Alive After Five is here, with 2013’s expanded slate of shows to reverberate in downtown Clinton starting this Thursday.
On the heels of two successful years, the third annual Alive After Five Summer Concert Series will kick off with a performance from versatile dance and show band North Tower.
AA5 committee member and event organizer Ray Jordan said the response from sponsors has been tremendous, with many familiar faces on board and a few new ones throwing their support behind the annual event, which is presented by the Sampson Arts Council, the City of Clinton and Sampson County.
“We currently have 101 sponsors including all categories,” said Ray Jordan. “We have four food vendors, including Dairy Queen of Clinton, Simply Delicious, Duplin Winery and Kaleel’s City Grill. It looks like it is going to be great weather and we are looking forward to a great summer concert series.”
Major sponsors include Evans Catering, Party Perfect Rentals, The Sampson Independent, Duke Energy, Centurylink, Ford of Clinton, Nissan of Clinton, Boogie Shoes Radio Network and Star Vision’s “We Should Know,” as well as primary sponsors Sampson Arts Council, the City of Clinton and Sampson County.
The shows are slated for every third Thursday May through September at the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street.
As with other shows, “gates” will open at 5 p.m. Thursday. The concert is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. and last until 8:30 p.m. DJ Robert Stroud of the Boogie Shoes Radio Network will start at 5 p.m. and play for about half an hour leading up to the show. On Thursday, there will be a presentation prior to the show.
“We will kick off at 5 p.m. with DJ Robert Stroud,” said Jordan, “and at 5:30 p.m. we will have the announcement of the City of Clinton/Arts Council Recycle Art Contest with the mayor and unveiling of the recycle truck with the artwork on the truck.”
A sponsors reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and there will be 2013 Alive After Five T-Shirts available for sale at the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lounge chair. There are no coolers or pets allowed.
AA5 committee members work hard behind the scenes to organize the annual event, said Clinton-Sampson Planning director and AA5 event organizer Mary Rose, often prepping for the next year’s event even while this one is ongoing. She said organizers were looking forward to offering a fifth concert date this year.
“Going into the third year we are looking forward to providing the citizens of Clinton and Sampson County with a fifth concert event in September,” Rose said. “The public requested another event and we are so pleased to be able to provide one because of our generous sponsors. We have added several new sponsors this year and are pleased with several sponsors who have increased their sponsor level due to their positive experience with past event.”
Following North Tower this week, high-energy band Spare Change will perform in June. July features “America’s Number One Show Band” The Voltage Brothers, and Steve Owens and Summertime will bring their award-winning beach music to town in August. No stranger to Alive After Five, the Fantastic Shakers will close out the summer in style in September.
AA5 committee members and event organizers have encouraged everyone to visit the downtown to take in live music, as well as enjoy cool beverages, vendor booths and food. Touted as a family-friendly event, the concert series offers a quality show with no cost to concert-goers.
From the event’s inception in 2011, even well before then, Jordan said, it has truly been a community effort to put on something worthwhile and free to everyone, an event that families across Sampson and surrounding counties could really enjoy while in the process visiting a growing downtown Clinton and supporting local merchants.
“Alive After Five has been a wonderful addition to our downtown event lineup and well received and supported by downtown business owners and the citizens of Clinton and Sampson County,” said Rose. “ The partnership between the Sampson Arts Council, Sampson County and the City of Clinton is a natural partnership which, with the support of our sponsors, works very well.”
Jordan said the 2013 series seeks to build on the success of past series that featured the likes of Jim Quick & Coastline, John Brown & the Groove Shop Band, Band of Oz and Liquid Pleasure, to name a few. A new slate of bands will continue what has quickly become a popular local tradition.
“It’s going to be a great concert with a great band North Tower to kick off the season,” Jordan said.
For more information, visit www.aliveafterfiveclintonnc.com or the “Alive After Five Clinton NC” Facebook page.
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 121 or via email at cberendt@civitasmedia.com.
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