BY SHAHERYAR MIRZA
Observer staff
Oct. 11, 2007

Washington residents recognize Dupont Circle for its weekend nightlife, but they don’t expect to be entertained walking through Dupont on a Wednesday night. Approaching the south end of ‘the circle’, the sounds of a brass band welcome visitors. The Madison Livelystones Band boasts a 12 member brass band that entices strangers into dancing.

The Livelystones Band got its start as a church group and has been playing in and around Washington for 22 years. The group has made Dupont Circle a regular venue for over 15 years. The United House of Prayer for All People in NW are responsible for providing housing to the underprivileged, among other things, and started this band as a creative outlet for members of the church.

“We play for the people, we play to give enjoyment to the people, we like what we do, and we give some of the younger guys a way to get off the streets,” said band leader John Walker.

The band attracts a diverse audience of young adults and older professionals. Even the homeless gather to dance to their music.

Walker smiled as he confidently described the bands ambitions.

“We want to expand all over the United States,” Walker said. “We want to get the music out, see our music reaching a lot of people. And I don’t care who you are, you like our music.”

The band already travels throughout the U.S. and has even made a trip to Greece. All the band members either go to school or work day jobs, and play with the band in their spare time.

It’s free to watch, and they don’t get paid to play. They do it for the love of the music and for the love of the church, the group said.

Preacher and trombone player Stanley Woodley has been with the Livelystones for 17 years and explained why he commutes 30 minutes to play on a weekday.

“This is how we work,” he said. “Salvation, you know. This is what we do. Our labor is in God’s vineyard. We don’t play by musical notes, we play by inspiration.”

Photo by Shaheryar Mirza
Preacher Stanley Woodley

The Livelystones start gathering at the circle around 8:30 p.m. and the band starts playing around 10:30 p.m. DC residents and visitors alike can take advantage of the free entertainment, and the band accepts donations but does not expect them.

“If we work in God’s house, then when we need him, he will answer our request,” Woodley said.