"Battle of Bands" Emcee & Music Judges Announced

Not only will a variety of music be served with the “Battle of the Bands” on September 18, but the season finale of the Clayton Town Square Concert Series will be seasoned with comedy since comedian Leroy Seabrooks has been named to emcee the event.



The Clayton Town Square Concert Series is presented by the Clayton Downtown Development Association (CDDA). The “Battle of the Bands” begins at 7:00 pm.

Leroy Seabrooks (left) has been performing for more than 15 years headlining at comedy clubs across the country. He has even opened for Jay Leno, Ray Charles and Pattie LaBelle. Seabrooks will introduce the five bands scheduled for the “Battle of the Bands” and entertain while each band sets up with routines about his childhood, raising his own children and advice on keeping relationships going. “Leroy is very entertaining and will keep us engaged during each break,” said Lyn Austin, CDDA’s Promotion Committee chair. “We’re very excited to have him as our emcee.”

Five bands from the Triangle region will perform at the Clayton Town Square Concert Series “Battle of the Bands”, a first-time event, on September 18. Only the top 3 bands will receive prizes of $1000, $500, and $250 respectively. The bands, in alphabetical order, are: Hip Sauce, Sandbox Band, South Station, The Grey Area, and The Whistlestop.

Four judges have been named to determine the top three bands in the contest.

Jody L. McLeod is a native of Johnston County and a life-long resident of Clayton. In 2003 he was elected as Mayor of the Town of Clayton and he is the first mayor to serve a four-year term. Mayor McLeod began his political career with the Town of Clayton in 1993 when he was elected to the Town Council as a Councilman and he also served asthe Mayor Pro Tem from 1995 to 1997. He currently serves on the Johnston Community College Foundation Board and the Johnston County Economic Development Board.



Bud Moffett is a New York native who spent 28 years in the music business as a lead singer, guitarist, and band leader. In touring extensively throughout the United States, and Canada, Bud has shared the stage with such music “legends” as, 3 Dog Night, Hank Williams Jr., The Band, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, The Marshall Tucker Band, Leon Russell, Delbert McClinton, and B.B King. Since moving to North Carolina 15 years ago, Bud has been a successful photographer, specializing in glamour and pageant photography.




By day, Cliff Morgan is a management consultant/trauma response specialist, at Nash Health Care Systems, in Rocky Mount, NC. By night, he co-owns, with his wife, Jodi Sager, the restaurant/music venue, The FlipSide, and coffee shop: The Coffee Mill, in downtown Clayton, at the corner of Second and Lombard Streets.





Heidi Stump is the Executive Director of The Clayton Center Auditorium and Conference Center. As Director, she selects and promotes shows for The Clayton Center Palladian Series and Sundays in Clayton performances. Prior to her position in Clayton, she served as the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Town of Cary following a career in event programming at college campuses in North Carolina and Virginia. She has served on numerous local and national artist selection panels for arts agencies.

The ballots will be tallied by Accounting Advantage, an accounting firm in downtown Clayton.

Refreshments available at the Town Square include pizza, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks. Although folding chairs and blankets are encouraged for people to sit on, coolers are not allowed.

Sponsors for the concert series include Town of Clayton, Time Warner Cable, Clayton News Star, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, and Clayton Steak House. Contributing sponsors include Avent-Permenter Group Appraisals, Clayton Glass & Mirror, Hometowne Realty, Matthews Motors and True Line Surveying.

If you plan to attend the concerts, consider dinner out before the music begins. Downtown Clayton offers a variety of restaurants for an enjoyable pre-show meal. Consider The FlipSide on 408 E Second Street, 553-0123, Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street, 553-2299; Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant 217 E Main Street, 550-7400 or El Sabor de Oaxaca, 226 E Main Street, 359-1477 for traditional Mexican cuisine. All are in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the Town Square.

The Town Square is in downtown Clayton and sits between West Main Street and S. O’Neil and Fayetteville streets. For further information call (919) 553-1545.