There's no holding back The Holdin' Back Band from the bandstands this summer

The Holdin' Back Band, which started out as a "bandstand band" in 2013, is gearing up for another summer of free concerts of "crowd pleasing" music for all family audiences at town commons, town centers, town fairs — anywhere where there's a town  bandstand.

With a repertoire that ranges from "Darktown Strutters Ball" (1917) to "Levitating" by Dua Lupa (2020), with lots of rock, pop, jazz and oldies music, especially 1960s music, in between, Holdin' Back's concerts are pretty sure to please most people. The shows also include patriotic music, sing-alongs and dance contests. Bring a lawn chair. Some of the venues have food and refreshments.

Twelve public appearances for 2022 will begin June 30 with a show at 6:30 p.m. in Oakham Center.

"Oakham is a new town for us," said Holdin' Back co-founder Craig Smith. The band's appearance at the Sterling Fair, Sept. 10, will also be a first. Other concerts on the itinerary will be at familiar settings such as the Holden Bandstand on Aug. 14.

The name of the group is a bit of pun since most of the members are from Holden and the band's first bandstand concert was in the town. The group's been coming back to Holden to be a part of its summer bandstand series every year.

But Holdin' Back isn't just a summertime band these days. In fact, there is really no holding the group back as it is busy year-round.

"It's year-round, but the summer is crazy," Smith said. "We love it. It's a good crowd and the towns keep us coming back because they like what we do."

Appropriately for a family-oriented band, the summer schedule allows a two-week pause for band members to have some summer vacation time with their own respective families.

Holdin' Back was founded by Smith (bass and rhythm guitars/keyboards) and Paul "Blakey" Blaquiere (lead and rhythm guitars/ukulele/vocals). Both are Worcester County music veterans, and both are from Holden. David Godzur of Holden was the band's drummer for a while before departing. Coming on board beginning in 2016 were Emma Riffelmacher (vocals/rhythm guitar) of Holden and Joe Ostrenga (drums/percussion) of Sturbridge. Godzur has returned to play drums on occasion, along with Phil Andrews of Clinton. Ostrenga was out of action for a while last year with COVID.

Speaking of the pandemic, Holdin' Back had what Smith called a banner year in 2019 — the group was chosen twice as a 2019 finalist by Charter Cable TV’s WooTube Video Competition. But then in 2020 the band was held back by COVID and "lost  about 60 percent of our business," Smith said.

"2021 improved dramatically. People were coming out," prior to Omicron (the new COVID variant that was dominant for the second half of the year). Holdin' Back did about 10 bandstand concerts, Smith said.

"This year looks better than last year."

In addition to the bandstand concerts, Holdin' Back performs at places such as retirement communities and assisted living facilities and at special private concerts. Those shows were curtailed for a while but they've also been coming back.

The audiences at retirement communities are particularly enthusiastic. After all, when Holdin' Back plays the Beatles, it is playing the music that many in the audience grew up with. Paul McCartney just turned 80.

"We just did a string of four of them. They have a ball. They start dancing," Smith said of the retirement communities.

Those gigs can run to late fall and start up again in the spring. In mid-winter, Holdin' Back works on its set list for the next year and arrangements and harmonies.

"We're already booked (for the year) by Jan. 1," Smith said.

Blaquiere has over 25 years' experience performing with bands, and Smith's bands have included Crimson Wine, the Tryp and Ravin’ Blue. Riffelmacher had moved to Holden around 2016 and is a classically trained singer and also sings jazz. She got involved with the Holden Bandstand Committee and let it be known that she was looking for a band to sing with.

She impressed Holdin' Back with her vocal range, and the band's repertoire now includes such vocal showstoppers as "New York, New York" and "Mack the Knife."

"She belts them and she belts them well," Smith said.

Holdin' Back adjusts its set list to the demographics of its audience.

It can move from jazz and swing (such as "Chattanooga Choo Choo") to Elvis, the Beach Boys and Doobie Brothers. There's a Motown tribute, and each show ends with a Beatles set.

"We're focused on more of the '60s than we've ever been," Smith said. "We try to hit every decade (from the '50s to now). We have a dance contest." The latter includes "Louie, Louie," originally from the 1950s, and "Levitating" from 2020.

Sing-alongs with the audience have been an integral part of a Holdin' Back show.

Band members have day jobs or are semiretired. "We do work," Smith said. But he finds himself working with "band related stuff more than anything else. I do the bookings. It's fun."

So is Holdin' Back a labor of love or a way to make money?

"Both," Smith said. "It's a labor of love and we do make money."

But not really a lot. Holdin' Back doesn't overcharge, Smith said.

"Typically a lot of that goes back into new equipment." The sound system for the outdoor shows is larger and different than for indoors, Smith noted.

The bandstand concerts are free to the public, but town cultural commissions or sponsorships from local merchants help pay for the appearances of bands.

"Cultural commissions are great. Local merchants — they're really the ones that make it happen," Smith said. 

"Particularly in these days of inflation and high costs of everything, area residents have an opportunity to attend an evening of 'free' music for the whole family."

The Holdin' Back 2022 summer lineup of shows is as follows. For more information, visit www.holdinbackband.com.

June 30. Oakham Center Bandstand, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

July 2.  Monument Park Bandstand, Gardner, 6 to 8 p.m. (Rain date, July 6)

July 7. Sturbridge Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

July 11. Sterling Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 4. Oxford  Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 7.  Southbridge  Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 9.  Clinton Central Park, 6:30 to 8 p.m. (rain date Aug. 11)

Aug. 10. Grafton Common, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 14. Holden Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 18. Paxton Bandstand, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 21. West Boylston Bandstand, 5 to 7 p.m.

Sept. 10. Sterling Fair, Noon to 3 p.m. (free admission)

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: There's no holding back The Holdin' Back Band from the bandstands this summer