Break out the red, white and blue for the Sequim City Band’s annual Independence Day concert, set for 3 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at the James Center for the Performing Arts, 350 N. Blake Ave.
This free event is set just north of Carrie Blake Community Park.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs with shade, picnic baskets and cool beverages as they enjoy live, patriotic music featuring both classic and modern musical salutes to the U.S.A.
The concert includes “America, the Beautiful,” plus classic marches from three composers of the golden age of the American patriotic march: “Hosts of Freedom” (Karl King), “National Emblem March” (E.E. Bagley) and “Fugue on Yankee Doodle” (John Philip Sousa).
The commemorative feature for this year’s concert is “American Civil War Fantasy,” written in 1961 by Jerry Bilik; the compilation includes 10 familiar American folksongs from the mid-19th century.
The concert will include the band’s tradition of honoring military veterans and current military personnel with the “Armed Forces Salute,” which features each service branch’s song. The band encourages all veterans and military personnel to wear a cap identifying their service branch.
Now in its 28th season of presenting free public concerts, the Sequim City Band typically has its largest summer audience for its July 4 concert.
Lawn seating at The James Center for the Performing Arts can easily accommodate more than 800 people, band members say.
To reach the James Center, enter the north section of Carrie Blake Park from North Blake Avenue at the Fir Street intersection.
Upcoming Sequim CIty Band concerts include “Movies, Musicals, and Marches” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, and “American Melodies” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
For more information about the Sequim City Band, see www.sequimcityband.org.
The Sequim City Band entertains a large crowd at the Independence Day concert in 2016. Submitted photo by Richard Greenway
