting to listen to. Great choice!
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Madison Sound

Song: Born to be Wild - Born To Be Wild by Mars Bonfire/arr. Michael Sweeney

Director: JustJohn - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/7831


It's always a smart move to pick something the audience knows, can sing along with, or just bust a move to - and that’s exactly what Madison Sound did. Madison Sound, based off the legendary drum corps from Madison, Wisconsin, really leaned into that crowd connection with this one.

Visually, they were just super clean. For how energetic the show was, they still managed to keep everything together, and honestly, for how "looser" versions of popular music can sometimes go, it was really well handled. The audience was absolutely into it - you could literally hear everyone singing that iconic chorus, and that's the kind of thing you can't fake.

They definitely packed a BIG punch with their percussion and visuals. The percussion was driving and powerful, but honestly, it was the drill and overall coordination that really stole the show. Parade drills are not easy to pull off without the whole thing turning into a traffic jam, but they kept it moving and kept it entertaining with their superb choreography and their “Born to be Wild” shades. Musically, it was pretty simple compared to some of the other entries, but that's totally fine when you’re playing to the audience like this.

Sometimes Hal Leonard arrangements can sound hokey, but at the end of the day, this was just a full-on crowd pleaser. Madison Sound knew exactly what they were doing, and it worked.
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Midland Valley Redcoats

Song: Evolution Orange - Earth Wind & Fire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCjWl7RNvk

Director: scooter92011 - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/3


Yeah, yeah - this piece totally had the audience clapping and people out there dancing. This was just pure hype in the best way. Super strong brass line right off the bat. Loving the solo trumpet work - and all right sopranos, get it! I really liked how the sections were trading off the melody; that was a really cool touch that kept it feeling fresh and alive.

Oh, the mellophones had this awesome little run that just gave it a next-level punch. You could really tell Midland Valley was having a blast out there - there's dancing, handclaps, and yeah, even though it got a little chaotic at times with everyone doing their own thing, it added to the vibe. When the performers are having fun, it makes the audience want to jump in too, which is exactly what happened here.

The audience was going wild for this one. Total party atmosphere. I loved how they threw in some choreography during the drum break too: it was just right for the mood today. Very sunny, a little windy - classic late April/early May weather. Gave off big-time early summer vibes: warm, a little humid, breezy. Perfect for a parade that's all about celebrating. Midland Valley absolutely understood the assignment - bring the energy, get people moving, and just throw a big parade party. And they delivered.
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Sunrise Surf

Song: Get Ready by JSU

Director: gcurrier2 - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/1207


Right out the gate - percussion hits hard. The opening is heavy, punchy, and honestly just grabs your attention in the best way. The syncopation they worked in was super tight. These drum majors are not messing around - they came to run the show and it shows.

When the winds finally came in, the crowd just erupted. I was watching all the kids on the sideline dancing, trying to copy the moves of the dancing girls - which, by the way, were so clean and sharp. I caught a high kick that made my hamstring hurt just watching it. They were out there putting in serious work.

You can tell Sunrise Surf takes what they do seriously, but they’re also clearly having fun, and that balance just brings so much good energy. Honestly, the whole vibe centered around the dance team and the drum majors. The winds and drums were there to support the show, and they did a solid job - especially that drumline. I would go so far as to say they might be the best percussion section of the day. Tight, loud, confident.

Visually, the corps itself didn’t have a ton going on beyond the frontline, but what they did was clean. The energy, the movement, the showmanship - that’s what carried this performance. It was definitely one of the most crowd-interactive shows of the parade.

Overall, Sunrise Surf brought a lot of style, swagger, and straight-up power. One of the most fun performances to watch, hands down.
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Unspecified

Song: Gaiser - Neural Block

Director: Unspecified - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/11136


Now this was unexpected - in the best way. Right from the start, Unspecified didn’t just march down the street like everyone else - they moved like living shadows, super clean, super smooth. Their uniforms almost disappeared into the pavement, and it wasn’t even just walking - it was this eerie, gliding effect that you couldn’t take your eyes off of.

