The sound of music will again be emanating from The Square this month as the Athens-Limestone Tourism Association prepares to host its annual Summer Concert Series.

Tourism Director Teresa Todd said the roots of the concert date back to when Dan Williams was mayor of Athens. At that time, it was called Singing on the Square.

“He thought it was great to have people come out and listen for free and enjoy the music,” Todd said.

After Todd became tourism director in 2013, the event was rechristened the Summer Concert Series.

“We wanted to freshen it up a little bit,” she said, adding the length of the series was also shortened from April through October to May through August.

“We decided to move it back to May because we couldn’t get a dry April if we tried,” she said.

The series tries to attract homegrown talent, Todd said, which she touted as part of the event’s appeal. She likes to end each series with a performance by the Athens Community Band, and this year is no different.

“To me, one of the greatest things is to be able to hear people from our community,” she said. “We’ve got some really talented people.”

Those who decide to see a show are urged to bring their own lawn chair, though the benches around The Square are also open to the public. As in the previous few years, in case of cold or wet weather, concerts will move to the Vietnam Veterans of America building at 17915 W. Elm St., Athens.

Scheduled entertainment

The series kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, May 24, with Athens-based Trippin’ Dixie Band. According to a press release from the Tourism Association, the band “delivers energetic, spirited, lively music with robust harmonies that lift your spirit.”

The band plans a mix of pop, rock, blues, rhythm and blues, country and southern rock. More information about the band can be found at www.TrippinDixie.com.

June’s concert on Friday, June 21, will feature One Voice, a gospel group. Todd said she was excited to be able to feature a gospel act as part of this year’s series.

“We always like to have a variety of entertainment,” she said.

In July, singer-songwriter Matt Prater and Friends will perform Friday, July 19.

“There’s plenty of love in his music, which centers around his stories and his rich melodic voice,” said a review of Prater’s music in No’Ala Magazine. “The stories are delightful southern slices of life, each one complete in its telling; his voice draws you in and makes you want to listen to every word. It’s music that never gets old.”

The series is set to conclude Friday, Aug. 9, with a performance by the Athens State Community Band, directed by Steven Porter. The band is now comprised of more than 40 volunteer musicians.

For more information about the concert series, call 256-232-5411.