Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. | | Marching band heat safety, Fusion Winter Guard’s pause after winning the 2026 WGI Independent World Championship, and the future of regional DCI Open Class drum corps lead this week’s On A Water Break. | | Joey Montes III is joined by Nicole Younger, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Jeremy Denzer and Haley Harrington to discuss Fusion’s decision to pause beginning with the 2027 season, Boise Gems’ inaugural Open Class campaign, mandatory Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature monitoring for Texas marching bands, the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands moving to AT&T Stadium, marching arts performers at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game and the legacy of Bands of America founder Larry McCormick. | | In this episode: | • Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI Independent World | • Boise Gems completes its first DCI Open Class affiliate season | • The case for smaller corps and shorter regional tours | • Texas mandates WBGT heat monitoring for marching band activities | • HBCU marching bands head to AT&T Stadium in 2027 | • Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick | | Chapters: | 00:00 Welcome and panel introductions | 05:53 Previous episode recap | 07:04 HBCU bands and the 2027 National Battle of the Bands | 12:23 Texas mandates WBGT monitoring for marching bands | 21:54 Boise Gems’ first DCI Open Class season | 24:12 The case for smaller corps and regional tours | 28:44 Marching arts performers at the MLB All-Star Game | 31:52 Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick | 35:08 Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI | 40:04 60 Second Tech Block | 49:46 Water We Doing?! | 01:08:45 Gush & Go | 01:15:06 Closing rehearsal |