Up & Coming Weekly

Summer Collins — A Small Girl With a Big Voice by ERINN CRIDER CHARLIE MIKE’S PUB 195 Star Point Road • 826-6453 Tues. Open Jam — Bring your own instrument July 16 Brad Benson THE DOGHOUSE 3049 Owen Dr. • 910-826-9761 www.thedoghousegroup.com July 14 Mike Odonell July 16 Bender July 17 Swampdawamp July 18 Johnson Kinlaw HUSKE HARDWARE- HOUSE 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com Thurs. 80’s Ladies Night Fri. & Sat. Live DJ and Dancing IT’Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave. • 910-826-4635 www.itzentertainmentcity.com July 14 Spare Change July 16 Staircase July 17 Rubberband July 21 Fantasy July 23 The Fabulous Kays July 28 Coastline JESTER’S PUB 6577 Fisher Road • 910-426-5800 www.jesterspub.com July 16 Days of the New Aug. 7 Sick Puppies Aug. 15 Nappy Roots Sept. 17 American Idol runner up Bo Bice LIDOS — THE EURO SPOT 102 Person St. • 222-8237 Wed. Karaoke Thurs. Live Music Fri. & Sat. Top 40 Dance Club PADDY’S 2 606B Raeford Rd. • 910-677-0055 www.paddygibneypub.com Wed. Steel Tip Dart Competition Thurs. Autumn Nicholas, Paddy & Bill Fri. Paddy & Bill POINDEXTER’S SALOON 115 Dunn Rd. • 433-2089 Wed. Bike Night with live music July 10 Reactor Band THE ROCK SHOP MUSIC HALL 128 S. King St. • 910-321-ROCK www.therockshoplive.com July 14 Indulge Fashion Show July 15 The Independents/The Villians/ The Missfi ts/The Shotdowns July 16 The Crash & Burn Tour/Team Cybergeist/Fractured Fairytales/ Sister Kill Cycle July 17 Nephilym/The Fifth/Messenger of Hope/Valhalla/Untold SOUTHERN STYLE SALOON 4939 Bragg Blvd. • 860-1787 THE STRIKE ZONE 3319 Raeford Rd. • 677-9900 THEE BACK DOOR BAR & GRILL 3109 N. Main St., Hope Mills • 429-9913 CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here’s your opportunity. We will feature all local bands in our Concert Connection, but it’s going to take a little effort on your part. 1. E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com for our Q&A. 2. Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. 3. Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. 4. Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM A small girl with a big voice and an even bigger heart would sufficiently describe Summer Collins in just a few words, but more elaborately she is a local teen who is making a name for herself as a young performer in the community. She started performing at about eight years old as the typical little kid who enjoys music and things like church choruses, recitals and school performances, but then she started to rise above her peers. She was selected twice for the prestigious North Carolina State and Honors Choir, but it Local teen Summer Collins shares her love of music and performing. has been in the past few months that she’s begun performing as a solo artist. “The first time I performed outside of a school or church setting was completely impromptu after a guitar lesson at the beginning of this year. I walked across the street from the guitar lesson at United Methodist Church to my parents restaurant Huske Hardware House in historic downtown, and just sat down near the bar and started playing and singing; people kept asking for more so I played and sang all I could,” Collins explained. Collins is inspired by a medley of musical minds such as Taylor Swift because of her relatable songs and the Zac Brown Band because the songs are easy to sing along with, but she says that her first inspiration is Beyonce. “I have many people I look up to in music. Even though I would say I have a country/pop sound, the first person who is an inspiration is, believe it or not, Beyonce! I look up to her because she is such a powerful singer and woman,” says Collins. When asked what her favorite part of performing was Collins responded “In simple terms, my favorite part about performing is well, performing! I love being up on the stage, singing into a microphone, and seeing the faces out in the crowd. I just feel amazing when I perform and often find myself not want- ing to leave the stage. I feel very good when I can see that there is someone I’ve touched with a song, or just made happier in general.” Now branching out from the local scene, Collins has formed a band called “Summerfield” with her cousin Isaac Ball, and is planning on releas- ing a CD, and has even had some offers from producers and labels out of Nashville, but she says, “it has been flattering to receive invitations from a few record labels and producers out of Nashville thus far, but we are building this from the ground-up instead, and staying in control of our music, perfor- mances and lives.” And her advice for anyone who wants to start performing is, “I’m not an expert, but if anyone wants to perform, but never has, they should know these things. • You shouldn’t be shy when you’re performing; look people in the eyes and really sing for them — try to touch their heart with your music, words, and demeanor. • Come prepared! I have messed up a lot while performing and it’s not good to feel uneasy on stage. That’s why you have to really practice perfectly prior to performing so that you can breeze through your performance without having to worry. • Have fun! Performing’ is something you can’t get away from if you want to be a singer so you should make the most of it. Don’t be afraid to really get into the music. Maybe even tell a joke or two and get the crowd laughing! Just don’t mess up the jokes like I have while on stage!” ERINN CRIDER, Intern COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. JULY 14-20, 2010 UCW 19

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