The Kentish Guards and Pawtuxet Rangers, Rhode Island Historic Revolutionary War units, announced they are co-hosting the 2024 National Muster of Fifes & Drums in Newport, RI. The event will be held on August 9 and 10. The Kentish Guards and Pawtuxet Rangers are both celebrating the 250th anniversary of the granting of their charter, on the same day on October 29, 1774. This year also marks the 200th anniversary of Fort Adams. The event is free and open to the public.
The Fife & Drum Muster is a gathering of musicians from across the United States and Switzerland. On Friday night, August 9, 4 corps are selected to perform at a “tattoo” This is an informal concert by each unit for 15-20 minutes. The selected corps include the Argovia Rebels from Switzerland and the Old Guard Fifes & Drums, US 3rd Infantry.
The official muster kickoff is Saturday at 11:00 with a parade of some 40 units into Fort Adams. This will be followed with an opening ceremony at 12:00. Then each corps takes a turn playing “on stand” for 7-8 minutes. There are 1000 participants expected. Once all corps have performed, all musicians join in for a jam session. The muster is not a competition but a demonstration of music styles, uniforms and more.
The historic event is part of the RI250 celebration. It promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, history, tradition, and community spirit. The event is free and open to the public, and it is a great opportunity for visitors to Newport to see a historic event in a historic location.
For more general information, contact the 2024 National Muster Committee at 2024nationalmuster@gmail.com or visit www.2024nationalmuster.com.
