PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions' prized jewel, their M4 marching band, announced via social media that they will soon be getting the opportunity to expand their reach with a very special performance.
UAPB's M4 marching band will be taking their show to new heights by performing in a different type of arena than they're used to.
Next month, they will be gaining national exposure by performing at WWE Bad Blood in Atlanta, Georgia. The band went viral at the beginning of the football season when they played the theme song of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
The show will be taking place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, where CM Punk will face off with Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes will team with Roman Reigns.
Not only are fans in for a great time when it comes to the brawls, but people in attendance are sure to be dazzled by the band's performance.
“We still have that style, but we put soul to that style, We put the R&B and hip hop into that style,” described John R. Graham Jr., the Director of Bands at UAPB. “We move it, we groove it, and we style it. We can play a ballad with the best of them, or get in your face and play some funk, we even get out of our element. “
Graham has been the director of their beat for about three decades and said that the explanation of their tune is that it's all in the name: M4, which stands for Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South, a nickname created by him.
"It's like a night at the Apollo every time we come out and we perform," he said. “You're going to know we're [there], that you came and were entertained because we're known as the marching musical machine, we go for high energy.”
Seeing the M4 marching band in action has been described as an experience that each fan, no matter the team they cheer on, will enjoy witnessing.
For information on where to find tickets to see the WWE Bad Blood match, please click here. If you are unable to make it there in person, the match will also be streaming on Peacock at 5:00 p.m. central time.