By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
The Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) will again feature the Mighty Marching Hornets Band (MMHB) of Alabama State University. The national event will take place on Feb 1 in Inglewood, California at the 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium, which is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.
The band's director, Dr. James Oliver, shared that it will fly to California on Jan. 30 and will be one of only six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) bands from across the USA to be featured in the popular competition. Other participants include marching bands from Alabama A&M University; Southern University and A&M College; Hampton University; North Carolina A&T State University and the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Oliver stated that the event will be hosted by comedian, television presenter, actor, and rapper, Nick Cannon, and will feature a performance by hip-hop artist, GloRilla.
"It is an absolutely awesome feeling that Honda has once again selected our Mighty Marching Hornet's student-musicians to perform in what many consider to be the stellar HBCU's marching band event in the nation," Oliver said. "This Honda event benefits our students in so many ways such as in the accolade of being able to state that they performed in it, as well as lifting up our students who may not have ever flown on a jet before, been to California or never have visited anywhere more than 300 miles away from their home. This is great for our University and for its students in every way possible."
Honda has been a major supporter of HBCUs for almost four decades. Honda has donated more than $14 million in grants, via its many events, which include the Honda Battle of the Bands and the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge.
Schedule for the HBOB
11 a.m: The SoFi Stadium's doors are opened for attendees to enter.
12 Noon: The Legacy Preshow event begins on the field.
1 p.m: The Honda Battle of the Bands Showcase takes place inside the stadium.
For tickets and other information: www.hondabattleofthebands.com