The square will once again be filled with the sound of music during the month of May as the Newton County Arts Association hosts its Luncheon Concerts series on square park, starting Thursday.

Various artists will bring music to town at noon Thursdays, and the Arts Association invites the community to enjoy the free event.

The Eastside Symphonic Band and the All-County Honor Band will to kick off the series Thursday.

Eastside High School band director Alan Fowler said the Eastside Symphonic Band, a 55-member student band, will start the concert and play for 30 minutes, and then the All-County Band, which consists of band students from Alcovy, Newton and Eastside high schools, will play during the second half of the concert.

Fowler said during the concert, the audience should look to hear a medley of tunes from “Les Miserables,” along with the Irish tune “Danny Boy.” Community band director T.K. Adams will conduct the national anthem and band directors for each of the schools will direct a piece.

This is the seventh year the band students have participated in the May concert series hosted by the Arts Association and the fourth year the concert has included the All-County Honor Band.

“I think it’s a little piece of Americana when the bands get to play on the square for people,” Fowler said.

The May concert schedule is as follows:

• May 2: Eastside HS Band and Newton County Honor Band

• May 9: Jorge Alvarez Latin Trio – Latin Jazz

• May 16: Tony Bryant Blues Band – Blues

• May 23: John Mashinot, Long Hollow Hooley – Celtic

• May 30: Anthony Glover, Majestic Dub Kru – Reggae.

Bryant, who’s from Oxford, plays blues with his band around the Atlanta area. Alvarez said his Latin Trio began in 1994. Jorge Alvarez Latin Trio, as well as the other two groups, also plays shows around the Atlanta area.

“One of the oldest traditions of the Arts Association are the Thursday May and September luncheon concerts on the square,” said Buncie Lanners, Arts Association executive director.

“They were begun in 1990 and have been presented each May and September since then, drawing to the square a diverse population of business people, young families, special-needs adults and children, retirees, the elderly as well as school groups.

“The Arts Association believes strongly in bringing all types of diverse artists to the square for these free concerts for the enjoyment of our community,” she said.

In the event of inclement weather, the first concert will be held on the third floor of the Newton County Administration Building.

All other concerts will be held at the Turner Lake Complex, 6185 Turner Lake Road, if inclement weather occurs.
For more information about the Arts Association and the May Luncheon Concert series, visit newtoncountyarts.org or call 770-786-8188.