Irwin is about to get a bit of pomp and circumstance.

The 257th Army Band, officially recognized by the military as "The Band of the Nation's Capital," will perform a concert July 13 at 7 p.m. at the amphitheater in Irwin Park.

The free concert will feature of variety of music, ranging from classical and jazz to '60s and '70s pop and patriotic tunes.

The band has a history stretching back to the beginning of the 20th century. It started as a branch of the District of Columbia's National Guard and performed at military and public functions in the nation's capital.

After World War II, the band merged with another military band, and the resulting unit received the designation as the 257th.

Over the past 60 years, the band has continued its function as one of the leading musical ensembles in Washington.

The 257th performed at the burial of the Unknown Soldier in 1921, the state funerals of Presidents Harding and Kennedy, and has been deployed to perform overseas in both Greece and Panama.

Every summer the band goes on tour in communities across the United States.

As members of the National Guard, band members serve on active duty for two weeks a year, and that time gives them the chance to tour the country.

Brian McCommon, chief of operations and public relations for the 257th, says while the band makes stops at big cities, they also enjoy visiting places that don't always get big name acts.

"We actually play in a lot of small towns in the country," McCommon says. "We just always find a lot of success in small towns."

The band's original schedule had them playing a concert at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh on July 13. While the main band entertains crowds in the city, McCommon says two smaller subsets of the band will play for the people of Irwin.

The 257th came to the attention of Irwin borough manager Mary Benko through a North Huntingdon resident with a relative in the band. She got in touch with the band, and they agreed to come to the borough.

McCommon said the band liked Irwin's central location, as well as the fact that Irwin Park had an amphitheater and band shell.

"It's kind of a tradition for military bands to play at those kinds of venues in the

summer," he says.

The first half of the concert will feature the Capital Tube Euphonium Quartet.

The four tuba players will present a mixture of classical, jazz, blues and patriotic music.

After the quartet, the members of Capital Sound will perform a variety of tunes stretching from the music of the big band era to pop music of the '60s, '70s and '80s.

McCommon made a special invitation to any veterans living in the area.

He said during every concert performed by the 257th, band members take time to recognize any veterans in attendance.