If the Cedartown High School Marching Band has their way, the crowds that gather to watch the football games will be rocking out during the halftime show.

According to director Tom McGarity, the band will be performing a “Rock and Roll” themed program this year.

The tunes lined up for this season’s halftime shows are “School’s Out for the Summer” by Alice Cooper, “Rock and Roll All Night” by Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” “We’re An American Band” by Grand Funk Railroad and possibly two other selections which include “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC and “Inna Godda DaVida” by Iron Butterfly.

McGarity hopes that the contemporary selections will drive current band members to practice more frequently and possibly spark the interests of Cedartown High students who may be considering joining the band program next year.

Apparently his plan is already starting to work, as the band size has increased from last year. Plans are to be marching a little over one hundred students, with thirty of those entering freshmen.

“If the music is fun and familiar among the band students, then they will practice harder. I’m trying to build a band program where not only the band members, but also the community, is interested in by playing music most of the crowd will recognize,” voiced McGarity.

This year, band members will be sporting new uniforms as well. McGarity likes the idea of giving the Bulldog Band a new look, and hopes that they, along with the popular show tunes, will increase excitement within the band, the school and community.

As with last year’s show, McGarity and the students will have a few visual surprises in store for the pigskin- watching audience. “We hope to use our students extraordinary talents in the music and visual department this year. There are several members of the band who play electric and bass guitars and we plan to incorporate a little of that into the show.”

The band will be wrapping up a week long camp this Friday that was aimed at reteaching marching basics and halftime show positions, learning show tunes and also routines.

McGarity sums up his feelings about the start of this year’s band program, “It’s just a good situation to be placed in. Everything just falls into place when you have support of teachers, the coaching staff, administration and Polk School District. The Booster Club is also very helpful and they have come a long way. Things are just really positive.”

Their first scheduled performance will be on Aug. 30 at the Cedartown Memorial Stadium during the Cedartown versus Crim halftime.

This is McGarity’s second year serving as CHS band director.