[Dixielandjazz] Crowds at DRESDEN FEST

[Phil Crumley]

>>>Jim Kashishian said recently, ">500,000 people at a Dixieland Festival.
Wow!!!!!!

I suspect that might be a bit of advert hoopla.  At one point in the
festival they drive the bands through the streets in horse drawn carriages
(a bit of a drag for a band that uses piano!) and I daresay most of the
town
is in the streets during the parade which may account for the large number
quote.<<<

Yes, Jim, I agree with you about the hoopla.  When Natural Gas Jazz Band
played the four day Dresden Festival in 2002, it was part of a tour which
included Prague, Vienna, and Budapest (listmate Tamas did a gig with us
there).  In Dresden we did see a large number of people but the vast
majority was during the three hour parade and another day when venues were
set up on stages on a busy mall.  In venues that charged admission, the
largest crowd we saw was probably under 2,000.

The outstanding impression that I remember of the Dresden Dixieland
Festival experience was the large percentage of younger people attending
the events - sure wish we had that here in this country.

Is this a great list, or what?

Phil Crumley
Natural Gas Jazz Band