In a way, if you will, it’s equal parts band-off and Band-aid.
The Pepsi National Battle of the Bands (NBOTB) will bring college marching bands to Boca Raton on MLK Weekend where they — with pristine performance precision — play their instruments, strut and dance … to beat the band.
Well, kind of.
The bands are from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). And rather than a cutthroat competition of cadences and choreography, this show is more about scholarship.
“It’s more of a showcase. Everyone’s a winner,” NBOTB executive producer Derek Webber says. “Each band is going to walk away with $50,000 in scholarship funding back to their university.”
This is the first time the event has been staged in South Florida. The bands are scheduled to hit the field starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Tickets range in price from $27 to $72.
“We really felt, over the last couple years that we’ve been engaged with the folks down your way, that they were very intentional, they were very committed and … we felt that their passion was in the right place,” Webber says. “And so that checked all the boxes for us as far as making us comfortable to move and select [South Florida] as a market for expansion.”
Derek Webber, executive producer of the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands, at a news conference in October announcing that the marching band showcase would be coming to Boca Raton. (Alan Luby Photography/Courtesy)
DETAILS ABOUT THE SHOW
Each band gets 10 to 12 minutes to perform on the field, then another six minutes to perform in the stands — something Webber says is unique with NBOTB.
“They’re going to play a recent song and just rock it from the stands. It’s a unique blend of performance on the field and then performance in the stands,” he explains. “So, you get a completely 360 view of what it is to be a part of an HBCU marching band experience.”
The participating bands will be:
- Florida Memorial University — The ROAR (Miami Gardens)
- Bethune-Cookman University — Marching Wildcats (Daytona Beach)
- Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University — The Marching 100 (Tallahassee)
- North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University — Blue & Gold Marching Machine (Greensboro, North Carolina)
- Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College — Human Jukebox (Baton Rouge)
- South Carolina State University — Marching 101 (Orangeburg, South Carolina)
“the sound is amazing,” Webber continues. “I mean, if you think about it, our band sizes go from 350 to 275. … Most of our bands are big bands. And you’re going to be able to tell the sound that they bring. It’s quite amazing.”
FREE FAN ENGAGEMENT
The weekend will include other activities as well. The lineup of official activities and community engagement gatherings, all free and open to the public, includes:
- NBOTB Cares Initiative — in which volunteers provide meals and resources to those in need on Thursday, Jan. 15.
- HBCU College & Career Fair — with representatives from more than 30 HBCUs on Friday, Jan. 16.
- Emerging Experience Entrepreneurship Conference — three panels for up-and-coming business owners on Friday, Jan. 16.
- Fan Experience & Stroll Off Competition — with an arts fair, performers and a Greek Stroll Off competition (with fraternity and sorority stepping) on Saturday, Jan. 17
“I just think that if we’re able to create enough exposure for youth, they can dream big and be anything they want to be in life,” Webber says. “And so that’s why we do this. We do this to generate scholarships for youth, give them an opportunity to dream big, and to really create an avenue of awareness for music arts and education, because it’s definitely been dropped off the radar over the last couple of years.”
IT ALL KINDA-SORTA STARTED WITH ‘DRUMLINE’
Webber, who is also CEO of Charlotte-based Webber Marketing, helped with the marketing for the 2002 film, “Drumline,” starring Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldaña and Orlando Jones.
“From ‘Drumline,’ it came to the Honda Battle of the Bands and then from there, when I started up my own firm, I thought I needed an intellectual property. So, I started up the Queen City Battle of the Bands and it grew into the National Battle of the Bands, and I just got sucked up into this band world, right?”
He has been staging NBOTB events around the country for the past 12 years. Though it’s a first-time event in South Florida, Webber has worked in the region before, with the American Black Film Festival and the Orange Blossom Classic, both in Miami-Dade County.
“People always ask me if I played in the band, and I was like, ‘I’ve never played in the band.’ I do not know how to play an instrument,” Webber says. “But I have a love for the sport, the bands and HBCUs. And it started when my dad took me to a game. He went to North Carolina A&T State University, and I can remember being … 7, 8 years old, and halftime came on. I can still remember the song in my head.
“It’s just something about the energy. It’s something about the pageantry. It’s something about the commitment and the fun that everyone is enjoying when they’re performing. I’ve been a fan ever since then.”
Some Florida HBCUs that have participated in past NBOTB shows include Florida A&M University, Edward Waters University and Bethune-Cookman University. Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens makes its debut in the showcase this year.
All in all, NBOTB has been responsible for a little over $2.1 million in scholarships while Webber’s firm has facilitated a little over $30 million in sponsorships/scholarships supporting HBCUs, Webber says.
Members of the 14-Karat Gold Dancers are seen here performing with the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats during a previous Battle of the Bands. (National Battle of the Bands/Courtesy)
WHAT MAKES HBCU BANDS IMPORTANT?
Marching bands from HBCUs are a major part of Black culture, Webber says.
“It’s been like that since before the Civil War. That’s the reason why HBCU bands were created back in the day, they were created to help bring energy and build up the morale of the Civil War troops. And they’re continuing to do that. They’re building morale among our fans, our students, our alumni, our communities. …
“I think what makes them unique is being able to perform, to dance, to play the instrument — all at the same time — the different arrangements that they’re going to give you, the energy, the updated songs that they’re going to play, the rhythm, the soul that they bring to it because to see an HBCU band performance is quite amazing.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 2026 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands
WHEN: Activities take place Jan. 15-17, with the Battle set for 4 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Florida Atlantic University, 101 N. University Drive, Boca Raton
COST: $27-$72
INFORMATION: nationalbattleofthebands.com
The Palm Beach Lakes Community High School Ram Regiment Band performed at a news conference in October for the upcoming Pepsi National Battle of the Bands. (Alan Luby Photography/Courtesy)
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