Up & Coming Weekly

April 19, 2016

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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18 APRIL 20-26, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM You have only to drive down the winding streets of Morganton Road to know that the Dogwood Festival is imminent. The beautiful trees that line the quiet streets are in full bloom. Colder weather is slowly retreating and warmer days that stretch out through the evening are driving Fayetteville residents outdoors. On Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m., the 34th Annual Dogwood Festival will make the community's claim on Spring official. The Fayet teville Dog wood Festival is a 501c4 nonprofit organization, commit ted to providing a variet y of family-centered activities held downtown and around town. This is done to entertain, promote new business, enhance a positive communit y image, at tract visitors, share cultural and recreational opportunities of our communit y, encourage unit y through the celebration of our diversit y, promote the education of our rich history and foster civic pride. Started in 1982, the festival has grown incrementally each year with the addition of events. In 1997, the festival spawned the Miss Fayet teville Dog wood Festival. In 2000, it switched from a 10-day event to a three- day festival. In 2007, the festival made the move from Hay Street to Festival Park, which facilitated a major event in 2011, with more than 250,000 people at tending the three day festival.This year's festival is sure to keep the momentum going , with communit y sponsors supporting the event not only financially, but also with their participation. The festival will kick-off at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22 with the Bloom & Boom Party. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the firework finale will end the evening, following a country concert that is sure to get the crowd rocking. The show open at 6:30 p.m., with Annelle, a local performer who wowed Fayetteville residents during the Dogwood Fall Festival with her vocals and ukulele skills. She will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by The Lacs. From South Georgia, the group is known for its country/rap/rock blends, which are referred to as hick hop. The ban is comprised of Brian 'Rooster' King and Clay 'Uncle Snap' Sharpe. King and Sharpe met when King moved to Sharpe's hometown of Baxley, Georgia. Both are fans of artists like Garth Brooks, Metallica and Tupac, the two immediately connected. The pair built up a following selling their music at parties and parking lots where they were eventually picked up by Average Joes Entertainment – a record label based out of Atlanta and Nashville. Having released their fifth album Outlaw In Me last May, the group is soon to embark on their Out Here Tour. The final act of the night is national performer Chris Janson. The singer, songwriter, harmonica and guitar player is a multi-talented, all-star, hit-the-ball- out-of-the-park country artist. From Perryville, Missouri, Janson made his way to the music scene performing at legendary music venues like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and the Grand Ole Opry. He has opened for artists such as Florida Georgia Line, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan and Merle Haggard, and has written for artists like Justin Moore and Tim McGraw. His hit single "Buy Me A Boat" is now certified Platinum, and he recently premiered the music video for his other single "Power of Positive Drinkin." He was named on MusicRow's 2016 Next Big Thing Artists list and will be performing with Blake Shelton on his winter tour before making his appearance at the Dogwood Festival. On Friday night, the Midway will also open at 6 p.m., featuring $25 all-you- can-ride wrist bands. Rides include the Freak Out, Screamer and Drop Tower. Of course, all of the great – but not-so-good-for-you food that we all love during festivals will be available for sale. On Saturday, the festival will run from noon to 10 p.m., and along with live entertainment and the midway, the Partnership for Children's Kidstuff will also be in full swing from noon to 6 p.m. You can also visit sponsor booths for great information and giveaways. On Saturday, Motorjunkie, a local hard-rock band will open the entertainment stage at 5:30 p.m. The band will be followed by Jack Russell's Great White. Jack Russell – formerly of the legendary Los Angeles rock band Great White – was a part of many chart-topping hits such as "Once Bitten Twice Shy" and "Rock Me." His new band, Jack Russell's Great White, will give a show that pays homage to his past work, but also gives fans a new "modern metallic" sound for the new millennium. The final act of the evening begins at 9 p.m., and features Tom Keifer of Cinderella fame. Keifer was the frontman of the Philadelphia-based mid-80s rock band Cinderella. The band marked its spot in rock n' roll history having sold more than 15 million records worldwide and producing hits like "Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)," "Nobody's Fool," "Shake Me" and "Somebody Save Me," to name a few. Keifer's rock star spirit will jump off stage as he performs old classics and new hits such as "Solid Ground" and "Not Enough" from his recent solo album The Way Life Goes. Also on Saturday, Anchored Aerial Attractions will take over Hay Street. These art-of-movement performance troupes focus in the circus disciplines of acrobatics, trapeze, aerial, silks and hoop dance. Fayetteville's own Air Born Aerials will perform mind blowing airborne stunts, followed by Raleigh based Cirque de Vol Studios, who will be performing. On Sunday, from noon-3:30 p.m. Festival Stage will welcome A Tribute to the Legends of Soul featuring The Crooners at 1 p.m. Get ready to tap your feet and snap your fingers to Motown! This Motown tribute show will include jazzy and rhythmic renditions of classic hits from groups like The Temptations. For a complete schedule of events and festival rules, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com. Spring Dogwood Festival Opens With Headliner Chris Janson by JANICE BURTON JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? edi- tor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Chris Janson, headliner for Friday's concerts at the Spring Dog- wood Festival in Downtown Fayetteville

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