It’s astounding how much effort goes into preparing and preforming in a high school band show.

Unless your a band parent or grandparent, most people don’t take the opportunity to go and see their school’s band compete. However, those who do, realize the involvement and dedication to perfection in music performance as well as visual effects that are accomplished only through hard work by band members as well as directors and parents.

For those who have yet to experience such a thrill, your time has come. Both the Logan County High School and the Russellville High School bands are hosting their annual band shows and are inviting the community to come and share in an evening of good music, good food and good fellowship.

Logan County’s Home Show is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Logan County High School Football field.

Twelve bands will be attending the show some as far as Hancock County. There will be three Class A, three Class 2A, one Class 3A, two Class 4A and three Class 5A categories of competition. The show will be judged by an independent body and numerous awards will be given in categories including best color guard, best music, best visual, best percussion, first, second and third place in each category, Grand Champion and Reserved Grand Champion.

Also featured at the band shows will be a variety of concessions including funnel cakes, apple dumplings and sno cones. Band memorabilia will also be for sale such as t-shirts, band buttons, etc.

The Logan County Marching Cougars are lead by first year director and Logan Alumni Alan Kennedy, who is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where he studied music and played in the band.

“I’m so excited to be the director of bands at Logan County this year. I graduated in 2002 from LCHS and always wanted to come back and teach here. I have big plans to build the program and achieve great things,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy offers a very different show in his first year at Logan County entitled “Mind Over Metal” which took first place, best visual and best music at the Glasgow show last weekend.

“My band continues to amaze me when I push and challenge them. They are ready for greatness. We are hungry for it. I have the best of the best at Logan. We might be small this year, but my group is talented and very dedicated to their show. I can't wait to see the result of our hard work at the end of this musical journey,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is being helped this year by William Gray- percussion and Nicole Pedigo- color guard.

• The Russellville Band Show is to be held Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.

This is expected to be an exciting one as well. Although area band participation will be lower this year due to facility changes at Rhea Stadium, going to the show just to see the Marching Panthers will be well worth the trip. These kids have been working diligently to perfect their show and have shown that work pays off having taken first place in their category as well as many other honors already in the season.

“The band is off to a great start this year,” said Russellville band Director Brian Brown.

The Panther’s theme for the 2009 marching season is LaVida Latina Expressions of Pride, Passion and Joy.

“We’ve got some new equipment and we’re using a unique uniform that reflects our Latin show theme. I think the Latin music has really energized the band and the audiences seem to really like it as well. We’re working hard and having a lot of fun at the same time.”

Because of the changes this year with tearing down the old Middle School, Russellville’s show will be unsanctioned, but that opens up opportunity for special judges who will be able to interact with the bands, critiquing their performances and then offering important information the bands can take with them to better their routine. The bands will then get to preform once again in a double show that evening to implement the changes judges have suggested.

“The contest this year is going to be unique. It’s the first time since I’ve been here that the contest will be ‘under the lights’ of Rhea Stadium,” said Brown. “I’m really excited about the contest. Rhea Stadium is a great place for a band contest. There is nothing like watching a band perform when you’re just 10 feet away. It’s an up close and personal experience.”

The Russellville band is also assisted by Nick Price- percussion and Whitney Sorbacker - color guard.

Admission into both of these events is $5 a person with children four and under free.