Oracle Band New Years 2011-2012 Party at La Fontaine Bleue Fast Approaching

New Years Eve with Oracle Band!  Oh yeah...it's gonna be a blast and a half!!!

You all may remember last year's fantastic party at La Fontaine Bleue.  The food was out of this world, (we can still taste the crabcakes), the ambiance was classy, and there was plenty of room for all 700+ people that came out to join us!

We're expecting things to be even BETTER this year.  We're addressing the issue we had last year that necessitated some last minute table shifting to ensure that those that get their tickets early get first shot at the best seats in the house.

The ballroom there can seat over a thousand people, but like our Halloween Party earlier this year we're keeping things smaller so there will be plenty of room on the dance floor to dance in the New Year 2012.

Oracle has performed at La Fontaine Bleue on many occasions over the years, for holiday parties, weddings, bull roasts and benefits.  We have an excellent relationship with the management and owners there, and we are really excited about this continued collaboration.

THE FOOD

Check out this all-you-can-eat lineup!!!

• Maryland Jumbo Lump Crabcakes
• Large Old Bay Steamed Shrimp
• Carved Tender Angus Beef
• Delmarva Rotisserie Chicken
• Seafood Creole with White Rice
• Baked White Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce
• Classic Caesar Salad
• Fresh Green Bean Nicoise & Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes
• La Fontaine Bleue's Famous Viennese Display of Desserts with a Large Assortment of Cakes & Mini-Pastries

Then of course there will be the open bar with Top Shelf brands, Premuim Beer, Wine, coffee, tea, and sodas to quench any thirst.

Are you hungry yet?  Wait...there's more!

THE PARTY

Once our feast is over we'll be hitting the stage for four solid hours of dancing as we party our way into 2012 and say farewell to 2011.  

As we hit the magic Midnight Hour the champagne will flow as everyone will don their party hats and noisemakers to raise a ruckus that will be heard all the way back in Annapolis!

We'll be playing all your favorite dance music, with a variety that will span multiple decades.  From the Andrews Sisters to Lady GaGa, we'll be bringing it all, as we bring multiple generations together on the dance floor to celebrate together.

But wait...we're not done yet!!!

THE AFTERPARTY

Then, as we hit the 1:00 hour, the folks at La Fontaine Bleue will roll out a Continental Breakfast that will Fritatas made with farm resh eggs, bacon, fresh-made waffles, coffee, tea, decaf and more!

It gives the band an opportunity to come out to say hi to everyone and socialize for a while.  You folks have supported the band for so many years we sometimes find it tough that we can't come out to spend more time with everyone.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Of course we want everyone to get home safely after a night like this.  There are numerous hotels nearby with door to door shuttle service so you won't have to drive home.  The folks at La Fontaine Bleue will be happy to make recommendations based on your needs, amenities desired, and of course the rates.

WHAT DO I WEAR?

 

As with last year, the basic rule is "dress to impress".  The band will be decked out in our best formalwear, and we recommend a business casual attire at a minimum.  Ladies, we'd like to see you in your stunning best!

TICKETS

The ticket price for this event remains unchanged from last year. Tickets for New Years 2011-2012 are $80 per person for a table of 10, or $85 per person if purchased in lesser quantities.

For more information you can always call this number to La Fontaine Bleue:

(410) 760-4115

This party is quite likely to sell out, so we highly recommend that you get your tickets as soon as they go on sale.

Directions

La Fontaine Bleue is very easy to get to, and easy to spot as it is a very unique building with a very tall sign out front.

Directions to La Fontaine Bleue

Don't forget to mention this to your FaceBook / MySpace / Twitter friends as well!  The power of the social media is pretty impressive!!!

If you have any questions please feel free to let us know, or call La Fontaine Bleue.

We'll see you there!

Attendance Records set at 2011 Oracle Holiday Party at Whispers Restaurant & Lounge

We thought we'd seen it all.  Walking in to set up at Whispers and finding every table in the club already reserved.  Looking out onto a packed dance floor of enthusiastic dancers.

