AMBRIDGE — Beat for Life: Musicians Helping Musicians returns Sunday, offering a full day of live entertainment, food and prizes to raise money for the Ambridge Area Middle School music program.
The annual event takes place at the Ambridge Eagles Club at 401-403 Maplewood Ave.
The public event begins at 12:45 p.m. with opening remarks, followed by the national anthem performed by Irwin teenager Aubrey Burchell, who reached the Los Angeles rounds of ABC's "American Idol" this past season.
The musical lineup:
1 p.m. — For Those About to Rock Academy.
2 p.m. — Ambridge Steel Drum Band.
3 p.m. — Aubrey Burchell.
4 p.m. — Bobby Thompson and the Groove.
5 p.m. — Mums Guns.
6 p.m. — The Mudslinger Band.
7:30 p.m. — The Sidewinder Band.
8:45 p.m. — The Eldorado Band.
Food vendors include Eagles Eateries, Ambridge Italian Villa and new Ambridge restaurant Tex Mix.
Last year's event raised enough money to purchase 17 instruments for students.
"Almost every person involved in the event, from performers to crew, is from Beaver County and at some point, in some way, has been positively affected or influenced by one music program or another in our area," event spokeswoman Fenice Iorfido-Durbin said. "Helping to support a school program is one way to pay it forward and keep the interest alive in students who truly want to develop their talent and craft."
It's a great local lineup, she said, including Hopewell Township blues prodigy Thompson and Brian Diamond, lead guitarist of the Delaneys, performing with his side project Mums Guns.
"Not to forget local Beaver County legend guitarist David Granati with his students from the For Those About to Rock Academy, as well as local bands, the Mudslinger Band, Sidewinder and the Eldorado Band, all of which are locally grown and inspired musicians," Iorfido-Durbin said. "Proof of why local music programs remain so important."