Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 14 UCW JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 2023 EVENT e Summer Concert Series pres- ents Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot Friday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Gates Four Golf & Country Club Pavilion. "We have had a busy summer and we are continuing until November," said Gary Lowder, leader of the band Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot. "We have performed at the Virginia Beach Music Festival, the upcoming North Carolina Oyster Festival, the North Carolina Seafood Festival and anything that has fish or seafood in it, we are there." "Smokin' Hot has been together about 14 years and we are a full-time eight-piece R & B Soul Party Band," said Lowder. "We play a lot of the music that people grew up with such as KC & e Sunshine Band, Kool & e Gang and our own original music that gets a lot of airplay across the region." He added, "We play a lot of line dance music for our dancing crowd, Shag music for the shaggers and the newer cover music for our young crowd." Lowder has always had a love for music and was exposed to it at an early age. "I have been involved in music since I was a teenager and I have played music in and out of the country," said Lowder. "I grew up in the Carolinas and in 1982 I moved to Minneapolis." His backstory is while living in Min- neapolis, he had groups that per- formed for various festivals and corpo- rate events. e last year that he lived there his bass player and keyboard player were hired by the late singer, musician and producer Prince. He decided to move back to the Car- olinas and had no intentions of getting back into the music industry, but low and behold, he began working with a few musical groups and decided to put his own group back together. His efforts finally formed into the band that it is today, Smokin' Hot. "When I lived in Fayetteville origi- nally I was part of a group called Hot Smokin' Brass and we were Jackie Wilson's back-up band for several years until he had a stroke and I kind of borrowed part of the name of that band and created my own band when I moved back to the coast," said Lowder. eir last CD had four number one hits that are played on known countdowns. In 2021, Lowder was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year from e Carolina Beach Music Association. When asked what can the audience expect from the band's performance at the Summer Con- cert Series, Lowder promises the audience will enjoy themselves because the band knows how to move the crowd. "You are going to hear some of your favorite music that you have grown up listening to and we look forward to seeing you at the show." e event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., food and drinks start at 6 p.m. For more information on the band visit www.garylowdermusic.com For more information about the Gates Four Summer Concert Series or to purchase VIP seating visit https:// www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/ Summer Concert Series features Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot by DR. SHANESSA FENNER Contributing Writers Wanted Join the Up & Coming team Contact editor@upandcomingweekly.com (910) 484-6200 Use your creative talents to promote community events (people, concerts, theater, festivals, sports, etc.) Basic writing and interviewing skills needed Intern opportunities available for college students C u st o m C a teri n g by T w o B r o t h ers Specializing In: Weddings, Corporate Events, Holiday Parties, Special Banquets & More! eVineNC.com or TwoBrothersCateringNC.com 806 Katie Street Fayetteville NC (O Owen Drive behind O-Reilly's) Make your special day one that everyone will remember! Call 910-584-9892 Th e Vine Affordable , Romantic & Private Custom Catering By:Two Brothers Serving You Since 2004 DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Principal, WT Brown Elementary School. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweek- ly.com. 910-484-6200. Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot will perform at the Gates Four Summer Concert Series on Aug. 4.