The headless horseman will be walking the field during halftime with the Marching Bucs in the fall.
On March 10, The Marching Bucs announced “Sleepy Hollow” for their Fall 2023 marching band show.
The show will include a medley of songs including “Creep” by Radiohead, “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult, “I’m Your Boogie Man” by KC and the Sunshine Band and “Dance Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saens.
The show will be based off of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving and will follow different moments from the story.
Joe Moore, director of the athletic bands and associate director of bands, said he was inspired to pick “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” because he loved the fall and Halloween aesthetic. Moore said he decided last fall during the previous season he wanted to do Sleepy Hollow.
“I love the relevance of the story,” said Moore.
Moore said the story will be told by all elements of the band from the music to the color guard.
“It is about creating images,” said Moore. “It’s all a musical and visual reference.”
The Marching Bucs are still in the planning stages of the season. They are planning the props, colors of flags, costumes and music. Band staff said they were inspired by Appalachian Folklore as well as the original legend of Sleepy Hollow.
In choosing the music, the band has to find a “unifying thread” to tell the story.
The band will start to prepare for the show a week and a half before the fall semester begins at Band Camp.
Band staff are looking ahead for potential new candidates for the Marching Bucs. Auditions for music scholarships are in progress. The color guard and drumline will be having virtual and online auditions in April.
The Marching Bucs will not only perform during halftime at football games but at many musical festivals like Bands of America and J.C. Christmas Parade.
Moore said he and the Marching Bucs staff are constantly looking ahead for themes and shows for future marching band seasons.
“We are constantly looking a few years down the road,” said Moore.
For more information on the ETSU Marching Bucs, visit their Facebook at ETSU Marching Bucs.
