The Bluecoats Will Tour California In 2026

Bloo26NewsBluecoats
Written By Mike Scott

The Bluecoats are heading to the Golden State this summer! Following the corps’ annual Spring Training and Opening Night Community Celebration at the University of Mount Union, the corps will head west, kicking off a twelve state national tour that begins in California.

The corps peforms at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis in August 2025

The corps last visited the West Coast in 2009.

Following early-July stops in Southern California and the Bay Area, the corps will turn back east. Fans can expect the corps to stop on its way to Texas, before returning to a more typical schedule in the Southwest, East, and Midwest.

The organization will announce the corps’ full schedule alongside the Drum Corps International season announcement in the coming months.

Local fans and alumni can still expect the organization’s annual six week residency at the University of Mount Union, which includes Bluecoats’ Spring Training, The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp, the Bluecoats Fellowship residency, Band Directors Days, and more. Most notably, Opening Weekend returns this year during the last weekend of June, including Alumni Homecoming Weekend and Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration on Saturday June 27th.

Of course, fans both national and local can expect the corps to return home in the final days of the DCI Summer Tour for Innovations in Brass - one of the nation’s largest drum corps shows and the final “regular season” event for the corps in competition. Then the Bluecoats will once again head to the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.

Audition registration for the 2026 corps is open, including an Audition Event in Southern California on Sunday December 7th. Dates, information, and registration can be found at bluecoats.com/join.

For the most up-to-date announcements about our plans for 2026, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!

Mike Scott
Mike Scott is a clinician, consultant, and the CEO of Rhythm X, Inc., a non-profit music education company in Dayton, Ohio. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2012. There he studied percussion and conducting and completed the Farmer School of Business Summer Institute. Before beginning his career as an administrator and teacher, Mike was an active performer in the marching arts. In 2011 Mike was the conductor of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio and was a performer in Rhythm X’s percussion ensemble from 2011-2012. Mike was also a member of the Miami University Marching Band for four years, serving as the drum major during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2013 Mike began work at Rhythm X, Inc. as the Operations Director, managing the business development and logistics of the organization. He was also the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. There he taught band, orchestra, and general music in grades 6-12. Prior to the 2015 competitive season, Mike became the first full-time employee at Rhythm X, Inc. as the company’s CEO. There he works with the organization’s President Tim Fairbanks to develop the future strategy of the company. During the summer months, Mike travels the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as the group’s Tour Administrator. He has also served as the tour manager of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mike proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Etymotic Research, and Fred J. Miller Inc.
http://mikewscott.com
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