The music itself? Total masterclass in minimalism. It’s got this steady, relentless pulse which made it perfect for a parade - easy to keep step with, but not boring at all. I loved how it started off pretty simple, then more instruments kept layering in as it built. You could hear all these different textures - brasslines just dripping out short bursts of sound, low brass rumbling underneath like distant thunder.

What really stood out to me were the cymbals doing those offbeats - such a cool rhythmic touch. It’s very rhythmic overall - not a ton of melody to latch onto but it works because the energy just keeps building. Plus, the way they managed to get these electronic, synthesized sounds out of wind instruments? And even use them like percussion instruments? Wild. Super impressive. You could tell there’s some serious creativity and musicianship happening behind the scenes.

And the guard - man, talk about precision. Those sabres flashing around, slicing through the air like it was choreographed with a laser pointer. Every move looked dangerous and elegant at the same time. So cool.

The audience loved it too. Even though it wasn’t a big, recognizable pop song, the rhythm and energy still pulled people in Everyone was clapping and bobbing along because it was just that infectious.

Unspecified didn’t just perform; they created a whole atmosphere. “Neural Block” wasn’t just a parade tune, it was an experience. Mechanical but alive, cold but somehow super charged with energy. They basically turned minimalism into a full-on street party. Hats off - this was something special.
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Robinson Marching Rams

Song: RVA All Day - https://youtu.be/ncxSrmPks7g?si=8RhBKisfFdRzuIDg

Director: corndogshuffle - https://www.fantasymarchingarts.com/profile/1069


Oh yeah, the audience was living for this one. Robinson came out swinging with straight-up disco funk energy, and you could feel it ripple down the whole street. Right from the jump, it was clear they weren’t messing around - the vibe, the beat, everything was just infectious.

Honestly, I’m gonna say it - I think this was the best wind line of the day. No question. I’m really curious to see what the judges thought because from the street view, it was phenomenal.

And the percussion? Oh yeah, the drums got their moment to shine too - super tight, driving the whole thing forward without overpowering it. The dance team and the colorguard threw down - so clean. Probably the best color guard I saw today, honestly. Every move was crisp, and you could tell they were having fun while still being razor sharp.

What really made this set pop was the crowd participation. Everybody got into it, yelling "RVA all day!" right along with the band. I caught myself yelling it too - you just couldn't help it. And don’t even get me started on the trombones. Killing it! And the saxes?!! Whoever’s idea it was to make their sax line sound like it was improvising – genius: it passed from section to section like a live jam session, and it kept the whole thing feeling fresh and electric.

Oh, and they even threw in a rap section - just spitting verses mid-parade like it was nothing. It was so natural and so hype. It definitely shows why they’re known as the "no bullshit brass" - they come out, they perform hard, and they don't hold back.

This was an absolute banger from top to bottom. Everyone in Robinson gave it 110% and it showed. Big energy, clean visuals, killer winds - everything you want in a parade performance. RVA all day, for real.
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End of parade competition
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Man, what a day. Honestly, it couldn’t have come together any better - we got sunshine, a cool breeze, the perfect crowd, and a whole lot of incredible performances. Even with the storm clouds creeping in later, it just added to the whole vibe - like nature itself was putting a little exclamation point on the end of the parade.

It wasn’t just about the music or the marching or even the competition - it was about the community. Seeing families, friends, and total strangers dancing in the streets together, kids waving at the bands, people clapping and singing along - that's the stuff that sticks with you. That's what makes days like this special.

A huge shoutout to everyone who participated, everyone who cheered, and everyone who just came out to be part of something bigger than themselves for a few hours. It was one of those days you wish you could bottle up and save for when you need a reminder of how good it can get. Thanks for making it unforgettable.

Can’t wait to do it again next time. See you in Season 130!
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FMA VOTES - ANY player on FMA may vote for Best Song. Voting ends May 3 at 11:59 AM

Voting Link to Google Form here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9MlQ7ShO82Vo3QyxKlw9V7RWJuvwZmHvZWWo48DDxBTDMfQ/viewform?usp=header


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