Twenty-one years have elapsed since the band MarchFourth played their first concert. Originally formed as entertainment for a Fat Tuesday party in Portland, Oregon, that happened to fall on March 4th, its 20-piece ensemble is still delivering the same kind of powerful percussion and horn-driven jazzy jam funk it is known for.

Hugely popular on the west coast but no stranger to Colorado audiences, in 2015 they headlined NedFest and wowed the crowd. They cite the Centennial State as a favorite place to perform. Percussionist and co-founder Dan Stauffer noted, “The place we probably play more than anywhere else besides Oregon is Colorado. Colorado loves us because they’re people who like the outdoors and they like to have fun. They always just freak out.”

On February 18, presented by 88.5 KGNU and Grateful Web, MarchFourth performed at a sold-out Boulder Theater. You may have been able to find an open seat in the balcony, but that was only because everyone was on the main floor shoulder-to-shoulder grooving to the infectious rhythm.

The band has appeared with such notable acts as Fleetwood Mac – the song “Tusk” with the USC Marching Band comes to mind – Kiss, Blink 182, and the Neville Brothers. When MarchFourth plays Burning Man, it is a perfect fit.

Attired in marching band hats and uniforms decorated in accordance to each performer’s quirky individual tastes, MarchFouth delivers not only musically, but visually as well. A sparkly explosion of color and wall of sound that blows you away, there are four drummers, a seven-piece horn section that includes saxophones, trombones, and trumpets, an electric guitarist, and bass guitarist that propel the music. Mostly instrumental, vocals are incorporated in a few of the numbers. Bassist and co-founder John Averill described themselves as, “An alternative big band for the present day.”

The MarchFourth experience, on any given night, is accentuated by acrobats, hoopers, stilt walkers, and dancers. Averill added, “Fun is the key word for us…We like to put on an inclusive dance party, get the audience involved. We always had the dancers and other performers, from day one. We wanted to create that good party vibe. We take the music we play seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously.”

To view upcoming concerts at the Boulder Theater, go to www.z2ent.com/boulder-theater-venue.