Naperville Municipal Band celebrates the Fourth

Strike up the band for the red, white and blue and a few cannons, too.

Over the next two weeks, Naperville Municipal Band concerts in Central Park will showcase American history through music with live performances on back-to-back Thursdays.

On June 27, the band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at 104 E. Benton Ave. with a re-enactment featuring costumed soldiers depicting Revolutionary War heroes.

"Prelude to a Celebration" aims to get concertgoers into the Independence Day spirit, according to Conductor Ron Keller.

"The show will include slices of Americana: 'St. Louis Blues,' 'Over the Rainbow,' 'The Music Man' and 'The Blue and The Gray' (a nod to our Civil War re-enactors firing the cannons), to name a few," Assistant Director Emily Binder said.

"Overture to 1812" and "Hail America March" will finish the show with help from the cannons and local church bells.

Prior to the band's performance, the District 204 Alumni Band will take the stage at 6 p.m. The band features alumni, faculty and friends of the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 music program.

The group's concert will feature popular melodies and the works of celebrated band composer and arranger Alfred Reed.

On Independence Day, the municipal band will take the stage at 6 p.m. with a holiday birthday theme that celebrates songs and marches from America's archives throughout its first 243 years.

The show will feature 4th of July classics such as "Yankee Doodle" and "American Patrol," along with Keller's marches in honor of the city's veterans organizations."

The Naperville Community Chorus will join the band for "America the Beautiful," "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America."

The show's earlier start time is to ensure audience members will have time to see the city's fireworks display.

The municipal band is celebrating its 160th anniversary.

All concerts are free. For details, visit www.napervilleband.org.