Last Friday blew us away.  As we gazed out into the room we saw a sea of faces on the dance floor and off...with folks dancing in the aisles because they couldn't reach the dance floor for their favorite song. Some folks reported just staying on the dance floor rather than trying to get back to their seats.  We took over 1000 photos, (whittled that number down to 103 that we've posted), and as we edited them we found friends we didn't even know were there that night.!

Many many thanks to everyone that came out to make this evening so spectacular.  We hope you enjoy the photos.

Oracle Band Holiday Party for "The Family" @ Whispers Restaurant

That's right...on Friday, December 16 Oracle will be returning to Whispers Restaurant & Lounge for our final public performance before Christmas and New Years, and it's gonna be a BIG ONE!!!

We found last November that reservations were basically full up a WEEK before the show, so we highly recommend that you give Whispers a call EARLY to make your reservations, as we're pretty certain that every table in the house and then some will all be reserved before Friday.  Whispers has gone to great lengths to ensure that everyone that wants a table has a place to sit, but lets face it folks...there is only a finite amount of space and they can't make the place any bigger!

Give the folks at Whispers a call well in advance at 410-768-3900 to make your reservation.  Don't wait...we want ALL our fans to have a close-in seat!!!

Of course most of our die hard fans won't need to sit much as they will all be on the dance floor from the first song to the last, but hey...you guys need to sit SOMETIME and buy some drinks, (the waitresses & bartenders have to make some money too you know)!!!

Speaking of our waitresses and bartenders, we would ask that you all remember them extra special as we celebrate the holidays.  We've had some huge crowds at Whispers over the course of the past year, and while our fans are generally very generous with their tips, there have been some nights that folks tended to forget.  These folks bust their you-know-whats all evening long to make sure everyone has a good time.  We'd like to ask that all the Oracle fans make sure to add a generous bonus onto your tip and show the staff just how much we appreciate their hard efforts throughout the year.

In case you haven't been there, Whispers is really easy to get to.  Located near the intersection of Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd and Mountain Rd, you can be there in less than 30 minutes from Baltimore, Columbia, Laurel, Bowie, Odenton, Catonsville, Annapolis, Edgewater, and a host of other towns.  In addition, thanks to the newly opened Inter-County Connector (ICC), folks from Montgomery County can be there in under an hour!!!

Directions to Whispers Restaurant & Lounge

Thanksgiving Dinner & Dance in Severna Park - Everyone Invited!

Oracle will be performing for a benefit Dinner & Dance at the Columbian Center in Severna Park this coming Saturday, November 26th.  Doors open at 6:00 and the band kicks off the dancing starting at 8:00.  We'll be playing until midnight.

This will be a fundraising event sponsored by "Joy In The Spirit of the Lord", a group composed primarily of members of the Filipino community in and around the Severna Park area, but the dance is open to ALL who wish to attend.

There is no better way of sharing in the spirit of Thanksgiving than by the mingling of cultures, just as the Native Americans and the Pilgrims did back in 1621, almost 400 years ago.

The Dancing

Ballroom dancers are especially encouraged to attend as this group REALLY knows how to dance, and we'll be breaking out all our cha-chas, waltzes, and tangos for the event, in addition to our regular lineup of popular dance music.

Do you enjoy line dancing?  We're willing to bet you might learn a new line dance or two from the group as well, as they seem to have literally dozens of different line dances for a host of songs you probably recognize but wouldn't ordinarily associate with a line dance.

The dance floor is especially spacious to allow folks plenty of room to dance.

The Food

Are you ready for a treat?  Are you open to experiencing some unique culinary treats you may have never experienced before?  For this event some traditional Filipino fare will be offered that will surely tempt your taste buds. 

Just as at the first Thanksgiving the Native Americans welcomed the Pilgrims and introduced them to the native foods we have all become used to, this is an opportunity to experience and share another culture's cuisine.

Can there be a more fitting way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend than with a mingling and sharing of cultures and traditions, food and of course DANCE?

Tickets

Tickets are $45 and are generally tax deductible, although you should check with your tax advisor to make sure.  Heaven knows we could all use some additional tax deductions as the end of the year nears.

Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling any of the numbers listed above at the top of the page.
Tickets will also be sold at the door, but we encourage anyone considering attending to call ahead so organizers have a reasonable idea of the final attendance.

