About Navy Band Great Lakes "Side Boys"

"Side Boys" is an acoustic brass band ensemble which performs a wide range of musical genres, spanning from traditional New Orleans-style jazz to modern-day popular music, including, but not limited to, country, rock, jazz and blues. Under the direction of Unit Leader Musician First Class Christopher Bettler, "Side Boys" is the most versatile ensemble within Navy Band Great Lakes.
As the "Ambassadors to the Midwest," Navy Band Great Lakes' primary responsibility is supporting Navy outreach in an 11-state area, stretching from Michigan to Missouri, North Dakota to Kansas, and every Midwestern state in-between. All of the band's primary performing units embark on concert tours each year throughout the Midwest, allowing the band to reach out to audiences that do not have opportunities to see sailors on a regular basis. The concerts are patriotic, family-friendly events designed to be entertaining for young and old alike.