BandWagon

About BandWagon

What makes BANDWAGON different from other band-related podcasts? Rather than focusing only on music education topics, it’s meant for anybody who ever did band. And in a world where not everybody “gets” band, it can be a challenge for people who do. With news, commentary, and advocacy from the band world (concert and marching; scholastic, community, and service bands), and entertaining conversations with band leaders and participants alike ... this podcast aims to create community through band: to be a resource and a refuge for band geeks.

Publisher

Robert G. Hammerton

Category

arts · music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Jan 2024

Latest episode

25 May 2026

Latest episodes

77 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 May 2026

   Episode 73: "Footloose Redux"

   SHOW NOTES Episode 073 • May 25, 2026 FIRST & SECOND STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • School board bans high school band from performing “controversial” composition Reporting on the original school board band-repertoire vote plans: https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-school-board-watertown-spring-band-concert-lgbtq-history Reporting on the May 12th school board meeting: https://www.wdtimes.com/news/local/school-board-cuts-song-from-spring-concert/article_a29a47f8-45a6-4d59-823f-4bc0822caef0.html (paywall) https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/05/political-chaotic-school-board-meeting-descends-into-screaming-match-over-stonewall/ Reporting on Omar Thomas’s original comments: https://www.tmj4.com/news/dodge-county/composer-speaks-out-as-watertown-school-board-debates-lgbtq-linked-concert-piece Reporting on the student protests: https://www.tmj4.com/news/dodge-county/watertown-high-school-students-walk-out-to-protest-school-boards-decision-to-ban-song-tied-to-stonewall-movement TRIO Some more thoughts about the Watertown Wind Symphony story Alexandra Delcourt’s article about Watertown and its history: https://ourliveswisconsin.com/article/watertown-band-students-barred-from-performing-song-tied-to-lgbtq-history-after-homophobic-school-board-vote/ Watertown school board candidate campaign platform interview: https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/90169/race/24767/election/1345 Watertown school board meeting, May 12th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2lm9Qr-L0&pp=ygUud2F0ZXJ0b3duIHVzZCBzY2hvb2wgYm9hcmQgbWVldGluZyBtYXkgMTIgMjAyNg%3D%3D Reporting on Riverside MS protest and lockdown: https://www.tmj4.com/news/dodge-county/watertown-middle-school-placed-on-lock-and-hold-during-planned-student-protest Watertown school board’s official statement defending its decision to ban the Thomas piece: https://www.tmj4.com/news/dodge-county/watertown-school-board-defends-decision-to-ban-concert-song-calls-it-a-celebration-of-violence DOGFIGHT • Look for the helpers; and look out for the opportunists TCNJ’s community performance plans: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162602735121044&id=721116043 Reporting on Immanuel Lutheran Church’s community performance plans: https://www.tmj4.com/news/dodge-county/composer-omar-thomas-to-conduct-a-mother-of-a-revolution-performance-in-watertown The Immanuel Lutheran-hosted event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g862hiqPZiQ Reporting on the Kirk Bangstad Minocqua Brewing Company performance plans: https://wtmj.com/news/2026/05/17/minocqua-brewing-owner-invites-watertown-students-to-perform-banned-concert-piece/ https://www.tmj4.com/news/state-capitol/minocqua-brewing-company-to-host-watertown-wind-symphony-for-a-mother-of-a-revolution-performance Kirk Bangstad’s Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/MBCBrews/posts/pfbid02ZHr8kupuAJGzHYadB3Eyki7444RYdBSrcah7e6kUN6hajThJjuJCgp4UHaV151Bkl?rdid=yJ1JAiblTFBdonOi FOLLOW US! BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309 BandWagon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhammerton1 BandWagon on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/heybandwagon.bsky.social Rob (“HammertonMedia”) on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON! www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV WE GOT MERCH! Visit www.teepublic.com/user/bandwagon-with-rob-hammerton -or- go to teepublic.com and search “bandwagon” SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! Email: heybandwagon@yahoo.com Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

2. 

   2 Mar 2026

   Episode 72: "World-Building -or- Marching Wildebeests"