Directions to Columbian Center

The Columbian Center is very easy to get to.  Located right on Route 2 between Annapolis and Glen Burnie, it is just minutes from the Baltimore Beltway, Route 100, or I-97.

Directions to Columbian Center

Whispers ROCKS as a Packed House as Oracle Returns To Home Base

It is truly something amazing to watch.  Each time we perform at Whispers it seems they can't hold any more people, yet when we return there always seem to be just a few more than the last time!

Walking into the empty club when we arrive to set up to find all tables reserved has become somewhat commonplace, but finding out that the tables have all been reserved a week in ADVANCE is REALLY heartwarming!

A number of Steve's high school classmates came out to party and dance with us, and we had a BUNCH of birthday celebrants in the house as well!

We hope you enjoy the photos, and as always, please feel free to comment on your evening.  Were you there?  How about posing a message on the Whispers Guestbook page as well?  We love it when folks share their experiences!

Final Performance for 2011 at LA Singles

Oracle's final performance for 2011 at the LA Singles Dance in Bowie was well attended & definitely one to remember.

It is really so cool to see the dance floor explode with activity right from the very first note...these folks LOVE to dance!

We hope you enjoy the photos.  We'll be returning with a full schedule of performance with LA Singles in 2012, so keep your eyes on this space and on the Oracle Band calendar to see when we'll be appearing there next!

Oracle Band Debuts at New Club - River Watch in Essex

It's been a while since we performed at a new club, and we were thrilled with the response we received when we performed for the first time at River Watch Restaurant & Marina in Essex Maryland.

The crowd there was ready to party from the get-go, and the dance floor was pretty well packed from first note to the last.

The management and staff at River Watch Restaurant was fabulous.  The food was great, and everyone there was so friendly and hospitable.  We hope that this venue will become a regular stop on the Oracle Band club circuit.

As always we got lots of photos from the evening.  We hope you enjoy them, and by all means please feel free to comment!

Halloween Party 2011 - What A Great Party!

We had so much fun this year at our annual Halloween Party, held at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie Maryland.

The costumes continued to be so impressive...it just goes to show how original Oracle fans can be.

The band elected to coordinate our costumes this year and we received a lot of positive responses from our Pirate theme.

The food as always was scrumptious, and we'd like to thank the management and staff at La Fontaine Bleue for all their hard work in helping to make this party a success.

Please chack out the photos from the evening, and we would love to get your feedback on how you enjoyed the party, as well as any suggestions you might have for next year in making the party even BETTER!

Halloween Party Details Announced

On Friday, October 29th Oracle will be appearing at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie for our annual Halloween Bash.

This party has grown in size continually each and every year, and we keep searching out larger venues to hold it as it always sells out and we have to turn away people wishing to attend.  This year we believe we have the perfect venue, La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie, the scene of so many really great parties this past year.

With a seating capacity of over a thousand, we'll have plenty of room for EVERYONE that wants to attend!  This promises to be the biggest Halloween Party in the Anne Arundel / Baltimore area!

This year, in response to requests, we're adding a full, all-you-can-eat dinner and open bar to the party.  The food at La Fontaine Bleue is first rate...we really love eating there.  Included in the tickets price is a full, TOP SHELF Open Bar!  Hey...this is the good stuff baby!  They are also putting out a special selection of Delicious Gould Drinks that will add the perfect flavor for the evening.  We wanted to do it RIGHT for our fans.

New Host Provider for Oracle Newsletter

Following a recent disaster with our previous Newsletter Host which resulted in the loss of our entire Newsletter subscriber list, we have decided to move our Newsletter operations over to one of the most widely used and respected Newsletter provider hosts on the web, Constant Contact.

If you were previously subscribed to our newsletter you will need to re-subscribe in order to continue receiving our newsletters, as the entire subscriber list, garnered over the past ten years, has been completely lost.

As with any catastrophe this presents an opportunity as well, by allowing us to start our newsletter database again fresh.  Over the past ten years a lot of folks have either changed their e-mail addresses, moved away, or simply drifted away, so we have an opportunity to make sure that everyone in the subscription database is truly interested in receiving the newsletter.

Once you enter your name and e-mail address you'll receive an e-mail with a link to get you subscribed.  This is the most secure way of ensuring that only those wishing to subscribe are indeed added to the list.  While it may take an extra step, we are committed to your privacy and security.

