The Shinnston Community Band will be holding its 12th Annual Independence Day Celebration concert on Sunday, July 1 at the Shinnston City Park. The concert will conclude with the areas largest and longest fireworks display sponsored by the Shinnston Area Development Association (SADA) and the City of Shinnston.
The Shinnston Community Band will provide an hour-long offering of patriotic songs and popular favorites sure to please everyone in attendance. The group, in its sixteenth year of existence, is made up of all volunteer members consisting of professional and amateur musicians and is directed by Mike Cale.
The ensemble formed as a result of the Shinnston alumni band, which met once every four years for alumni weekend in Shinnston.  That group expressed an interest in forming a community band and as a result of the leadership of Randall Hall and Louis Oliverio, the Shinnston Community Band was formed. The group performs both a summer and winter concert series. This year’s membership is one of the largest to perform since the formation of the SCB, comprising of over 70 members.
The 2012 event will begin at 8:00 p.m. with pre-concert entertainment provided by BreakMountain.
An entertaining bluegrass band from North Central West Virginia, BreakMountain uses spot-on harmonies and humorous stories to entertain the crowd. The concert will highlight their songs from two previous released albums, Hickory Nut Ridge and Mountain Gospel, and new and original material from their upcoming album yet to be titled. The group is comprised of Bill McCartney on banjo, renowned upright bass player Kenny Kendall, Rick Ott playing mandolin, and latest addition Chris Weatherly on guitar.
The SCB will be performing annual standards Armed Forces Salute and Stars and Stripes Forever as well as march tunes Semper Fidelis and National Emblem. Several new tunes have been added this year including A Copland Tribute, The Great Locomotive Chase, This is My Country and To Forge the New Frontier.
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and join in what has become a Fourth of July holiday tradition. Admission to the concert and fireworks show is FREE. The concession stand will be open the entire evening. The event always brings a large crowd, so plan to arrive early to get a choice seat. Rain date is July 2.
The Shinnston City Park is located in East Shinnston. Turn up the hill on Clement Street by Hammers Market (former Dairy Mart) in downtown Shinnston, and follow the signs to City Park.
For more information, you can visit the Shinnston Community Band web page at www.shinnstonband.com, or call (304) 592-6058 ext. 109.
