The Stanly County Concert Association is gearing up for a new season, its 74th, with a bevy of talented groups, including many who will be performing for the first time with the organization.

Though the past two years were filled with uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlotte Maness, president of the association, is looking forward to more normalcy when it comes to the county’s longest active arts group, which was established in 1947.

“I’m excited that we made it through the pandemic and we are able to migrate to bringing every artist we had booked (for 2020), we got them rebooked for the next year,” she said. Several popular groups, including The Embers and The Entertainers, were among those that rescheduled and performed last year.

For the upcoming season, which begins in September and runs through April, five groups will be coming to Stanly County, four of which will be making their debut with SCCA.

The Dancing Fleas, a ukulele-driven band, will kick things off at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24. Former Albemarle residents Jeff Hamilton, Laura Wheeler and their son Silas are part of the 10-member band, known for its range of styles from classic country to sassy funky.

“Expect dueling ukuleles, blistering pedal steel licks and big harmonies from the band’s six vocalists,” according to its website, noting that once patrons see them live, they’ll “join the ranks of the #fleabitten!”

The other featured performers include Christmas With The Celts at 3 p.m. Dec. 11, The Rowan Big Band at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 2023, Blackwater Band at 7:30 p.m. March 25, 2023, and Lonesome River Band at 3 p.m. April 16, 2023.

SCCA has attracted a younger audience in recent years and Maness hopes it continues with the organization offering another diverse slate of performers.

All performances are in the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center auditorium. Advance tickets are available at Starnes Bramlett Jewelers and the Agri-Civic Center. Visit stanlyconcert.com for ticket information.

More information on specific performances will be available in The Stanly News & Press and thesnaponline.com as concert dates near.