Bands of America is back.

BOA’s opening weekend featured a quartet of events across the country, with dozens of bands having their first chance to stack up with one another and debut their 2022 productions on the BOA stage. 

A quick review of all the action from a packed weekend:

Obetz, OH | Lakota West goes back to back

For starters, I can’t think of a more fantastic name for a stadium than “Fortress Obetz.” Where’s your show this weekend? The Fortress. Electric. I love it. 

Lakota West (73.450) won this one in its home state by a solid margin, fending off second-place Campbell County (72.300) by just over a point. Less than two points separated the top three, as Miamisburg (71.900) finished within close striking distance of Campbell County.

Lakota West — which took home top marks at the same event in 2021 — also earned first prize in the Class AAAA, while Campbell County and Miamisburg took the top AA slots. Saturday’s AAA champion, Milford (66.600), and Class A champion, Norton (62.75), both finished among the overall Top 10. 

A pair of Indiana-based bands represented the Hoosier State well, rounding out the top five — fourth-place Noblesville (71.750) and Franklin Central (71.300) — while both scoring within about two points of the top. Both bands also took home an overall caption award, with Noblesville topping the charts in Visual and Franklin Central winning Music. 

Finals Results

73.450 – Lakota West High School, OH

72.300 – Campbell County High School, KY

71.900 – Miamisburg High School, OH

71.750 – Noblesville High School, IN

71.300 – Franklin Central High School, IN

68.400 – Worthington Kilbourne High School, OH

66.600 – Milford High School, OH

65.700 – Hilliard Bradley High School, OH

62.900 – Fairfield High School, OH

62.750 – Norton High School, OH

62.600 – Central Crossing High School, OH

61.850 – Grayson County High School, KY

Outstanding Music Performance – Franklin Central High School, IN

Outstanding Visual Performance – Noblesville High School, IN

Outstanding General Effect – Lakota West High School, OH

Clarksville, TN | One tenth at the top

Speaking of Indiana bands going out of state and posting strong showings, Castle (77.300) finished in a very close second to overall winner O’Fallon Township (77.400) at Saturday’s Clarksville event.

O’Fallon and Castle shared the event’s top Visual score, while O’Fallon Township won Music and Castle won General Effect. Castle was the Clarksville event’s overall champion in 2021. Bartlett (TN, 75.100) was the top Volunteer State finisher, rounding out the top three with an advantage of 0.4 over fourth-place Anderson County (KY, 74.700).

A pair of Arkansas bands made the most of their long trip to Tennessee, including Cabot (74.250) which rounded out the top five. Paragould (64.500) was also a finalist, scoring 11th.

Finals Results

77.400 – O’Fallon Township High School, IL

77.300 – Castle High School, IN

75.100 – Bartlett High School, TN

74.700 – Anderson County High School, KY

74.250 – Cabot High School, AR

72.650 – DeSoto Central High School, MS

71.350 – Ravenwood High School, TN

69.100 – Mt. Juliet High School, TN

67.100 – Oakville High School, MO

67.000 – Murray High School, KY

64.500 – Paragould High School, AR

64.100 – Siegel High School, TN

Outstanding Music Performance – O’Fallon Township High School, IL

Outstanding Visual Performance – Tie - Castle High School, IN & O’Fallon Township High School, IL

Outstanding General Effect – Castle High School, IN

Las Cruces, NM | Clovis defends home state

Home of the Aggies! New Mexico State’s Aggie Memorial Stadium is a beautiful venue for fall band and featured a slew of quality bands, mostly from New Mexico and across its eastern border in Texas. 

A home state band reigned supreme, with Clovis (NM, 76.250) squeaking out a close win over second-place Grapevine (TX, 75.850). The two bands held a strong advantage over the rest of the competitive field, scoring greater than three points ahead of third-place Eastlake (TX, 72.550). 

Clovis (AA), Grapevine (AAA), and Eastlake (AAAA) each earned championships in their respective classes. Valencia (NM) joined them with the event’s Class A title. Performing in its home town, La Cruces (NM, 71.725) finished fourth, exactly one point ahead of Texas-based Bel Air (5th, 70.725). 

Finals Results

76.250 – Clovis High School, NM

75.850 – Grapevine High School, TX

72.550 – Eastlake High School, TX

71.725 – Las Cruces High School, NM

70.725 – Bel Air High School, TX

70.600 – Volcano Vista High School, NM

67.250 – Eastwood High School, TX

66.950 – Organ Mountain High School, NM

66.000 – Del Valle High School, TX

65.700 – La Cueva High School, NM

64.950 – Eldorado High School, NM

63.950 – Alamogordo High School, NM

Outstanding Music Performance – Grapevine High School, TX

Outstanding Visual Performance – Clovis High School, NM

Outstanding General Effect – Clovis High School, NM

McAllen, TX | Two dozen in Texas

This one was deep in the heart of Texas, and it was all Texas, with 24 Lone Star State bands in total. Leading the way, John B. Alexander won all three overall caption awards, a Class AAAA title, and first place with a score of 74.375.  

The race at the top was close, though, as Louis D. Brandeis (73.400) was within a point of the leader. Third-place Roma (72.750) was less than a point back of second, while also earning an overall Class AA title. 

While also earning first in Class AAA, Del Rio (71.950) finished in a dead-tie for fourth overall Sandra Day O’Connor, just 0.8 points back of the top three. Class A’s championship title went to Port Isabel.

Finals Results

74.375 – John B. Alexander High School, TX

73.400 – Louis D. Brandeis High School, TX

72.750 – Roma High School, TX

71.950 – Del Rio High School, TX

71.950 – Sandra Day O’Connor High School, TX

71.600 – Sharyland High School, TX

67.950 – Pioneer High School, TX

66.850 – United High School, TX

64.550 – PSJA Early College High School, TX

63.650 – Rio Grande City High School, TX

63.250 – Hidalgo Early College High School, TX

62.150 – Medina Valley High School, TX

Outstanding Music Performance – John B. Alexander High School, TX

Outstanding Visual Performance – John B. Alexander High School, TX

Outstanding General Effect – John B. Alexander High School, TX