DEMOPOLIS &8212; Members of the Demopolis City Schools band, the River City Blue, spent Wednesday afternoon fine-tuning their performance for Thursday&8217;s battle of the bands competition at Memorial Stadium, Bands on the River.

According to band director Phil Bonds, the competition started because they were scheduled to attend a competition last Saturday that was canceled.

The showcase will also feature the Sweet Water High School marching band, the Thomasville High School marching band and the University of West Alabama Marching Band. Bonds said he invited all the schools within a 50-mile radius to come.

The night is a showcase, Bonds said, but bands could opt to have their performances critiqued.

For preparation, Bonds&8217; group has been gearing up like they would for any performance. Each student is required to put in two after school rehearsals per week, and this year they have been able to use the stadium field with the blessing of Demopolis head football coach Tom Causey.

Performances at the event will include the Sweet Water High School band, directed by Adam Anderson, performing their show entitled &8220;Crime fighters though the ages.&8221; Under the direction of Jerrell Allen, the Thomasville High School marching band will perform &8220;Selections from Grease.&8221;

The Demopolis High School band will be performing &8220;A Night of Black and Blues,&8221; under the direction of Bonds with dance instructors Deborah Austin and Megan Maybin. The University of West Alabama band, under the direction of Glenn Smith, will perform &8220;1970&8217;s Rock and Roll Show.&8221;

After all the bands have performed, they will all join on the field for a final formation. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Stadium. Admission is $3.