A few names names have already been added, but it is advisable to enter your information to ensure that you continue to receive our newsletter.  If your name is already in the new database you'll be prompted to update your information if you wish.

	Resubscribe to the Oracle Newsletter

Last Crab Feast of the Season @ La Fontaine Bleue

On Friday, September 23rd crab lovers from around the area will return to La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie Maryland for a Crab Feast and party that will signal the end of the crab season but will be one heck of a fantastic party!

The talented caterers at La Fontaine Bleue know how to do crabs right, and believe us when we say that you are in for a treat as the Old Bay will be applied to the best crabs in the area, perfectly prepared!

If you're one that is not into crabs, don't worry...there's plenty on the all-you-can-eat menu for you as well.  Check out this menu:

• Maryland Crab Soup
  Traditional vegetable crab soup, with diced vegetables, blended with vine ripened tomatoes and herbs, served piping hot with crackers
• Steamed Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs
  Selected Maryland crabs, steamed the traditional way with Old Bay seasoning
• Baltimore Style Pit-Roasted Beef
  (Automatic slice the "Old Fashion Way" by their chefs)
  A Baltimore favorite, top round of beef slowly roasted over an open flame, shaved and piled high, accompanied by BBQ sauce, sliced onions, horseradish, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and assorted breads
• Carolina Pulled Pork BarbecueShredded pork simmered in a special bar-b-que sauce with fresh herbs and diced tomatoes, served with soft rolls

• Delmarva Rotisserie Chicken
  Slowly roasted farm raised Delmarva chicken, drenched in fine herbs and slowly roasted until golden brown
• Baked Beef & BeansDelicious baked beans, simmered with molasses, ketchup, sautéed onions, ground beef and brown sugar
• Homemade Potato Salad and Creamy Cole Slaw
• Assorted Sweets
• BEER, WINE AND ASSORTED SODAS
• Cash bar for hard liquors available

Once you're done chowing down on these crustaceans, everyone will hit the dance floor as we party the night away until they kick us out at midnight.

We've got lots of new dance material to introduce you to, both classic and current. 

Directions to La Fontaine Bleue

Tickets for this event are on sale now at La Fontaine Bleue, and are $35.  Give them a call at (410) 760-4115 or Toll Free at (877) 778-6863.  Don't delay, this event will more than likely sell out!

Pre-Irene Hurricane Party at Whispers Restaurant - August 2011

Yeah...we knew she was coming.  We'd been getting warnings for a week as Hurricane Irene closed on the east coast and headed north.  We knew she was coming.  We had a party anyway!!!

And what a party it was!  Folks of all ages came out to party with us as the dance floor at Whispers Restaurant & Lounge rocked from the first note of the first song to the last note of the last song, and everything in between.

This was one serious full house!  Every table was reserved in advance, and many folks that came late were having trouble finding a parking space in the otherwise spacious parking lot!  Kudos go out to the staff at Whispers for accommodating as many reservations as they did...it was a herculean effort!

Steve had a bunch of high school friends from Northwestern HS in Hyattsville stop by to join the festivities...it was great to have them there!  We would love to make our Oracle performances a regular meeting place for those from Steve's Alma mater to get together & stay in touch.

Our "flip dancers" stopped by as well, and when we did "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" they basically stole the show by putting on a show of their own out on the dance floor.  Incredible moves...it was tough to play the song...we wanted to watch as they spun, twisted, and flew through the air with a grace that would have made the "celebrities" on a certain TV show take notice!

Oracle will be returning to Whispers on Friday, September 30th, and we're hoping for another great crowd.  Hope you can make it!  Stay tuned here for more information.

Check out the slide show below to see the best of the photos we got from this spectacularly successful evening!

Oracle Returns to Whispers This Friday

Earthquales?  Hurricanes?  It's gonna take a lot more than that to keep Oracle and our party crowd away from Whispers Restaurant and Lounge this Friday!  We'll show Mother Nature some shakin when everyone Shake Shake Shake's their Booties on the dance floor!

The band will be kicking off the music starting at 9:00 and we'll be playing through until 1:00 in the morning!

