The local novelty band The Lawn Sausages will lead two dozen Capital Region bands and artists in a six-hour marathon playing of the song "Louie Louie" at a fundraiser in Wynantskill on Sunday, March 27, 2022.

WYNANTSKILL — The cult-favorite local novelty band The Lawn Sausages will lead a large roster of Capital Region musicians in a six-hour marathon playing just one song on Sunday. The result could be that the tune, the two-minute-long 1963 hit by the Kingsmen "Louie Louie," is performed more than 100 times.

"You just keep playing the song ad nauseam. It never stops for the whole six hours," said Art Fredettet, an original member of The Lawn Sausages and a co-sponsor of the event as the owner of the online station RadioRadioX. Other sponsors are the arts and culture magazine Xperience Monthly and Mirth Films, which specializes in music videos and live streaming.

The Louie Louie Marathon is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 1489, 111 Main Ave. Admission is by a suggested minimum donation of $10 at the door, with proceeds going to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Bar drinks and pub fare will be available for a-la-carte purchase.

In addition to The Lawn Sausages, bands and artists scheduled to perform include Soul Sky, Chris Busone, Faced, Smittix, Blackcat Elliot, Northern Borne, Brother T, The Erotics, Frank Cavone, Scotty Mac, Steve Candlen, Peggy of Troy, Brian Kane, Maurizio, The Bremners, Arya Chowdhury, Va Va Voodoos, Tony Pellegrino, Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers, Johnny Rabb, Jason Martin, Off The Record, Bill Milhizer, Count Jesse Von Sample and Dillon Rivers.

The first 100 patrons will receive a kazoo and be encouraged to participate in the song.

There is no kazoo part in the Kingmen's version of "Louie Louie," but, said Fredette, "If you're going to be silly, you might as well go the whole way with a kazoo."

Musicians will cycle on and off throughout the day, but the song won't stop.

"We'll have four guitar amps on stage, so if somebody wants to come on up and plug in, they can, and if somebody is done, they can just leave," Fredette said.

The Lawn Sausages' first "Louie Louie" marathon was in 1992, also for a food charity. It was held again a few years later but not since.

"With the 30th anniversary here," said Fredette, "we thought, 'What the hell — why not?'"

Steve Barnes has worked at the Times Union since 1996, served as arts editor for six years, and since 2005 has been a senior writer. He generally covers restaurants, food and the arts, and is the Times Union's restaurant columnist and theater critic. Steve was also a journalism instructor at the University at Albany for 12 years. You can reach him at sbarnes@timesunion.com or 518-454-5489.