The Chatham Concert Band is switching from survival mode to celebration as it tunes up for another summer concert series at Tecumseh Park in Chatham.
Bandmaster Vaughn Pugh, who is entering his 38th season as the conductor, says after a pair of pandemic-shortened seasons over the last two years, the band is all back together for a full 10-concert season.
"It's crazy... when you think about it, we've been going since 1927, doing these things even through the war," said Pugh. "Even through the pandemic, we did sneak a couple of pop-up concerts in for 2020 and last year, we got the full month of August in."
Pugh admits they did have some serious challenges recently, though, especially earlier this year.
"The Omicron variant did go through the band, so we had a tough time getting going... in January, February, March, we were shot, we couldn't do anything, it was just too highly contagious," said Pugh. "But we've been rehearsing in April, May, and June and here we are."
Pugh said they will be kicking things off with a pop concert -- including music from television shows like The Crown and Game of Thrones, movies like Encanto. They will also include some more classical-style music, though, featuring a tribute to Ukraine with Mussgorsky's "Great Gate of Kiev."
The free, family-friendly concerts will take place at the band shell in Tecumseh Park every Wednesday night this summer from June 29 until August 31.
Pugh said they have bumped up the start time by 30 minutes to 7 p.m. this year.
"By popular request -- including the band and folks young and old -- we're starting at 7 o'clock," said Pugh, adding that the concerts usually last about an hour. "That way folks with little ones can get home and get them to bed in fairly decent time and older folks can be driving home in the daylight for the most part, it works out very well."
Anyone who is interested in attending the concert is encourage to bring a lawn chair. There is no admission fee, but the band will be accepting donations and is able to supply a tax receipt.
