Drum corps to debut at Belfast event

BELFAST – Many have long suspected that Mayor Mike Hurley is a direct descendant of the Pied Piper of lore.

In addition to being its ambassador on business and civic fronts, Hurley is the city’s biggest cheerleader, a role that preceded his election as mayor. And he often can be seen leading a parade of sorts, celebrating the city’s plucky and eccentric soul or selling its charms to others.

He helped form the Green Streets group, which planted trees around town. Along with his wife, Therese Bagnardi, Hurley created a free movie series during the weekends leading up to Christmas at the couple’s Colonial Theatre. And during the summer, he places a bicycle or two in racks on Main Street, free to any who want to use them for pedaling around the downtown.

The most recent of Hurley’s community-building brainstorms is the Belfast Drum & Rabble Marching Society, which he envisions as a loose concoction of professional and amateur percussionists, banging away in a semicoordinated manner.

Several years ago, he attended a Halloween party in New York City and witnessed a similar drumming corps marching in the streets. Friends have told him about other such groups in cities and towns around the U.S.

In New York, “the drummers had clearly rehearsed,” Hurley recalled.

“We’re gonna take it more improvisational,” he said with a mischievous grin.

The group will debut Sunday night at Belfast’s New Year’s By The Bay festival. Hurley purchased a half-dozen drums equipped for marching, and recruited five accomplished drummers to join him.

Among the committed are Jeff Densmore, a longtime Belfast-area drummer who has played in several bands; Ando Anderson, a musician who usually can be seen playing guitar; and Jim Riordan, another local drummer. Hurley readily admits to being a nonmusician.

A few years ago, his wife purchased tall and furry drum major hats from the local Salvation Army store, castoffs from the high school marching band. There are enough to

outfit the six official members of the Marching Society.

But the part of the plan that is pure Hurley is the role of the “rabble.” At about 11:30 p.m., the core group will begin pounding out a rhythm at the intersection of High and Main streets. Anyone can join in, banging together wood blocks, banging on pots, pans, plastic buckets, water jugs, or virtually anything else.

Some wind instruments may also be represented at the debut, Hurley said.

The ragtag group will then march to the waterfront where it will finish with a flourish, then light the traditional midnight bonfire.

Though New Year’s By The Bay is strictly a chem-free event, Hurley notes that the drummers will pass by six pubs in the downtown, perhaps drawing revelers outside and into the streets.

Part of what motivated the drum corps creation, he said, was the demise of marching bands.

“When I was a kid, there were always marching bands in parades,” he said, sometimes several in one parade.

“Long term, it’s going to be something that will evolve,” he said, possibly playing and encouraging others to join in at two or three other events in town.

The Marching Society would not be appropriate for more somber events such as Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, Hurley said.

“It’s got to be something silly, something fun,” he said.

Knowing Hurley, there will be no shortage of either in Belfast’s calendar.

“So many drummers, so little time,” he said, musing about the future.