The Vintage Band Festival and Butler's Steak & Ale are collaborating on a Musical Instrument Auction to take place on Friday, October 22, 2010. The auction will take place at Butler's Steak & Ale restaurant, 620 Water Street South in Northfield (in the Riverpark Mall) and will begin at 8:30 p.m.  The auction will begin with two sculptures by local artists Steve and Judy Swanson that feature arrangements of vintage musical instruments such as trumpets, clarinets, and cornopeons. These sculptures were commissioned to help promote the Vintage Band Festivals of 2006 and 2010. One of the sousaphones used in VBF 2010 as a "money pot" will be on the auction block as well.

The main auction item will be the historic grand piano once owned by Carleton College President Larry Gould and his wife Peggy and seen by many in their 3^rd Street Northfield home. This piano has most recently graced the stage at Butler's Steak & Ale and is available for advance viewing there.

The emcee for the evening will be Northfield's most colorful auctioneer, Ed Kuhlman. There is still time to contribute items for use at this event. Musical instruments of all types, metronomes, music stands, sheet music, band uniforms or any other musical paraphernalia are all eligible for donation. Items for auction will be accepted at Butler's Steak & Ale after 4 p.m. daily until October 21. Call 507-786-9797 for more information.

Proceeds from the Musical Instrument Auction will support the Vintage Band Festival Fund. The auction is free and open to the public.