Behind the Headlines

By Charles Slat
What was all the excitement in downtown Monroe Saturday night?
Barrage, a renowned musical group of five exceptional violinists, backed by two guitarists and a drummer, brought a capacity crowd to the River Raisin Centre for the Arts.
RRCA director Mike Trapp said it was the biggest crowd at the RRCA in years. People came by the busload.
Tickets were sold out a couple of days in advance and there even were some folding chairs in the balcony section.
The group played some classical or familiar tunes such as Ravel’s
Bolero, Tico Tico and Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles, but with a decidedly jazzed up presentation. A range of lesser known but no less amazing pieces were performed that also had the audience clapping or stomping.
What’s unique about the group is they are not only world-class musicians, but their act is heavy on choreography. Playing the violin and jumping and dancing is difficult, but they made it look easy.
The musicians chatted with the audience, signed autographs and sold CDs after the performance.
Floral City Beverage was the main sponsor of the show. The group was brought to Monroe at the urging of Robin Bloomberg, director of Team Fiddle, Ann Felder, Monroe Middle School music teacher, and Tara Vespirini, a music instructor at the Chelsea Center for the Arts and the Monroe Youth Orchestra.
It was a night to remember for music fans in Monroe.