We've been asked back again!

For the first time that anyone can remember the City of Laurel has asked a band to return for an unprecedented fifth year to perform for the annual July Fourth Independence Day celebration.  Oh yeah...and the band they asked back is Oracle!

Of course we were more than thrilled to oblige.  Last year's performance was one of those memorable shows that we remember and talk about years later.  The moment we were asked to return we didn't have to think twice before answering a resounding YES!

By the time the fireworks lit up the sky last year an estimated 100,000 people were able to catch the strains of "Proud To Be An American" as we closed the performance.

Watch the animated graphic on the left as the crowd grows and grows from the time we started setting up to the moments just before the fireworks.  What a major rush to perform for this many people!  It truly was a memorable performance that we will always remember.

Laurel always holds their fireworks celebration on the Saturday closest to the Fourth, so this year the fireworks and concert will be held on July 2nd, with the music starting around 5:00 in the afternoon.

The concert will be held at the beautiful concert pavilion on the grounds of Granville-Gude park at Laurel Lakes.  It's just off Route 1, near Laurel Mall.  It is very easy to get to, and there

Directions to Granville-Gude Park

There is something for everyone at the Laurel celebration.  There is a car show from around 1:00 up to 4:00 featuring some really classic automobiles that many of us remember when they were new. 

There are face painters and moon bounces for the kids. Then of course, there is the FOOD!

You name it.  Burgers, chicken & dogs, funnel cakes and cotton candy, lemonade and smoothies, pulled pork & pit beef, egg rolls, sausages, the list goes on and on.  Want to save some $$$?  Bring your own picnic.  Coolers are permitted but alcohol is prohibited.  Oh, and of course, don't forget your blanket or lawn chairs.

The concert will begin around 5:15 in the afternoon, and we'll be playing right up to the start of the fireworks around 9:15.

You're welcome to come on down to the stage early and say hi, and let us know if there are any songs you'd especially like to hear that might be appropriate for the concert.

We've got lots of photos from last year's show here on the website as well as on Flickr, so head on over to the Laurel July Fourth Independence Day Photo Gallery and see for yourself what a great time everyone had.  We had so many fun photos we had to break them out into two different web pages to avoid making the pages overly large.

You can also view our photos on the band's Facebook page.  We encourage everyone who is a Facebook member to become a fan of of the band and catch all our regular updates there.

For a more live feel for the day and the concert, check out the video we made from last year's performance.  It is of the song "Walk of Life" by Dire Straits.  We hope you enjoy, and that we'll be seeing you on July 3rd!