‘Alive’ for another season

Another slate of shows for the Alive After Five Concert Series has been announced, with five performances set to take the stage in downtown Clinton from May to October.

The five shows for the 2024 Alive After Five Concert Series will begin with The Embers featuring Craig Woolard on May 23; and continue on with the Carolina Dreamers on June 20; The Band of Oz on Aug. 22; Liquid Pleasure on Sept. 26; and Jim Quick and Coastline closing out the season on Oct. 24.

All concerts will be held from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street in Clinton, and are offered free to the public. A partnership between the Sampson Arts Council, County of Sampson and City of Clinton, Alive After Five (AA5) is funded through donations and no governmental financial support.

Since its inception, there have been well over 50 free shows presented as part of the series.

“The 2024 Alive After Five Concert Series is bringing a diverse mix of music to the stage that will ultimately bring locals and visitors together for one of our community’s most widely anticipated events,” Ross Kimbro, local DJ and Alive After Five committee member said. The Alive After Five concert series is coordinated by Alive After Five Committee members, including Kimbro, Kaitlin Adkins, Kara Donatelli, J.P. Duncan, Darrell Jones, Ray Jordan, J.W. Simmons, Steve Tanner and Cody Smith.

The series is able to be presented free thanks to continued support from more than 100 sponsors, whose financial contributions make the series possible. The AA5 Committee is now seeking sponsors for the 2024 season, with the deadline set at April 20.

Food vendors and exhibitors will be on hand offering various food and beverage options. Concert-goers can also visit with local businesses who help sponsor the series. Those sponsors will receive T-shirts, parking passes and tickets to sponsor’s receptions held throughout the season along with many other benefits associated with each level of support. Sponsors are also recognized on prominently placed sponsor signs.

In addition to the outstanding musical lineup, Alive After Five will offer an array of attractions for attendees to enjoy, including the beer garden.

“This 14-year-old concert series is a community favorite and brings thousands of people to the streets of downtown in early summer and fall each year,” said longtime committee member Darrell Jones. “Its success is due heavily to the community’s support and the collaborative efforts of the Sampson Arts Council, City of Clinton, County of Sampson, and the over 10 sponsors who make the series possible.”

Added Clinton Mayor Lew Starling, “The City of Clinton appreciates and values the excitement that Alive After Five series creates and how much it contributes to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of both Clinton and Sampson County.”

The five-concert series is presented at the Clinton City Market, 215 Lisbon St., Clinton. Admission is free to the public, however, those 21 and older wishing to consume alcohol will need to purchase a wristband for $2. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sunscreen. No coolers, pets, or outside alcohol are allowed.

For more information on the shows or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.alivefterfiveclintonnc.com.

A look at the lineup

Kicking off the season on Thursday, May 23, is a regular to the AA5 stage: The Embers featuring Craig Woolard.

The Embers boast multiple albums and single releases that span decades and all the crazes. Having been inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame, The Embers carry the moniker of “North Carolina’s Official Ambassadors of Music.”

On Thursday, June 20, the Carolina Dreamers will make their first appearance on the AA5 stage.

Formed seven years ago, but featuring a pedigree that stretches back to the 70s and 80s, the Carolina Dreamers have been delivering a variety of musical genres including beach, funk, rock, Motown, country and disco.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, after a two-month hiatus for the series, the legendary Band of Oz will take a familiar spot on the AA5 stage.

Better known as BOZ, the eight-member group complete with a full horn section performs over 200 concerts per year. In addition to performing many of their No. 1 hit songs, they offer the best in beach, R&B and Motown; as well as some of today’s most popular dance and top 40 hits. The Band of Oz was formed in 1967 as a part-time band playing fraternity parties and high school proms all over the South. In 1977, the band went on the road full time. Since that time the band has made a name for itself throughout the Southeast, winning numerous Cammy Awards from the Carolina Beach Music Association.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Liquid Pleasure will take the AA5 spotlight.

is a band of friends-turned-brothers, who have an incredible passion for putting on a show for others. The band’s leader, “Big Kenny,” whose wisecracks and comedy, along with mesmerizing choreography, are synchronized with the band’s seamless blend of music from their repertoire.

Closing out the season on Thursday, Oct. 24, is Jim Quick and Coastline.

Like their namesake Atlantic Coastline Railroad, the group has been traveling the “tracks” of the Southeast, and connecting with the hearts of loyal “Coastline Crazies.” Pulling from the threads of Soul, Blues, R&B, and Americana, Jim Quick and Coastline weave together their own genre of music known as Swamp Soul.