POCATELLO — The Pocatello Municipal Band is set to open its 92nd season Sunday, June 28, at Ross Park’s band shell, kicking off six free outdoor concerts that director Kerrie Tolman says are built around one simple idea: give the community something to enjoy on a summer evening.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m. each Sunday at the band shell. Admission is free.

Tolman, who has led the band for 11 years after playing in it since high school, said the opening concert will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a patriotic theme. Simplot is sponsoring the night and will provide free ice cream from The Jungle ReTreat Ice Cream for all attendees. Idaho State University President Dr. Robert W. Wagner will serve as guest director for a march — a tradition the band carries into every concert of the season.

The night will also feature a special performance, as the Angel Tones vocal group joins the band to perform “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” the Andrews Sisters classic.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Tolman said. “They’ll solo with the band. We’ve never done it before, so we’ll see how it turns out.”

Each of the six concerts follows its own theme. The second concert, set for July 5, is titled Meet the Band and spotlights individual instruments within the ensemble. A jazz and Dixieland night is also on the schedule. Tolman shares directing duties with co-director Beth Buxton, who leads three of the six concerts.

The band’s roughly 40 musicians earn $40 per concert and rehearsal, with city funding and private sponsorships covering payroll and the cost of equipment, new music and supplies. Tolman said securing consistent city support changed everything for the band’s survival.

“It’s not cheap,” she said. “When you’re talking about 40 players on the stage and they’re making $40 a concert, that’s a lot. We really want to make sure we can keep the band moving.”

The band draws between 200 and 500 people most Sunday nights, and many of the same faces return year after year.

“For families to come out on Sunday night and just enjoy the evening, tap their feet and sing along — it’s a happy thing for the whole community,” Tolman said. “That’s why I’m glad it’s still going.”

When asked what a successful season looks like, Tolman said:

“Just seeing the people in the audience. They come, they sit, they listen, they love it. They cheer us on. That’s why we do it.”