The Yachats Big Band, which performs Swing Era music, is donating proceeds from two special summer concerts to help fund the replacement of the Little Log Church and Museum.
The first summer concert is 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in the Yachats Commons multipurpose room. The second concert is Aug. 24.
The band usually plays the first Thursday evening of the month. It had been considering performing a couple of weekends this summer, said manager Gary Cleasby, “when more people are in town.”
Band members heard about the fundraising efforts by Friends of the Little Log Church, so decided to donate proceeds from the two concerts to help that effort. The city-owned church and museum is in deteriorating condition and the city is making plans to tear down and replace the church portion of the building. That’s estimated to cost about $300,000 — and church supporters have started fundraising efforts to help defray some costs.
“We had wanted to do some extra dances and wanted to support their cause,” Cleasby said.
Admission Saturday night is $5. The Friends group will be there to sell refreshments.
The band formed in 1992 with members coming from the Yachats, Florence and Newport areas. Two original members — Pat Chapman, who plays the trombone, and Pete Lawson, who plays the trumpet — are still with the group.
