Fans packed Wildcat-Ram Stadium Thursday in Dallas.
Week six of the Drum Corps International Tour is upon us. Fans who looked forward to one of the first head-to-head meetings between several East and West Coast corps may have been disappointed in Minnesota last week, when heavy storms forced the cancellation of the event. But this weekend, top World and Open Class ensembles will be back at it competing in three exciting DCI Premier Events in Texas. Southwestern drum corps fans get a treat this week, with the DCI Dallas and DCI Houston Premier Events that commenced Thursday, July 22 and continue today. The corps who performed Thursday in Dallas will compete in Houston tonight, while those in Houston yesterday will be in Dallas tonight. For a more in depth look at the corps, check out two Live Learning Events Friday, both starting 2 p.m. CT: In Dallas, get the inside scoop on how Carolina Crown teaches and prepares the corps to perform. If you're in Houston, you can learn how the Cavaliers teach marching fundamentals, percussion, brass and color guard. And if you can't make it to Houston at all, all you need is a subscription to the DCI Fan Network to watch a live webcast of of Friday's competition. The webcast begins at 7 p.m. CT brining you all of the action from a birds-eye view above the field.

The annual Individual & Ensemble competition takes place
for the first time in San Antonio this weekend.
This Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25, the DCI Southwestern Premier Event has been moved outside of the Alamodome for the first time in 10 years due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict. But the show will go on! This year's event showcases 24 World and Open Class corps over two days of entertainment. Also taking place for the very first time in San Antonio is the annual Individual & Ensemble Competition, where individual and small groups of drum corps members get the chance to shine. Want to improve your own skills during DCI Southwestern? You have the chance to meet renowned percussionist Jeff Queen in a Live Learning Event on Sunday. Queen will educate students on practice techniques, improving speed and sound quality, and solo performance tips. All three Texas Live Learning sessions are free with a ticket to the evening events. Away from the Lone Star State on Saturday in Warrenton, Va., Drum Corps in Northern Virginia features top Open Class corps along with World Class competitor Jersey Surf. Don't think the weekend is the only time to fill your drum corps quota. Monday, July 26 features two events in Lafayette, La. and Denton, Texas. Lafayette's Drums Across Cajun Field brings 10 World Class corps together for an exciting (and likely very warm) night of drums and bugles starting at 6:30 p.m. The last 2010 event of the year in Texas will take place that day in Denton as 10 World and Open class corps take the field starting at 6:30 p.m. for Red River Thunder. With such a close margin between many corps this season, the next defining competitive moment of 2010 may be just around the corner.

Bluecoats
On Tuesday, July 27, Mississippi drum corps lovers can watch eight World Class corps face off in Ocean Springs at the Mississippi Sound Spectacular. With the close competition between Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Knights and Phantom Regiment lately, you won't want to miss this event. Wednesday, July 28 marks the return of the DCI Southern Mississippi Premier Event, the second of two drum corps shows in Mississippi this year. Besides intense competition from Blue Devils, Carolina Crown and nine other spectacular corps, you can catch a Live Learning event with the 2009 defending World Champions. Beginning 12 p.m. CT., the Live Learning session with the Blue Devils is free with a ticket to the evening show. Two exciting drum corps events are happening Thursday, July 29: DCI Gadsden presented by Alabama Battle of the Brass at 7 p.m., and Sounds of the South in Milton, Fla. at 7:30 p.m. In Gadsden, see the Cavaliers, Bluecoats, and eight other excellent ensembles take control of Titan Stadium at Gadsden City High School. If you live in Florida, you can see Teal Sound, Glassmen, Colts and Troopers face off against West Coast corps Cascades and Pacific Crest along with the Academy. View the complete schedule of 2010 DCI Tour events.