The Air National Guard Band of the Southwest will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in Dodson Auditorium on the campus of Kilgore College. The band is under the direction of Commander/Conductor, Major Daniel W. Boothe.

The Director of the Air National Guard, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh, has announced his decision to eliminate all Air National Guard bands to create more capability for cyber assurance.

As a result, this will be the next to last performance of the Band of the Southwest. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to and engage with these talented musicians.

As one of only five bands of its kind nationwide, this military musical unit is composed of talented and versatile citizen airmen-musicians.

Members come from as far as Kansas and Massachusetts to meet monthly in Fort Worth for military training and rehearsals.

The band presents traditional band music as well as jazz and rock music in support of public relations, military tradition and protocol.

Historically known as the 531st Air Force Band, the unit has 50+ years of service to Texas and the nation.

In addition to providing music through the Texas Air National Guard and the United States Air Force, members of the band have served in emergency hurricane relief and evacuation missions, assisted in COVID screening/immunization campaigns and have worked with Tarrant County Food Bank to combat food insecurity in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Most recently, some members served (and others are still serving) the Texas Military Department in direct support to state police and border patrol under Operation Lone Star.