U.S. Navy photo by Paul Bello
The Alte Kameraden is a German band from Fairfax, Va. The band performed at the Slip Inn Sept. 28 as part of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling's Oktoberfest celebration.
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Spirited music highlights Oktoberfest celebration
JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. The Slip Inn was just the place for residents and co-workers to kick back and relax Sept. 28, as Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling celebrated Oktoberfest in style with strudels, brats, sauerkraut and live music from one of the region’s most heralded German bands.
The Alte Kameraden is an authentic blaskapelle wind band from Fairfax, Va. They have been introducing audiences to their lively, spirited music since 1977. The band plays more than 50 engagements a year at community events, German-American clubs, summer concerts, Christmas celebrations and New Year’s festivals.
Their music is a featured highlight of the annual Open House hosted by the Embassy of Germany, as well as the Swiss National Day celebration by the Embassy of Switzerland and the German military staff’s German Beer Night at Dulles International Airport.
The weekend performance at the Slip Inn marked a return to JBAB - and an introduction to many new fans.
“They’re a fun band to watch and listen to. It’s not often you get to hear music like this,” said Asia Withers, a military spouse and resident of JBAB. “We’re all German on a day like today. They’re just the band to get us in the mood.”
In May 2007, the Fairfax Alte Kameraden band took part in America’s 400th anniversary celebration at Jamestown, Va. by presenting a musical program dedicated to early German-American settlers. It most recently performed during the grand opening of the National German-American Heritage Center at Hockemeyer Hall in Washington, D.C.