The food is excellent at Whispers, so you can come early for dinner then stay late to party the night away.

Do you or someone you know have a special occasion coming up?  Birthday? Anniversary? Promotion? Bridal Shower?  Whispers is PERFECT for occasions such as this.  They have lots of space and plenty of long tables to accommodate larger groups.  Plus, we'll make sure to acknowledge the event properly.  It's like hiring a band for your party and getting them for FREE!

Reservations are definitely recommended.  They want to make sure that everyone that wants a seat HAS a seat, and will roll out extra tables if necessary, as long as they have advance notice of how many are coming.  Also, there's nothing more frustrating than to arrive early and be seated in the back because all the front seats are reserved!  Call 410-768-3900 to make a reservation.

Whispers is really easy to get to.  It's located near the intersection of Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd and Mountain Road in Glen Burnie.  (It's in the shopping center behind the McDonalds on the corner).  Whispers is only 5 minutes off Route 100, and that's if you hit the lights wrong!

Directions to Whispers Restaurant & Lounge

 C U There!!!

La Fontaine Bleue Crab Feast a smash success

Wow...what a great time!  We didn't know how many people we could expect at the big crab feast at La Fontaine Bleue last Friday, but we sure found out in a hurry as we walked in the room and saw it set for almost a full house!

Even more satisfying was seeing that fully 70% of the crowd that was there were Oracle "family" members...our fans!  You guys came through BIG TIME!

Our friends Judy and Millie were celebrating their birthdays with us.  These two are such good friends of the band and each other it's only right that we get to celebrate with both of them at the same time!  We're not really sure if they are Frick and Frack or Abbott & Costello, but they are funny and fun to be around, and we're glad they are our friends!!!

We had another very big celebration going on this particular Friday as well.  Our good friend Jean was actually with us on her WEDDING DAY!!!  How cool is that? We've known Jean almost since our very first performances at Perry's Restaurant, and now that she and Frank are together we're thrilled that she has found her soulmate.

We'd like to extend our best wishes to Jean and Frank for a very long and happy life together!!!

Our good friends Larry and Linda from the band Retrospect came out to catch the show as well.  Oracle trumpet player Steve Kimbell has known them both since playing in the pit orchestra back in the 70s at the old Harlequin Dinner Theater in Rockville.  Not only did they come out to enjoy the crustaceans, but they also brought along their HD Video cameras and captured some really good video footage of the band. 

An example may be seen in the previous blog entry on this page.  Heck, even their friend was shooting stills of the band while Larry & Linda were running the video cameras!  Many of the photos you'll see in the photo gallery were their handiwork.  We can't thank you all enough!

New Oracle Band Video!!! Devil Went Down To Georgia

We were thrilled to have some very good friends stop by the Crab Feast last Friday to spend some time with us.  Our friends Larry & Linda of the band Retrospect came out to catch the band for the first time at a real performance.

What made things even cooler was that they brought along some really great video gear and videotaped a good portion of the show, and then went one step further and mixed down "Devil Went Down To Georgia" into a fantastic demo videotape!



We'd love to hear your comments!

Crab Feast at La Fontaine Bleue! It's Party Time!

On Friday, August 12th crab lovers from around the area will converge on La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie Maryland for a Crab Feast and party that folks will not want to miss. 

Crab feasts are a tradition in Maryland, and everyone who loves crustaceans really should attend at least one every summer, & some attend at least one every WEEK!!!  Steamed to perfection, seasoned with the the only spice true Marylanders would consider, Old Bay.

Trivia Moment - Did you know that Old Bay was actually created right here in Maryland over 70 years ago?  It originally sold by the name "Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning".  The name didn't stick, and it was soon replaced by a new name, derived from a steamship that plied the waters of the Chesapeake on a regular basis.  Old Bay was officially born.

The talented caterers at La Fontaine Bleue know how to do crabs right, and believe us when we say that you are in for a treat as the Old Bay will be applied to the best crabs in the area, perfectly prepared!

