Benefit will feature big-band music

Radio personality Bob Newton will emcee an upcoming benefit concert, “Swingtime & Coffee,” which will feature music from the big-band era.

The event will be 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 11 at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt., and will raise funds for Kansas Advocates for Better Care.

Big-band tunes will include performances by Karen Stephenson, Nancy Gibbens and Curtis Marsh, all of of Lawrence. Sarah Young and Alfred Lata will perform operettas, including classics like “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” “Italian Street Song” and songs from “The Student Prince” and “New Moon.”

New to the concert will be Jim Tuchscherer, of Topeka, and Sarah Beach, of Baldwin City, who will sing the love songs from this year’s “Ballad of Black Jack.” The two have been the leads since the Ballad’s revival in 2001.

Michael Stephenson, of Tonganoxie, will bring the Johnson County Community College Jazz Quartet to the concert and offer instrumentals.

Linda Klinker and pianist Don Mueller are co-chairs for the event.

No tickets are required. Coffee and home-baked cookies will be served.