Laker Marching Band announces 2015 halftime shows

The Grand Valley State University Laker Marching Band will take the field at Lubbers Stadium during home football games this season to provide energetic and entertaining performances.

John Martin, director of Athletic Bands, said each year the Laker Marching Band Council selects the themes and songs of the shows. The council is a student organization comprised of current students who currently are, or have previously been, members of the band.

“The Laker Marching Band Council did an outstanding job this season creating a wide variety of themes and songs,” Martin said. “The first show on September 3, entitled ‘Party at GV,’ will be a fantastic show that will be primarily done facing the student section.”

Martin added that a local rock band, The Lake Effects, will join the band during their first performance along with the GVSU Royal Dancers and the Donald Sinta Quartet, featuring Dan Graser, assistant professor of saxophone.

First-time drum major and second year music education major Zachery Guthrie-Thompson said the Laker Marching Band, which dates back to 1978, is about more than playing music and marching for a show. 

“The Laker Marching Band allows students to jump into the college life and make many friends that will last them through their years at Grand Valley,” Guthrie-Thompson said. “It also teaches great discipline, hard work, teamwork and dedication.”

First-time drum major and junior exercise science major Melissa Monblatt added that she is excited to watch the members of the band grow in skill level and enthusiasm with every performance.

“Being a part of the Laker Marching Band provides students with a sense of family, drive and purpose,” she said. “It creates meaning for its members as they improve throughout the season and become a part of something greater than themselves.”

Below is the full Laker Marching Band performance lineup for 2015:

Thursday, September 3 – “Party at GV”

• “Light ‘Em Up” by Fall Out Boy
• “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
• “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus
• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Saturday, September 19 – “Spy Show”

• “Mission Impossible” theme song
• “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings
• “Get Smart” theme song
• Spy Medley featuring the “Peter Gunn” theme, “Pink Panther” theme and “Soul Bossa Nova” from “Austin Powers”
• “James Bond” theme song

Saturday, October 3 – “The Sound of Music 50th Anniversary Tribute"

Saturday, October 17 – “Circle Drill” and “Band Day” featuring local high school marching students participating in Band Day

• “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix
• “Thunderstruck” by ACDC
• “Starships” by Nicki Minaj
• “Fireball” by Pitbull

Saturday, October 24 – “Once Upon a Laker…” Homecoming

Saturday, November 14 – “Veteran’s Day Salute”

• “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
• Armed Forces Medley
• “Taps”
• "God Bless the USA”

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/marchingband.