   SHOW NOTES Episode 072 • March 2, 2026 FIRST/SECOND STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • DCI cuts ties with Marching Health Marching Health FB post: www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1532356162231361&id=100063709757614 Drum Corps Planet's post about DCI's statement: www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?/topic/183392-dci-ends-agreement-with-marching-health/ Funliner Productions' FB post: www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1252358370415597&id=100069243375802 Funliner Productions' YouTube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR_tDBcYj88 The Paradox of Tolerance: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance TRIO This episode’s interview guest: MEGAN KREINER Megan Kreiner's IMDB page: www.imdb.com/name/nm2042140/ Megan Kreiner's LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/megankreiner/ Megan Kreiner's animation reels: vimeo.com/1149564151 vimeo.com/906140949 zerply.com/motones UMass Alumni Association’s Facebook post about the marching wildebeests “Zootopia 2”: www.facebook.com/umassalumni/posts/pfbid07WiN2UdBJLscEbrBGU9VmPSrtgBpjkuk35YcAxx1rPFQbZbLcgE5PS5makZhA6djl Megan Kreiner's crochet design business: www.mkcrochetandknits.com/ www.ravelry.com/designers/megan-kreiner www.facebook.com/motones DOGFIGHT Topic: Randall Standridge’s Texas All-State Band story The Standridge post: www.facebook.com/randallstandridgemusic/posts/i-had-to-make-a-really-hard-decision-during-the-texas-all-state-band-clinicmonth/10163764393690546/ The 2026 Texas All-State Band doing its thing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9rCpt8g2C8 FOLLOW US! BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309 BandWagon on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rhammerton1 BandWagon on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/heybandwagon.bsky.social Rob (“HammertonMedia”) on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON! www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV WE GOT MERCH! Visit www.teepublic.com/user/bandwagon-with-rob-hammerton -or- go to teepublic.com and search “bandwagon” SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! Email: heybandwagon@yahoo.com Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

3. 

   27 Oct 2025

   Episode 71: "News Roundup"

   SHOW NOTES Episode 071 • October 27, 2025 FIRST STRAIN News ‘n’ Notes: • NC State’s oldest marcher enters second season https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article312274350.html https://www.youtube.com/shorts/30dEckYWZrk • Linde among Grammy award semifinalists https://cdn.grammymuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/09163920/130254940_2026_grammy_museum_x_mea_semifinalists_final.pdf https://www.facebook.com/lisa.linde.5099/posts/pfbid02L3sh2sJPM7qmben4kVkziD5S1PFZJGbPjS5JYAYQhLkNpAxyyUFBNUX43qY8zpYTl • UMass-Lowell marching band escapes bus fire, performs afterward https://www.wcvb.com/article/bus-umass-lowell-band-fire-westwood-massachusetts/69090336 https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/bus-carrying-umass-lowell-students-catches-fire-westwood/T4AGT5RPOBHDLJCAQCZ5H624QY/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNiQNhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFWN1hLOG9qR01JdEtKSFd4AR6hiapJHiHv_Ij1WALw5RLuh_eckMOeJ7Xm1Dqo0koJySpshEjsSOFUSbs3Qw_aem_xL5NDpu4UP2IChGJ_1HtPw https://www.facebook.com/kristen.sardynski/posts/pfbid02pd8zXb3TCS7Kjh89T3VGjc4fty6HYseXgfxtFWLhUi3kY8bLcbJm6qxvZf24Pvq7l VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeRsRmiBEwk • Bethune-Cookman band departs Band of the Year contest https://hbcusports.com/2025/10/07/another-hbcu-band-bows-out-of-espn-competition/ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1094616625992905&set=a.430022375785670 https://www.blackenterprise.com/bethune-cookman-withdraws-espn-competition/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bethune-cookman-withdraws-from-espn-band-of-the-year-competition/ar-AA1ObfsI https://clutchpoints.com/hbcu/another-hbcu-band-director-falls-out-of-favor-with-espns-band-of-the-year • Protesting clarinetist detained by DHS https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/portland-ice-clarinet-arrested-protest-b2845329.html https://katu.com/news/local/portland-clarinet-player-charged-with-alleged-assault-on-federal-officer-near-ice-office-oregon-trump-national-guard-immigration https://www.koin.com/news/portland/clarinetist-playing-ghostbusters-arrested-at-ice-facility/ SECOND STRAIN /TRIO Topic: A brief programming note, about hiatuses (hiati?) DOGFIGHT / CODA Topic: Nebraska football coach notices his school’s band www.youtube.com/shorts/o08xA9WLoZA FOLLOW US! BandWagon RSS feed: feed.podbean.com/heyband/feed.xml BandWagon website: heyband.podbean.com BandWagon on Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555170345309 BandWagon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhammerton1 BandWagon on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/heybandwagon.bsky.social Rob (“HammertonMedia”) on Facebook: facebook.com/HammertonMedia SUBSCRIBE TO BANDWAGON! www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/eg706GUVzixV WE GOT MERCH! Visit www.teepublic.com/user/bandwagon-with-rob-hammerton -or- go to teepublic.com and search “bandwagon” SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK! Email: heybandwagon@yahoo.com Voicemail: speakpipe.com/HeyBandWagon

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

12,249,520

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

66

Social presence

91

YouTube

93

Engagement

60

Contact BandWagon

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.