BY JESSE SCOTT

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Thirty-six years ago, the Bluemont Concert Series was born.

With a big heart and humble expectations, the president and founder of the series, Peter Dunning, wanted to bring cultural offerings to the small town of Bluemont, in Loudoun County.

Today, the Bluemont Concert Series is a summertime staple in seven cities across the commonwealth and has produced nearly 5,000 unique shows over its storied history.

The 2012 Bluemont Concert Series in Fredericksburg kicks off this Saturday at 7 p.m. with a performance by the legendary folk duo Robin and Linda Williams. The series will run Saturday evenings at Maury Field through Aug. 18.

"It's all about getting people together and doing great things," said Dunning. "The idea is to provide a variety of really high-quality cultural entertainment in communities across Virginia. It's not a classical music series, it's not a jazz series and it's not a bluegrass series. It's a real combination of everything."

This year's Bluemont Concert Series packs the signature variety that so many in Fredericksburg and beyond have come to love over the years.

In addition to Robin and Linda Williams, this summer's slate includes the Cajun rockin' Dixie Power Trio (July 14), the swingin' King Teddy (July 21), bluegrass freaks The Hot Seats (July 28), the steel band Pan Masters (Aug. 4), Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie (Aug. 11) and the beautifully harmonic Furnace Mountain (Aug. 18).

Each year, a number of community sponsors, corporate partners and a dedicated board of local volunteers come together to plan and produce every Bluemont event. Fredericksburg will forever have a special place in Dunning's heart for its consistent outpouring of community support.

"Fredericksburg is a truly special place," said Dunning. "We've been doing concerts in Fredericksburg since 1990 and, from the beginning, it marked a major, positive change for us. The people in Fredericksburg have always been great. The board of volunteers built a strong foundation when we first started, and it has grown to be even stronger since."