After 30 years of entertaining crowds, country music performers Shenandoah have reunited to celebrate a new album and will be making a stop in Poplar Bluff for a special performance.
In conjunction with the group's 30th anniversary tour, Shenandoah will perform during the eighth annual Valentines for Veterans Concert at the Black River Coliseum Friday.
"Having a son that spent a year in Iraq as a solider in the United States Army, it's a tremendous honor to be a part of the community support," Shenandoah frontman Marty Raybon said. "Each and every one of them (veterans) deserve a nod of appreciation."
The Valentines for Veterans concert is held each year as an opportunity for the community to show their support and let veterans know just how much they are appreciated.
John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Director Dr. Patricia Hall promised this year's concert would be bigger and better than ever.
"We appreciate The Wake Foundation, our local Veterans Service Organizations and all of the individuals and civic groups who work so hard, sometimes all year, to honor veterans with this concert," Hall said. "It absolutely could not happen without them and I am very proud to be part of such an important event."
While there is no admission charge to the concert, a ticket is required, but according to Public Affairs Officer Angela Smith, all tickets were distributed by the end of last month.
Beginning in the late 1980s, Shenandoah became well-known for delivering hits such as "Two Dozen Roses," "Church on Cumberland Road" and "Next to You, Next to Me." The group also won a Grammy with "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart," a duet with Alison Krauss.
Shenandoah has released nine studio albums with a new album coming out March 16 to celebrate 30 years of making music.
"To have a brand new album ready for release and to have our new single "Noise" climbing up the charts, it's really unbelievable that after 30 years, we are still out here making music," Raybon said. "To have the crowds we've seen come out to the shows has meant the world to us."
Raybon and the group are grateful to still have the opportunity to entertain crowds after a brief hiatus.
"There are a lot of folks that are very talented, but never even get their first opportunity, so after 30 years to get another chance and second go at it is unbelievable," he said.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with pre-show activities beginning at 6:30 p.m. including recognition of sponsors, presentation of the flag and the National Anthem. The concert will begin at 7 p.m.
Those who have not attended a Shenandoah concert before can expect high energy and crowd involvement throughout the evening.
"We have always felt that entertaining folks is one of the keys to what we do," Raybon said. "The approach is high energy and to get folks involved for 90 minutes."
Raybon said the band's goal is to try and take the crowd's minds as far away as possible from what may be going on in their life and glad they made the decision to attend the show.
"If we pull that off, then we've done our jobs and hopefully made new friends," he said.
Shenandoah is looking forward to returning to the area as a part of their 30th anniversary tour and the Valentines for Veterans Concert.
"It's always great to spend an evening in Poplar Bluff," Raybon said. "We have always felt very well received. The crowds are always very enthusiastic and that always makes for a great night for us."