WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
22 UCW MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2022
Fayetteville's summer concert
series, Rock'n on the River, is back
for the third year. e events will
be held once a month on Fridays
from May to October and feature
a variety of performers, from local
acts to tribute bands.
e series is billed as a place
where families can relax and
listen to great music. e commu-
nity is invited to bring chairs and
blankets and settle in for a night
of family-friendly entertainment
along the Cape Fear River.
"I want people to come out
and bring the family and enjoy
themselves, and have some food
and have some drinks," said event
organizer Greg Adair.
e series started in 2019 when
Adair realized there weren't many
activities for families after the
Dogwood Festival in the spring.
"I just wanted another concert
series where people can go have
a drink, take the family and enjoy
themselves," he said.
"And that's what we created,
and it just took off."
e first year the series had
three shows, and the next year,
they doubled to six. e pandemic
forced cancelations in 2020, but
they were able to bring it back in
2021.
Attendance has grown over the
years, proving that the community
wanted an event like this. One of
the most popular nights in previ-
ous years brought in more than
1000 people.
Adair knows the importance of
supporting local businesses after
the shutdowns of the last two
years, so all the event partners are
from the area.
"When we went through 2020
[we] saw all these [businesses]
really struggle to stay open," he
said. "It's something we owe our
community— to shop local. ey
have struggled for a year, almost
two years now, and just barely
getting back on their feet."
He acknowledges that local
businesses do not have to support
events during downtimes, but
they have stepped up to provide
free entertainment for the com-
munity.
"ey are still supporting these
shows so people can have a free
place to go," he said. "ere is a lot
to be said about that."
e season will kick off May 13
with opener Dark Horse (country)
and headliner ABACAB (Genesis/
Phil Collins tribute). Parking will
open at 5 p.m., and the first band
starts at 6 p.m. e second band
will perform at 8 p.m. and end at
10:15 p.m.
Additional Rock'n on the River
concerts are planned for June 17,
Stone Whiskey (southern rock)
and e Fifth (80s hard rock); July
22, Autumn Tyde (beach/R&B)
and REV ON (Foreigner tribute);
August 19, Regional Band Blowout
with 80s Unleashed, Guy Un-
ger Band and Rivermist (Adair's
band); September 16, Reflections
II (party music) and KISS ARMY
(KISS tribute); October 21, Joyner
Young & Marie (pop) and Night
Train (Guns N' Roses tribute).
ere is no admission charge for
the event, but parking is $15 per
car. Food and drinks are available
for purchase on-site, so concert-
goers should only plan to bring
chairs or a blanket. e series is
held at 1122 Person St. behind
Deep Creek Grill.
Follow the event Facebook
page for updates at www.face-
book.com/Rockn-On-e-Riv-
er-271048666818630.
EVENT
(Above) ABACAB, a Genesis and Phil Collins tribute band, will headline the May 13 opening of the
Rock'n on the River concert series. (Below) Dark Horse, a country music band, will open the concert.
(All photos this page courtesy Rock'n on the River concert series)
Rock'n on the River concert series kicks off in May
by CINDY WHITT
CINDY WHITT, Staff Writer. COM-
MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweek-
ly.com. 910-484-6200
Future concerts will feature Joyner Young & Marie (above) and REV ON (below).
