Lawrence Gibbs &\; the Russ-Town Band in Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of The Dixie Center for the Arts at \;Louisiana \;Peach Fest

The Russ-Town Band will once again perform selections of Americana/Patriotic Music during the Louisiana Peach Festival. \;The concert will be at the Dixie Center of the Arts &ndash\; 212 North Vienna Street in downtown Ruston\, La on Saturday\, June 25th. \; \;The concert is free to the public and begins at 2:00p.m. \;
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\nThis year the featured works are:
\nJohn Williams &ndash\; Star Wars Medley
\nSolid Men to the Front &ndash\; Sousa
\nOn a Hymnsong of Phillips Bliss &ndash\; Holsinger
\nAnd\, the \;Patriotic Military Salute\, America the Beautiful and of course &ndash\; Stars and Stripes Forever!!! Lawrence Gibbs is the conductor. \;
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\nOnce again\, the Russ-Town Band ask for donations to help the Dixie Center cover the cost of the wonderful air conditioning during the concert. \;A great way to get out of the HEAT during Peach Festival!!! \;

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\nHistory:
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\nThe Russ-Town Band was formed by Lawrence Gibbs\, Jan Gibbs\, Charles Gaushell\, and Anne Gaushell in June\, 1994. There became a need for summer entertainment in the area\, and the &ldquo\;community band&rdquo\; concept was making an impressive comeback nation-wide. Ruston was developing many plans for entertainment in the area. The time was right.
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\nThe founders asked retired local bandmaster Mr. Oscar Barnes\, former Associate Director of Bands at LSU and former Director of Bands at Ruston High School\, to conduct the band. Lawrence Gibbs was named as Assistant Conductor and Manager of the Band. The band was asked to perform for the Ruston Peach Festival and the &ldquo\;Christmas at the Dixie&rdquo\; Concert. The band also began performing at the Ruston High School Auditorium for their annual &ldquo\;The August Concert."\;
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\nThe band has been involved in many projects over the years. Mr. Barnes worked closely with the developers of the Ruston Railroad Park in downtown Ruston to assure proper conditions for band concerts. In 2005\, the Dixie Center for the Arts was completely restored\, and it has become the location for both the Ruston Peach Festival Concert and the Russ-Town Christmas Concert.
\nIn 2001 Mr. Barnes turned over the baton to Lawrence Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs is currently the Director and Manager of the Russ-Town Band.
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\nThe goal of the band has always been to improve the local cultural atmosphere of Ruston\, LA. The band is totally volunteer and no admission is charged at events. The band regularly presents &ldquo\;fundraising&rdquo\; concerts to assist area charity organizations. The band hopes to continue for many more years as a testament to the love of high quality band music in North Central Louisiana.
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\nThe Louisiana Peach Festival is produced by \;Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce \;and corporately sponsored by AROS\, \;Century Marketing Solutions\, \;Mayor Ronny Walker\, City of Ruston\, \;ESPN97.7\, \;KTVE 10 KARD 14 myarklamiss\, \;JPS Equipment Rental\, \;KALB-TV\, KAQY ABC TV\,KNOE-TV\, \;KTVE\, \;Louisiana Life Magazine\, \;Louisiana Travel\, \;Origin Bank\,KRLQ 94.1 FM\, \;Ruston Daily Leader\, \;Experience Ruston\, \;St. Francis Medical Center\, Monroe\, La.\, \;The News-Star\, \;The Peach 99.3\, \;Z107.5.