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PRESS RELEASE. From Bill Bates, organizer for the Half Moon Bay Sit-Down Marching Band on April 14th, 2026. Contact Bill at bill@bateshmb.com or by cell at 415-309-0953.
Include your name, cell, email and instrument.
Any and all Woodwind, Brass and Percussionist musicians of any age are welcome to enjoy playing
music with us on July 4, 2026. We will send you the printed music via a link. We’ll also send you a
linked playlist so you can brush up on the challenging but fun tunes.
There will be three non-mandatory rehearsals on
Tuesday evenings on June 16th, June 23rd and June 30th, 2026
at the The Historic Train Depot, 110 Higgins Canyon Road, Half Moon Bay, CA
“The band was a concept of Isabell Mascall. She wondered why there wasn’t a band in the Half Moon Bay Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade. So, in 1983, she placed an ad in the HMB Review inviting anyone who played an instrument to join the band. About 20 people responded to the ad.
Isabell got music from the HMB High School Band director. The first rehearsals were on her back deck or on the street in front of her house. (I don’t know who the conductor was.) Thus, the HMB Band was formed!
For the next 3-4 years, this band marched in the Parade – with some musicians carrying their children in back packs. Realizing that it was difficult to play and march, especially with children, Eddie Andreini offered to carry the band on his flatbed truck for the Parade. The band became known as “The Half Moon Band That Sits on a Flatbed Truck”.
As a few years went by, the band grew. It grew to the point that it became too big for the truck. And, unfortunately, the Parade was so short, especially now that the Band was motorized, they only got to play one or two pieces. Parade attendees wanted to hear more!
In the late 1980s, the decision was made, in close coordination with parade leader, Cameron Palmer,
that the Band would sit at the corner of Main and Kelly streets and play music while the parade
passed by. Thus, the origin of the name: “The Half Moon Bay Sit-Down Marching Band”. In 2025, Bob
Boynton joined that band as its new Conductor. The Band has had as many as 55 musicians, locals,
visitors, amateurs, professionals, beginners and children.
We’d like to have you come and play with us!
Author: mdrag
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