The 10th-annual free concert “Music Across the Sound” will be presented by the Hyde County Mainland & Ocracoke Arts Committees; East Carolina Bank; Hyde County government; Tideland Electric; Beaufort County Arts Council; and the North Carolina Arts Council at 7 p.m. March 2, at the Mattamuskeet High School gym.

Following Hurricane Isabel in 2003, Gary Mitchell, David Tweedie and other Molasses Creek band members from Ocracoke decided to bring some musical joy across the Pamlico Sound to Mainland Hyde County where the storm had left a wake of devastation. Their first concert was in early 2004, and the tradition has continued on the first Saturday in March every year since.

Many eastern North Carolina musicians, storytellers and other performers share their talents during this highly anticipated event. In addition to Hyde County’s own Molasses Creek, this year’s line-up includes Gloria Burrus and the Snow Hill Gospel Chorus, the Ocracoke Jazz Society, the Believers Trio, Coleman Davis, Joe Spencer; John Golden, Captain Rob & Sundae; What Dies Inside and April Trueblood.