If you're one that is not into crabs, don't worry...there's plenty on the all-you-can-eat menu for you as well.  Check out this menu:

• Maryland Crab Soup
  Traditional vegetable crab soup, with diced vegetables, blended with vine ripened tomatoes and herbs, served piping hot with crackers
• Steamed Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs
  Selected Maryland crabs, steamed the traditional way with Old Bay seasoning
• Baltimore Style Pit-Roasted Beef
  (Automatic slice the "Old Fashion Way" by our chefs)
  A Baltimore favorite, top round of beef slowly roasted over an open flame, shaved and piled high, accompanied by BBQ sauce, sliced onions, horseradish, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and assorted breads
• Delmarva Rotisserie Chicken
  Slowly roasted farm raised Delmarva chicken, drenched in fine herbs and slowly roasted until golden brown
• Carolina Pulled Pork Barbecue
  Shredded pork simmered in a special bar-b-que sauce with fresh herbs and diced tomatoes, served with soft rolls
• Baked Beef & Beans
  Delicious baked beans, simmered with molasses, ketchup, sautéed onions, ground beef and brown sugar
• Homemade Potato Salad and Creamy Cole Slaw
• Assorted Sweets
• BEER, WINE AND ASSORTED SODAS
• Cash bar for hard liquors available

Once you're done chowing down on these crustaceans, everyone will hit the dance floor as we party the night away until they kick us out at midnight.

We've got lots of new material to introduce you to, both old and current. 

Tickets for this event are on sale now at La Fontaine Bleue, and are $35.  Give them a call at (410) 760-4115 or Toll Free at (877) 778-6863.  Don't delay, this event will more than likely sell out!

Summer In The Parks Concert on Friday

Yes...it's gonna be a little warm.  Hey...in case you didn't notice, IT'S SUMMER!!!  It's SUPPOSED to be warm!  That shouldn't stop anyone from coming out. 

Bring your lawn chairs, your beach umbrellas if you want. Slather on the sunscreen & wear a bathing suit if you want.  Sit out a catch two hours of your favorite tunes as we celebrate summer & remember that it wasn't that long ago we were dealing with snow, sleet, & freezing rain, and longing for weather like this!

The place - The beautiful concert pavilion at Granville-Gude Park at Laurel Lakes, located near the intersection of Cherry Lane and US Route 1 in Laurel Maryland.  The pavilion is located just behind Don Pablos restaurant.  Need an address to put in your GPS?  Here's the Don Pablos address:

14600 Laurel Place
Laurel, MD 20707

You can park behind any of the restaurants along the row there & it's just a short walk down to the stage.  in fact, so people just back up to the edge and sit on their tailgates to catch the show!

Don't forget to bring the kids along!  There's plenty of room for them to run around and work off excess energy, & we'll make sure to include them in the performance.  At the end of the show they can come up to the stage, meet the band members & talk to us.  As you can see from this photo from last year's performance, the kids REALLY enjoy themselves!

Yes, we know that most Oracle fans really come to the shows because you like DANCING to our music.  Well, just because it's a concert doesn't mean you can't dance!!!  As you can see from the next photo we don't have any problem getting folks up to dance even if it is outside and the temps are in the 80s!

The music starts at 7:00 and we play up to 9:00 in the evening.  The water in the lake helps keep things a bit cooler, & there's usually a bit of a breeze coming off the lake.

We sure hope you'll be able to come out to spend the evening with us.  The concert is absolutely free, and the parking is plentiful.

Whispers Packed to Capacity on Hottest Day of the Year

What A Night!

It's true.  The hottest day of 2011, with the mercury rising to 106° even BEFORE the humidity was taken into consideration, which brought the "feels like" temperature to around 120°, and in spite of the heat a full house came out to Whispers in Glen Burnie to party the night away with us.



Fortunately the folks at Whispers were prepared with some super sized fans that helped supplement the A/C system which had a difficult time keeping up with this record heat, particularly considering the frequent opening & closing of the doors to the outside patio.

How full was it?  Well, put it this way...there was barely any space left behind the building where we park the vans & trailer because the entire front parking lot was FULL!  That was pretty incredible, because that is one BIG parking lot!

We had a number of birthday celebrants with us for the evening, and we're very happy that they decided to come out to celebrate with us.  Whispers is so great for celebrations like that in that they can accommodate larger groups very easily.

We were also pleased to have a guest dancer join us on stage during one number to entertain everyone with a traditional Hawaiian dance.

