The Festival Family 2005

25+ years of history is a lot, so we will let the pictures do most of the talking, but briefly we will tell you how Britt restarted his music career after returning from Vietnam.

When Britt returned from Vietnam in 1970, his family had relocated to NW Missouri where is Father was Dean of Faculty at Northwest Missouri State University (then college). Britt's brother, Dave, had a band and saved a spot for Britt upon coming home. Britt played his first gig with this band three days after returning from Vietnam. In the early 70's Dave had an opportunity to go west to LA to do studio work and that 's when Britt became bandleader and June 1, 1973, FESTIVAL was born. FESTIVAL was a brass band, back by a strong rock rhythm section, that played clubs, fairs, World’s Fairs, all over the United States and Canada, and even headlining in Las Vegas.

In 1982, FESTIVAL took Britt to Washington, DC for the dedication of the Wall. During the activities the crowd became angered because of emotions running high, so Britt walked through the massive crowd, followed by FESTIVAL, to the apex of the Wall and began singing. This diverted the media attention and the park service was able to remove those who were causing the problem. That night on the National evening news America saw "Vietnam Veteran" Britt Small singing and sheltering a Gold Star Mother in his arms. At that point the music industry discouraged Britt from doing any veteran related events or being associated with any veterans issues including the POW/MIA issue -- even going as far as labeling him "too patriotic". Britt decided the music industry was not going to tell him whom he could play for and even more, who he could help.  So Britt withdrew from the music industry and took control of his own career.  When BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL left “The Wall”, in November, 1982, they had become the “musical voice of America’s veterans” and this also marked the beginning of BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL's hard-fought battle for the public awareness of live prisoners of war in Southeast Asia, and the plight of the American veterans from all wars.  Performing at the National Salute I in (1982), and the National Salute II in (1984), in Washington, D.C., the New York Vietnam Veteran’s Ticker Tape Parade, in 1985, the Chicago Vietnam Veteran’s Welcome Home Parade, in 1986, the Great Texas Welcome Home in 1987, and numerous state Vietnam veteran’s reunions across the country, they began to express the heart and soul of the Vietnam veterans.

Because of taking control of his own career, Britt Small is the only entertainer allowed to perform a full concert on top of The Wall in Washington, DC and was invited to perform at all the National war memorial dedications in the last half of the 20th century. He left very deep footprints for others to follow.

In 1994, the brass section began retiring from the road. In 1995 Britt's brother, Dave returned to FESTIVAL and in July 1997, the final brass section members retired. April 2001, after 28 years on the road, the FESTIVAL rhythm retired; the five original members who formed the band in the early 70's.

When FESTIVAL retired, Britt received so many messages asking him not to retire, "America needs your inspiring message and we [veterans] need your music to get through the day". BRITT SMALL is still out on the road, doing special concerts, using the tracks of FESTIVAL. The sound of a Britt Small concert is the same as when FESTIVAL was on the road, because it is FESTIVAL playing the music and singing background vocals. In a sense, everything is still the same; but being the talented geniuses they are, FESTIVAL figured out how to stay at home and be on the road at the same time! Many fans have asked if FESTIVAL will ever go back on tour. FESTIVAL was on the road together for over 25 years and when they weren't on the road, they were in the studio laying down tracks so the music could live forever. A few years ago when FESTIVAL lost a member in a bicycle accident, it was decided that FESTIVAL, live on tour, just wouldn't be the same. Today, members of FESTIVAL have small children and are in high demand in their field of expertise, so leaving their homes to rehearse and go on tour would prove to be very difficult. FESTIVAL, "The All American Brass Band", went where no band had gone before and will live forever through these masterful digital recordings. Own a piece of the BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL legacy today. It's only available through Britt's Music Store page. All albums now available on CD, including the never before released 4th album, "FESTIVAL, The Early Years". And available on DVD is the last concert BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL recorded live at the Lincoln Memorial. That's right, BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL, live, in concert, just like you remember them. Just click below to check out all 18 albums released by BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL.