Before the noise of fireworks fill the air on Fourth of July, the Pennyrile Area Community Band is inviting music lovers to listen to some patriotic tunes at their Patriotic in the Pennyrile Concert on Thursday.
The community band was founded in 2018 and includes regional musicians with a wide range of experience, from beginners to professionals. The band consists of around 50 musicians and Band Director Lori Boehman says they have members who currently play their instruments in high school or college, while others joined after not playing for a while.
Thursday’s concert is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Casey Jones Distillery on Witty Lane and attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. Boehman says they have a wide range of songs planned for the evening such as “America the Beautiful,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Mountain Time,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and much more.
Boehman says they are playing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in honor of Andrew Gray who passed away in March. He was one of the band’s founding members and Boehman says he always wanted to play the Queen song.
The evening will also include performances by smaller ensembles. Boehman says they will have a clarinet and jazz ensemble putting on shows.
The concert is free to attend, but donations are invited. Boehman says donations will go toward purchasing instruments and music as well as their scholarship fund which supports students pursuing music in college.
Folks planning on going to the concert are invited to bring lawn chairs and to come with an appetite because there will be food trucks.
Photo and flyer courtesy of the Pennyrile Area Community Band on Facebook