As always we got lots of photos from the evening.  Many thanks again to our good freind Barbara who was kind enough to take so many of them for us.  She's getting much better at dancing and shooting the camera at the same time!!!  You can enjoy the slideshow of the photos from the evening by clicking the button below.  You can also see them on our FaceBook Page where you can tag yourselves, your friends, and of course comment on your favorites.

Three New Public Performances At La Fontaine Bleue for Summer / Fall 2011

Oracle is pleased to announce that we have added three new public performances to our calendar for 2011, each of them at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie Maryland.

Crab Feast!!!

The first of these parties will be on Friday, August 12th, when crab lovers from around the area will converge on La Fontaine Bleue for a Crab Feast and party that folks will not want to miss.  LFB knows how to do crabs right, and believe us when we say that you are in for a treat as the Old Bay and Spice will be applied to the best crabs in the area, steamed to perfection!

If you're one that is not into crabs, don't worry...there's plenty on the all-you-can-eat menu for you as well.  Check out this menu:

• Steamed Crabs
• Pit Beef
• Crab Soup
• Barbecue Chicken
• Carolina Pulled Pork
• Veggies
• Potato Salad
• Cole Slaw

Plus beer, wine, and sodas...all included!
Once you're done chowing down on these crustaceans, everyone will hit the dance floor as we party the night away until they kick us out at midnight.

Tickets for this event are on sale now at La Fontaine Bleue, and are $35.  Give them a call at (410) 760-4115 or Toll Free at (877) 778-6863.

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Fall Dance

Then on Friday, September 23rd we'll all be together again as we return to LFB for a Fall Dance that will be open to the public. 

The spring dance we did in March was an unqualified success, and many folks were asking if we'd be doing more shows there.  They really loved the food, the ambiance, and of course, the MUSIC!!!

The menu and ticket price have yet to be determined for this event.  As soon as we hear we will of course publish it here.

This will be a wonderful event for anyone celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion to get together with a group of family and friends to celebrate together.  You get a fabulous meal, fun entertainment, and all for a price that is MUCH less than if you were to book a room and the entertainment yourself.

Halloween Party!!!

Wrapping up the new shows, we're pleased to announce that our Halloween party for this year will be held at La Fontaine Bleue!

We found last year that we could have sold even MORE tickets than we did, but once again space limitations and a desire for a really big dance floor necessitated that we limit the number of tickets sold.  This year we won't have any such issues as we have all the room we need and more for what we expect will be the biggest, spookiest, most entertaining, and most talked about Halloween parties in the area!

Details on all of these performances are still being worked out, including the hours and the ticket prices.  As soon as we get this information we'll of course let everyone know.  We wanted to get the information out to you all as soon as possible though, so you can mark your calendars and get ready for some really great parties in the latter half of this year!!!

Independence Day 2011 Concert & Fireworks at Laurel Lakes

Incredible.  That's about all that can be said for a day where the weather was admittedly pretty hot, but when considering the typical Maryland weather in July it was about as perfect as a day can get!

As we celebrated the nation's 235th birthday a crowd of well over 100,000 people was somewhere within listening distance of the band!  The hillside in front of the stage filled rapidly as the concert progressed, until there were people literrally as far as the eye could see.

Down in front of the stage, the area with an obstructed view of the fireworks became the defacto dance floor as hundreds came down to move & sway to the tunes.

Then there were the kids.  There were so many wide eyed, completely mesmerized expressions out there it became difficult at times to focus on any one.  Cute doesn't begin to describe it.  You've really got to see it.

There were lots of special folks in attendance.  Mayor Craig Moe of Laurel...what can we say about this guy?  He's a roll up your sleeves and get the job done kind of guy, comfortable with delegating authority yet on top of the details as they go forward.  We greeted Lt. Governor Anthony Brown on stage...it was our second meeting with him. 

Oracle Band Opens Montpelier Mansion Summer Concert Series on Friday

Don't forget that this Friday Oracle will be opening the Montpelier Summer Concert Series on the grounds of Montpelier Mansion in Laurel Maryland.

