Teen bands performed during the 11th annual Celebrate Ludlow Saturday.
LUDLOW – A year ago, The Conceited performed at Celebrate Ludlow with great success, so organizers invited three more bands of teenage musicians to play this year.
“I think it’s cool to support local musicians,” said Stephen P. Hensley, 16, a Ludlow High junior, who sings and plays guitar for The Conceited.
The four bands of teenagers Saturday joined a day-long line up of entertainment which included musicians, actors, tae kwon do presenters and a juggler. The evening ended with fireworks at the Fish and Game Club.
Celebrate Ludlow began 11 years ago when volunteers organized an event to celebrate the town’s birthday. It proved popular and the Celebrate Ludlow Committee decided to continue, said Elizabeth A. Rustic, a committee member from Ludlow.
One benefit is all 17 booths selling food were run by non-profit organizations such as Ludlow Hockey, the First Church and the Middle School Band and Chorus, she said.
“It is for the community by the community,” she said.
The about $18,000 needed for the event comes from donations from businesses and residents and the town budget, Rustic said.
Lisa M. Martin, of Ludlow, was the committee member who organized the entertainment. It was her idea to give teen bands an opportunity to perform for 20 minutes each.
The Evan Willard Band, which is made up of four students from different towns, played in public for the first time. When students signed up they didn’t have a name so Martin gave them one, choosing the drummer’s name, which was on the application.
“A couple of us have been playing for three years,” said Willard, 17, a senior at Minnechaug High School in Wilbraham. “We have all been practicing together for a couple of months.”
Hensley, 16, a Ludlow High junior, said his band performs nearly every week but had never played for so many people until The Conceited played Celebrate Ludlow.
“My only advice is you have to go with it no matter what. If someone makes a mistake, if someone breaks a string you have to keep going,” he said.
Exit 7, a community theater group in Ludlow, benefited twice from Celebrate Ludlow. They grilled hamburgers to raise money and also had an opportunity to perform.
Youths from their summer theater program sang. Then two of the 37 adult cast members who will put on “Jekyll & Hyde” for seven performances starting Oct. 29 gave the crowd a preview.
“We raise a little money and help with the entertainment. It works hand-in-hand,” said Peter R. Hamel, president of the board of directors for the Exit 7 Players.