Aerosmith joins the Boston Pops for 4th of July concert

The Boston Pops, one of the most well known orchestras in the country, will offer audiences a new twist for its annual 4th of July concert.

Aerosmith will join the Pops' Tuesday concert as the orchestra celebrates the nation's birthday from the Charles River. The move is part of the orchestra's "Pops on the Edge" series, which began in 2005 to incorporate modern rock artists into their sound.

Elvis Costello, My Morning Jacket and Aimee Mann are among the acts that have joined the Pops onstage since the series began.

"This is a way to help ensure that the 20-somethings of today will remember who the Boston Pops are," said Dennis Alves, the orchestra's director of artistic planning.

The annual 4th of July concert has been a holiday favorite since it began in 1974, famous for its renditions of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and its dazzling fireworks show.