Situated on the grounds of the stately Montpelier Mansion, just off Route 197 near the Baltimore Washington Parkway, the Montpelier Concert Series makes for an enjoyable evening under the stars.  Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket or lawn chair, (there are no benches or anything else to sit on), and especially remember bring the kids, grandkids, nieces & nephews, because this show is geared towards kids from 8 to 80.



The kids that come out to Oracle concerts are always
mesmerized by the band, and they typically know
the words to all the songs, so they sing right along with the band!


We highly recommend coming a little early to take advantage of the opportunity to walk the grounds of the mansion.  The gardens are beautiful, and the architecture of the mansion itself really is something to see.

 The concert gets underway at 7:30 and we play up to 9:30.   It is free and open to the public.

Directions to Montpelier Mansion Concert

Oracle Band Upcoming Outdoor Concert Performances

The warm months of summer are here, even though it's still technically Spring.  The arrival of the warm weather also announces the arrival of the outdoor concert season for Oracle.

This year we have a total of three outdoor summer concerts planned, all in the Laurel area.

Oracle Returns For 3rd Straight Year To Montpelier

The first of these concerts is coming up on Friday, June 24th, as we open the Montpelier Mansion Concert Series for the third year in a row.

Situated on the grounds of the stately Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, Montpelier has hosted such luminaries as George Washington and Abigail Adams (FLOTUS, wife of John Adams).  The concert location is on a beautiful hillside just below the mansion itself. 

Bring a blanket or lawn chair...there is nothing else to sit on. You're also welcome to bring a picnic dinner. 

The concert gets underway at 7:30 and runs until 9:30.  It is open to the public of all ages and totally FREE!  It's a great opportunity to bring the kids, grandkids, nieces & nephews out to hear a live band, and of course we'll be playing a family oriented program, including songs the kids will recognize right away and want to sing along to. 

After the concert Oracle is happy to do a meet & greet with everyone for a while so the kids can come down to meet the band members and hopefully catch a little of the joy of what it's like to perform music for a great audience.

We really encourage everyone to arrive a little before concert time & take a few minutes to walk the gounds of the mansion.  The architecture is Georgian, and the mansion was built by "Major" Thomas Snowden, (for whom "Snowden Parkway" was named), beginning in 1791.  The 70 acres it presently occupies were originally part of a 9000 acre plantation.

In  the event of inclement weather call (301) 776-2805 to find out if the concert has been cancelled.  Rest assured that no matter how threatening, the show WILL go on if at all possible and within the guidelines of safety.

The mansion and grounds are easy to get to, and even many of those from the area have driven right past it without even knowing it was there.  There are two parking areas, on either side of the mansion grounds.  It is located just off Route 197 in Laurel, about two minutes from the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.  We have directions on the website.  Directions to Montpelier Mansion

Laurel Independence Day Celebration

On Saturday, July 2nd Oracle will be returning to Granville-Gude Park at Laurel Lakes for the annual Independence Day concert and fireworks display.  This event draws thousands to an idylic setting in the beautiful concert pavilion next to the lake.  The day kicks off with a morning parade through the streets of Laurel.  Following the parade they have a classic car show on the grounds, and of course there is the carnival atmosphere as vendors of all sorts man their booths selling all sorts of great food, novelties, and services.

The band kicks off the music at 5:00, and with only a single intermission we play right up to around 9:15 and the beginning of the fireworks display.

The park is located at the intersection of US Route 1 and Cherry Lane in Laurel Maryland.

Parking is available across Cherry Lane at the Laurel Mall.  Obviously with 75,000+ people expected (praying for good weather), parking will be easiest early in the afternoon.

Back to Laurel Lakes to Close the Concert Season

Then on Friday, July 29th Oracle will return to Laurel Lakes for a concert sponsored by the Laurel Department of Parks & Recreation.  These concerts are less crowded than the big Independence Day concert, but are nevertheless an enormous amount of fun, particularly for the children, as you can see in this video clip from last year.

The show gets underway at 7:00 and we play until 9:00

Whether you make it out to one or all of these summer performances, the main point is we hope to see you soon.  Dust off those lawns chairs, break out the blankets, and find that pic-a-nik basket (subtle Yogi Bear reference for those that remember), and bring the kids (of all ages).    There promises to be something for everyone!