BOA Louisville Preview
For the first time since 2019, Bands of America returns to Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky and the lineup is a stellar one. This regional travels around the southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky area to venues like Miami University in Oxford (OH) in 2018 and recently in Dayton in 2021, but this is regarded as the jewel of the locations as it is held in such a prestigious stadium. The collection of high caliber bands attending this weekend makes this one of the most competitive regionals that is not a Super Regional.
With a location that is easy to get to from inside Kentucky as well as Ohio and Indiana, the show draws talented bands from across each state. This includes representatives from Illinois and Michigan attending making it a total of 30 bands performing, the maximum a regular regional can hold. The schedule for this contest is currently as follows:
(All Times ET)
7:45 AM - Paul Laurence Dunbar (KY)
8:00 AM - Lawrence Township (IN)
8:15 AM - Lafayette Jefferson (IN)**
8:30 AM - Pike (IN)
8:45 AM - George Rogers Clark (KY)
9:00 AM - Madison Central (KY)
9:15 AM - Cumberland County (KY)
9:30 AM - Henry Clay (KY)**
9:45 AM - Floyd Central (IN)**
Break
10:30 AM - Victor J. Andrew (IL)
10:45 AM - Oak Hills (OH)
11:00 AM - North Hardin (KY)**
11:15 AM - Chesterton (IN)
11:30 AM - Central Hardin (KY)**
11:45 AM - South Oldham (KY)**
12:00 PM - Bourbon County (KY)**
12:15 PM - Columbus North (IN)**
12:30 PM - Decatur Central (IN)
Break
1:45 PM - Bellbrook (OH)*
2:00 PM - Beechwood (KY)
2:15 PM - Westfield (IN)
2:30 PM - Kettering Fairmont (OH)*
2:45 PM - Centerville (OH)*
3:00 PM - Woodford County (KY)*
3:15 PM - Brownsburg (IN)
3:30 PM - Lakota East (OH)
3:45 PM - Adair County (KY)
4:00 PM - Walled Lake (MI)
4:15 PM - Harrison County (KY)
4:30 PM - Carmel (IN)*/**
4:45 PM - University of Louisville (Exhibition)
5:00 PM - Preliminary Awards
*Denotes Returning Bands from 2021 Dayton Regional
**Denotes Returning Bands from 2019 Louisville Regional
At first glance, this list is instantly highlighted by #2 Carmel (IN). Making a regular appearance at this Regional, wherever it may be held, Carmel continues to be a force to be reckoned with as they time after time generally dominate most BOA Regionals they attend having never placed outside of the top 2 in a regional since 2008. When it was held in Dayton last year, Carmel ended up winning by a healthy 4.7 points over fellow competitor here Centerville (OH). Centerville looks to try and close that gap this year as they were 2nd to them last year but looking to spoil that could potentially be Brownsburg (IN). Brownsburg has been riding high, coming off a banner year when they claimed their first BOA Regional Championship, along with their highest Indiana State Finals finish (5th) along with their highest Grand National Semi-Finals finish (17th).
An interesting wrinkle could come from Madison Central (KY) who has recently bested last year's Class AAAAA Kentucky State Champion Lafayette (KY) in a narrow contest. This band is generally one of the best in the state and will be vying to represent the home state well with a high finish. Other school that'll be looking to represent Kentucky in the best light also include perennial powers North Hardin (KY), Central Hardin (KY), and George Rogers Clark (KY) finishing 3rd, 5th, and 6th respectively in Class AAAAA also at State Finals.
Kentucky is not without their small band representation though and boasts some of the best small school groups in the nation. These groups include Adair County (KY) who placed 3rd in Class AAA, Bourbon County (KY) which placed 2nd in Class AAAA, and Beechwood (KY) which claimed the Class AA Championship all at State Finals. This year, Beechwood has already claimed a victory over Campbell County (KY), while Bourbon County has been able to say they've outscored North Hardin. It will be quite the spectacle as we'll be seeing all of these state finalist worthy groups face off against each other for school and state pride.
Lakota East (OH) will be representing Ohio alongside Centerville and hoping to outscore their fellow in-state competitor. Finishing last year in 2nd at the BOA Toledo Regional and just missing out on Grand National Semi-Finals, Lakota East is craving another chance to prove themselves as one of Ohio's elite groups. Bellbrook (OH), who has a long history with Bands of America, will be seeking a chance to shine themselves. As a former Grand National Finalist, they'll be looking to live up to that history with a Class Championship.
Speaking of previous National Finalists, Chesterton (IN) is a former Grand National Champion from way back in 1981 and is competing in their first Bands of America show since 2004. Having had a chance to see their show the first week at the Goshen Invitational, this band is sure to please the crowd! Another Grand National Finalist attending is the Marching Pride of Lawrence Township (IN) who is looking to make a splash this year after having missed Semi-Finals last year for the first time as a combined school district group.
Louisville will also have a lone representative from Illinois coming from Victor J. Andrew (IL) and Walled Lake (MI) from Michigan. Walled Lake recently combined their bands in the school district much like Lawrence Township or Sound and Spirit of Columbus (IN) who will also be in attendance seeking a spot in Finals. Victor J. Andrew also has an impressive drumline and color guard so keep a watchful eye on them.
This Regional is stacked from top to bottom with far too many things that could be said about each of these groups. You will be hard pressed to find a band that you could run to the bathroom or grab a hot dog and not miss a great performance. It will be a very long, but very much worth it day of band. Expect surprises. Expect close match-ups. Expect great performances. But most of all, expect to be entertained!
I love how you mentioned all of the bands that made state finals in Kentucky last year, except for Harrison County who was 5th in class 4A.