By Adrienne Fouts
Classic Carolinas music group The Tams, a favorite of beach music fans and shag dancers, will perform Friday, July 8 at the community of Newland’s free summer concert series.
Ever since the 1960s, The Tams have been famous along the beaches of North and South Carolina, playing clubs centered around shag dancing and performing songs that became standards in beach and dance music.
“Carolina beach music and the shag has become sort of a cultural phenomenon,” said Steve York, member of the Greater Newland Association. “The Tams still command a huge following from that generation, as well as younger people who have been introduced to that style of dancing.”
Even in the mountains, The Tams’ style of music can be very popular. Locals who regularly went to the beach for vacations grew up with the music, York said. In addition, people from other areas of North Carolina, South Carolina and even Georgia who have summer homes in the High Country and are fans of The Tams would come out to see them play.
The Newland summer concert series is organized and sponsored by the Greater Newland Association, formerly known as the Newland Business Association. This group has the purpose of enhancing the community of Newland as well as promoting smaller, surrounding communities such as Mineola, Elk Park and Linville Falls. It is a completely volunteer organization and raises money through membership dues and fundraising events.
The summer concert series began as a way to draw people to the Newland community, to celebrate the area and to just be a fun event for locals and visitors alike.
“We try to get a sense of what the people want,” York said. “We try to attract people from other towns into Newland, spend some tourism dollars here and walk away with a good feeling in their hearts about the community.”
The concert series is held in Newland Riverwalk Park at a covered stage from 6 to 9 p.m. York suggests that visitors arrive a little before 6 p.m. in order to find parking. The music will take place rain or shine, but in the case of heavy rain or storms it will be moved to the Avery High School gym.
In addition to the free live music, a 50/50 cash drawing is held in which 10% of the proceeds go to charity and the winner takes home 50% of the remaining money. Last week, the winner of the drawing, announced halfway through the concert, won over $600.
Food and drinks will also be for sale, and concert-goers are allowed to bring their own coolers, but hard liquor and open display of other alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
York and the Greater Newland Association expect that The Tams, as well as the rest of the bands in the concert series, will draw a large crowd and show people that Newland is a great, fun place to visit in the High Country.
“Music is one thing that unites people from all walks of life,” York said. “These concerts are free, so people can just come out, pull out their chairs and enjoy.”
For more information on the weekly concerts, visit greaternewland.org.
2016 Newland Riverwalk Summer Concerts:
- June 17: Soul Benefactor
- June 24: Mama’s Remedy
- July 1: The Johnson Brothers
- July 8: The TAMS
- July 15: Swing Set
- July 22: Maybe, Maybe Not
- July 29: Arvel Byrd
- Aug. 5: Dave Calvert Collective
- Aug. 12: The Lucky Strikes
- Aug. 19: Road Tripp Band
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