By JULIE ZEEB Correspondent with The Red Bluff Daily News

Every Monday night, June through August, the Red Bluff River Park comes alive at 8 PM. That's when the Red Bluff Community Band, under the direction of Jay Thiel, provides musical entertainment for the Red Bluff community and anyone else who shows up to listen. Young and old alike find places to sit in the grass around the cement square beneath the stage the band plays on. Little children, too small to sit still, play in the surrounding area under the watchful eyes of their parents and grandparents. People greet those around them and settle into a conversation while waiting for the band to tune their instruments and begin the evening's performance.

Nearby another audience member, Irene Ramirez, said, "We come every Monday. Old reliables. We're just surprised more people don't come out."

The Red Bluff Community Band, formed initially in 1863 as two different bands, has been playing in the park since the 1950s, according to clarinet player Saralu Gonsalves. In 1863, the two bands were the Red Bluff Fire Department Band and the Red Bluff Municipal Band. In 1947, the two bands merged into one, taking the name of the Red Bluff Municipal Band, which was kept until 1951.
The name of the band was then changed to the Tehama County Band. 1996 saw another change as the band took its current name, the Red Bluff Community Band.

They practice Monday nights from 7-9 PM at the senior center at 1500 South Jackson. Members are expected to arrive and warm up their instruments from 6:45-7 PM. Practices take place during September through May. The band, which is always looking for new members, is open to anyone who can read music.

The band is comprised of between 50 and 60 members "ranging from teens to senior citizens and from amateur to professional musicians " according to the band Web site run by band historian Mike Compton. Like many of the band members, has several people in his family who play in the band as well. "We have parents who bring kids and kids who bring parents," he said.

Although the band primarily plays in Red Bluff River Park, on River Park Way, it performs at several other venues throughout the community. One of its performances coming up is the Kelly-Griggs Ice Cream Social on August 5. The Ice Cream Social will be held at 311 Washington Street and starts at 7 PM.
Many other events can be found on The Red Bluff Community Band's Web site which is located at:
www.redbluffcommunityband.org .