It will be a Memorial Day weekend of fun and excitement for both Harlan Countians and out-of-town tourists as a local gospel band kicks off an annual homecoming concert event at Evarts.

Sharon Stewart, lead singer for the group Out of Ashes, said the event, which is planned for the Memorial Day weekend to also coincide with the many tourists and visitors during that holiday, is expected to yield a huge turnout.

“We are expecting quite a few people to show up at the event, and we are very excited about it,” said Stewart. “We seem to bring in more and more people each year as the concert event continues to grow and become a huge part of the area’s Memorial Day celebrations.”

Stewart said although this will mark the fifth year for the concert, this is the third year in a row that it has been held in Evarts near the entrance to the city, and while her group plans to perform randomly throughout the weekend, there are also other groups and bands scheduled to perform.

“We have several bands and groups that we have met on the road scheduled to be here to take part in the event. These are bands and soloists that are very talented and appreciated throughout the music industry,” said Stewart. “We are very happy to be performing alongside of each one of them.”

Stewart, who noted that her music and talent for singing is a part of her God-given spirit, said that her band released its current nationwide single on the gospel charts earlier this month titled “Out of Ashes.”

“Besides our current release, we are also in the studio working on another project titled ‘Beauty for Ashes,’ to be released under AMG Capitol Records,” said Stewart. “This one is due to come out in four to six weeks, and we hope everyone will be looking for its release.”

Stewart said she and the band extend an invitation to all Harlan County residents to come out and enjoy the festivities of the Memorial Day homecoming concert event, which will take place under a tent near Dairy Hut at Evarts.

“We will be right by the road under a big tent, and we are expecting the performers to be spectacular,” said Stewart. “We try to do this every year for all of the locals as well as for the ATV tourists who come into the county at this time of year. The concert is also an event that we do on behalf of my home-based church, Souls Harbor Ministries located at Pounding Mill.”

Other scheduled performers include Glimpse of Grace, the Dean Family and Pauline Patterson.

Stewart said the concert began on Thursday and will last until Sunday with an all-day concert event planned for Saturday beginning at noon. Today and Sunday’s events will kick off each evening at 6 p.m.

“We will also be having drawings and giveaways every night,” said Stewart. “Area businesses have donated such items as meal tickets for us to give away in an effort to promote the area as well as to show the tourists their appreciation for visiting the county.”

Stewart said she and the band are also challenging all of their MySpace friends to come out and take part in the fun and excitement of the concert event.

To receive more information concerning the band and the concert event, log on to myspace.com/outofashes07