Community chorus group Voices of North Georgia will hold two patriotic concerts this weekend featuring music for the people and by the people.

On Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, the Hall County Sheriff's Honor Guard and the six-piece Northwinds Brass band will join 40 voices in a concert titled "The American Voice," which celebrates American composers past and present.

Local radio personalities Scott Fugate and Vanessa Hyatt will narrate the performance that chronicles the histories and traditions of America's music, from the folk music of the foothills to patriotic ballads to the California surf sound of The Beach Boys.

Jeanne Luke, president of Voices of North Georgia, said all military veterans are invited to the event taking place at the Lakewood Baptist Church chapel.

"We wanted to do something for veterans when it wasn't the Fourth of July or Veterans' Day," Luke said. "There's a lot of singers in the group that have family members in the military or are veterans."

Luke said the concert is not another run-of-the-mill performance. In addition to live music, there will be a multimedia slide show.

"This is an attempt to push past the normal boundaries to just stand and sing. We want to offer more than just beautiful singing," she said.

Selections from the two-hour concert include a seven-part arrangement of the folk tune "Shenandoah," a "Salute to the Armed Forces" piece that will honor each branch of the military with its theme song and a medley of tunes from The Beach Boys.

A reception in the chapel will follow the Friday night performance.