2008 Downtown Concert Series

Presented by
 
Pride of Kinston

June 12—Chairman of the Board

Beach music legends, The Chairman of the Board have been honored with a permanent display of music indigenous to the Carolinas. The display is exhibited at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, located in Wilmington, North Carolina.

General Johnson and The Chairman of the Board have also been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, as well as the North Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.

Event Sponsor - R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company

June 26—Jackie Gore and the Legends of Beach

Legends of Beach is a new group composed of eight musicians including five former members of the Beach Music group the Embers.

Lead singer, Jackie Gore is the writer and original lead voice on the beach music classic, "I Love Beach Music". Other former Embers are Gerald Davis, Jeff Grimes , Mark Black, and Johnny Barker, who wrote the beach music classic, "Summertime's Calling Me".

Event Sponsor - First South Bank

July 10—Liquid Pleasure

This band of guys who have been like brothers, love being in touch with people like them, who love a variety of good music, and appreciate hearing it performed live, by a great dance and show band. In the early years the band was paired with greats like, Chuck Berry, Eddie Floyd and Ben E. King and later, Whitney Houston, The Four Tops, TheTempations and Aretha Franklin.

Event Sponsor - First Citizens Bank

July 24—The Grass Cats

After performing primarily in North Carolina for the past 10 years and releasing six very successful CD’s, The Grass Cats bring their lively foot-stomping fiddle and banjo music, bluegrass classics, tight vocal harmonies and “a capella” style gospel quartets to Sand in the Streets.

Songwriter and mandolin player Russell Johnson started The Grass Cats with original members Tim Woodall (banjo) and Chris Hill (fiddle) in 1997. Russell’s soaring tenor compliments guitarist Steven Martin’s richly textured country-tinged lead vocal. Lloyd Herring, the Cats bass player or Tim add the third part harmony that is such a big part of the Cats vocal arsenal.

Event Sponsor - Bojangles

July 31—The Embers

After seventeen albums and numerous single releases, The Embers are one of the most popular bands as well as one of the most active groups in the country. The new generation of the group consistently sustains an average of three hundred dates per year reaching every corner of the world. Their performances have captivated audiences of all ages and walks of life, which include presidents, princes, celebrities, students, and bankers.

Event Sponsor - Perry Management

August 14—Band of Oz

The Band of Oz is one of the most successful groups in the Southeast, and continues to get the very best reviews. The band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group - beach music at its finest. (The Band of Oz started in Grifton, NC.)

Event Sponsor - King's Restaurant