KINGFIELD — A friend recently told us she had never been to the POPS because she wasn’t sure she would like “that kind of music.”

Being single-minded in our devotion to the POPS, we were surprised. We thought everyone had come at least once! But we’re glad she told us because it lets us know that we need to set straight some misconceptions about the POPS.

First things first: the POPS isn’t only classical music. In fact, it isn’t even mostly classical music. We say this cautiously because we’re all about bringing a big symphony orchestra to western Maine –-and we’re proud of that-– but we do it in such a way that it appeals broadly to people who live here and we balance the program with other kinds of music.

So as much as we love and value the orchestral part of our program, the POPS is five hours of great live music (which is a terrific value for the money, by the way) –-and more than half of that (from 4:30 to 8 p.m.) is everything from steel drums to folk, fiddle, traditional Maine and contemporary music. For the most part, it’s toe-tapping, hand-clapping music; some of it will make you want to sing along, some of it might even get you out of your seat for a dance or two. Two of this year’s bands –-the Gawler Family band and Greg Boardman & Sons-– regularly sell out concerts throughout Maine.

That said, we don’t want to undersell the star of the show –-and we do believe that what makes this concert extra-specially unique and magical is the Bangor Symphony Orchestra (and this year, our guest soloist, Suzanne Nance). Nonetheless, we know that lots of people aren’t really into serious classical music. That’s why we keep the program light (and why it’s called “POPS”) and we pack it with familiar melodies that people know and like, including Broadway and pop tunes. Even the “classical” stuff is music that many people will find they recognize because without knowing it they have heard it in movies or on TV commercials — or cartoons! As well, the orchestra always plays some patriotic tunes, including the “Salute to the Armed Forces” while our veterans stand up. It’s a stirring moment, a fitting prelude to the 4th of July, and a terrific kick-off to summer.

We don’t want to spoil any of the surprises in this year’s program, but we can share the fact that that Gene Nichols, who is going to play the saw — with the orchestra— also happens to be a very funny man who has done some, shall we say, highly original things in his life. He’s a professor of music who has also worked for a circus. And not only does he play the saw, he also plays rare and novel instruments such as the, uh, hubcaps. (Check out the Kingfield POPS Facebook page if you want to find out more about him.)

Lots of people think that the BSO brings something grand and special to our community — something that many of us would never see otherwise. Really, you don’t have to go too far a field to see country, rock, blues or bluegrass. But a symphony orchestra? For many of us, right here in Kingfield is where we first saw one. And it may be the only place we’ll ever see one. (By the way, over the last couple of years we’ve tried out some other terrific musical ensembles for our feature act —and people begged us to bring back the big orchestra.)

When you think about it, what stops most of us from going to “the symphony” anyway? Well, maybe we think it’s stuffy and pretentious; maybe we don’t know what to wear or how to behave; we’d have to travel to some city we don’t know well; we’d have to buy expensive tickets; and maybe it all feels a bit scary and unfamiliar –-and to go through all that to hear music that we may not even know or like?! Maybe not, eh?

Well, at the Kingfield POPS, we eliminate all of those obstacles. You can be comfortable. You can wear anything you want (though we do ask that you wear a shirt, please). You can bring your own food and eat whatever you like (or you can nosh on The Orange Cat’s delicious dishes). You can kick back in your chair, stretch out on your blanket, or walk around and hang with your pals. You can snooze if you want. Heck, you can even do the hula. Your children are free to tap, clap, dance or hop. You don’t have to shush them or tell them they can’t wiggle in their seat. After all, we give them free tickets because we want them there!

And you know what else? You will know a lot of the music. Maybe not all –-we like to throw in one or two things that might catch people by surprise— but you’ll recognize quite a bit of it.

As the ad in today’s Irregular says, “Kingfield POPS is more than a concert: it’s an experience.” That’s a fact. The POPS is more than the sum of its parts. You can add up all the pieces that make up the show and it wouldn’t fully describe what the evening is. It really is truly, deeply, magical. And it’s yours.

There’s one more bit of this puzzle that has nothing to do with the concert program: Kingfield POPS is a nonprofit group whose mission involves bringing music to children throughout the area and promoting the area’s economic development. In other words, when you buy a ticket to the POPS, you’re also contributing to the wellbeing of the children –-and all the other people-– who live in Franklin County.

So if you’ve never been to the POPS and you’re not so sure you’re going to like the concert, we’re going to offer you a guarantee this year: if you try it out and you don’t recognize one single song and you don’t like one single bit of the evening, we’ll give you your money back. All you have to do is ask for and keep the receipt when you buy your ticket; give us a call at 265-POPS or send an email to info@kingfieldpops.com before June 21 and let us know who you are. We’ll keep your name on file, and if you aren’t happy, and you let us know by June 28, we’ll refund your ticket, no questions asked. That’s how much we believe in what we’re doing.

Our goal this year is to fill the Kennedy field –-so we’ll see you there on June 26! Right?

The Kingfield POPS Board of Directors include Joani Blanchard, Danika Bates, Chris DeMerchant, David Hart, Pat Johnson, Melanie Meldrum, Nancy Merrill, Steve Pierce, Donald Tranten, Vici Robinson and Matt Wotton.