Concerts abound this weekend as the midstate celebrates July Fourth.

This weekend marks the start of a long roster of celebrations that commemorate our nation’s 241st birthday on Tuesday. Several regional stages have been booked to feature a wonderful mix of events that demonstrate our community’s diversity of interests in the performing arts. Good luck in selecting a single event from the following list, because if you’re like me, more than one of these is on your bucket list!

Country music duo Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, collectively known as Montgomery Gentry, will headline this year’s Warner Robins Independence Day Celebration, with Georgia Country Awards 2016 Female Artist of the Year winner, Mary Kate Farmer, as their opening act. This free concert, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday night at McConnell-Talbert Stadium, ends with the annual city fireworks display.

Friday night’s 4th of July Music Festival at the Macon Coliseum will feature R&B and soul artists Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, 112, Dru Hill, and Jon B. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

The winner of “American Idol’s” fifth season, Taylor Hicks, will perform Friday night in Forsyth. Voted People Magazine’s “Hottest Bachelor of the Year” after his 2006 win, Hicks’ debut album of the same year charted at the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200. See one of the television show’s most popular winners of all time on stage at the new Monroe County Fine Arts Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Cox Capitol Theatre will present Parker Millsap and Garrett Owen in concert Friday night. Named one of Americana Music Association’s 2014 Emerging Artists of the Year and International Folk Music Awards’ Artist of the Year, singer-songwriter Millsap plays a blend of blues, country and folk music. The Dallas Observer described folk artist Owen as “an agile, intricate, accomplished guitar player who sings honey-dipped melodies about devastating turns of events.” This concert begins at 8 p.m.

Sunday Highlights

“The story has been told before, but never like this,” is how the National Theatre frames its version of “Salome,” which places the girl at the center of a revolution. This “near-perfect production” — as described by the Guardian — will be broadcast live at the historic Douglass Theatre at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The Macon Concert Band will commemorate Independence Day with a concert that honors those who served this country and those who currently serve. The celebration will be held at the Monroe County Fine Arts Center beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday.

With so much to do in Middle Georgia, I’m sure you’ll have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend!

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 6:47 AM with the headline "Concerts abound this weekend as the midstate celebrates July Fourth.."