Before I write about tonight’s Beatles Singalong at The Old Stone in Bend — a benefit and birthday bash for the local community radio station, KPOV — let’s engage in some full disclosure: I have a weekly show on the station. I play music. I love doing it.

I am not going to tell you that my show is awesome and that you should tune in. I’m not even going to tell you its name or when it airs.

What I am going to tell you is that you should attend tonight’s shindig for reasons that are entirely separate from my affiliation with KPOV.

You should attend because an independent, nonprofit, noncommercial radio station — a place where your fellow citizens decide what news, music and opinion airs, not some corporate official in another town — is an absolutely vital part of a healthy music scene.

And we can all agree that we want a healthy music scene, right?

Anyway, about tonight: This is the eighth annual Beatles Singalong, in which local bands take to The Old Stone stage and play songs by the Fab Four, with attendees encouraged to sing along. It is, by all accounts, a wonderful time.

This year’s band lineup includes All You All, David Bowers, The Rock Hounds, The Rum and the Sea, Come Together, Tuesday Morning String Band and Gospel Choir of the Cascades.

The event doubles as KPOV’s birthday party, so there will be food, drinks and birthday cake available, as well as a silent auction, a ukulele raffle, and ’60s-period costume and trivia contests.

KPOV’s Beatles Singalong; 7 tonight, doors open 6:30 p.m.; $12, $10 (KPOV members) in advance, $15 at the door, $5 for younger than 18, $40 per family; advance tickets available at the website and phone number below and 501 N.W. Bond St., Bend; The Old Stone, 157 N.W. Franklin Ave., Bend; www.kpov.org or 541-322-0863.