The 2009 Town Square Concert Series Line-up

The third season of Clayton’s Town Square Concert Series will feature headlining and popular bands, according to Lyn Austin, Promotion Committee chair for the Downtown Development Association. “We had incredible audiences last year and the lineup we have scheduled for this year should help to bring more people to downtown Clayton.” she said.

Returning to Clayton to open the outdoor concert series on May 21will be Liquid Pleasure, which was one of the most talked about performances last year. All concerts begin at 7:00 pm and will end around 9 pm.


May 21, Liquid Pleasure

June 18, Abbey Road Live!

July 16, Legends of Beach

August 20, Zydecopious

September 17, Band of Oz

Major sponsors for the concerts include, the Town of Clayton, Downtown Development Association, Clayton News Star and Time Warner Cable & Clayton Steakhouse. Contributing sponsors include Avent-Permenter Group, Clayton Glass & Mirror, Hometowne Realty, Johnston Health and Novo Nordisk. The Town Square is in downtown Clayton at 100 W Main Street between S. O’Neil and Fayetteville streets. For more information call (919) 553-1545 and for updates check the Downtown Clayton blog at www.downtownclayton.org.

Refreshments available at the Town Square will include pizza, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks and homemade ice cream. New this year will be the addition of Italian ice. Although folding chairs and blankets are encouraged for people to sit on, coolers are not allowed.

Liquid Pleasure
www.liquidpleasureband.com
In an industry where the average life of a band is about five years, Liquid Pleasure has set a new standard. As they enter their 20th year, they have firmly established themselves as the area’s premiere show and dance band! Three out of the six present musicians who make up Liquid Pleasure are original members. This type of consistency combined with exceptional talent sets Liquid Pleasure apart from the rest. Over the years, the band has appeared with such notable artists as Paula Abdul, The Temptations, Whitney Houston, The Four Tops, Stacy Lattisaw, Aretha Franklin and Jeffery Osborne.


Liquid Pleasure is: Kenny Mann (keyboards, leader, manager, comedian, wise-cracker and founding member); Melvin Farrington (bass guitar, original member); Leonard Hackney (lead guitar, original member); Cedric Hardin (drums); Darrin Johnson (lead guitar and background vocals); Vincent Poole (lead and background vocals)


Abbey Road Live!
www.abbeyroadlive.comSince 2002, Abbey Road LIVE! has been rocking the music of the Beatles at clubs, theatres, festivals, and private events. Initially a tribute to the monumental "Abbey Road" album, the band has expanded its scope to include more than 100 Beatles tunes, from all eras of the Fab Four's career. The band specializes in complete, start-to-finish album performances of masterpieces such as "Abbey Road", "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band".

Abbey Road LIVE! is not your typcial Beatle look-alike tribute act; don't expect mop-top haircuts and vintage Rickenbacker guitars. Rather, this show is about bringing to life some of the more mature and complex Beatles material in a raw & spirited fashion, while remaining true to the original recordings. Combining attention to detail with a creative exuberance, the band always delights its audiences with its diverse repertoire of hits and more obscure favorites.

Abbey Road LIVE! is made up of four all-star musicians from the infamous Athens GA music scene that gave the world R.E.M., Widespread Panic, and B-52s. Collectively the band members have recorded and toured regularly with Cosmic Charlie, Charlie Mars, and Fuzzy Sprouts. Individual band members have also collaborated with acts such as Indigo Girls, Juliana Hatfield, Mike Houser (Widespread Panic), Danielle Howle and Lemonheads.

While the four lads from Athens GA generally perform as a quartet, they have also been known to recruit the "Magical Mystery Horns" and the "Lonely Hearts Strings", lending authentic accompaniment to the more elaborately orchestrated tunes. The latest addition to the Abbey Road LIVE! musical arsenal is a real Indian sitar and tablas.

At a typical Abbey Road LIVE! show, audiences young and old can found gleefully singing along with every word, many in utter disbelief at getting to hear this monumental music performed live; something that even the Beatles themselves never did, since they stopped touring in 1966.

Legends of Beach
www.legendsofbeach.com
Legends of Beach is a new group composed of eight musicians including five former members of the Beach Music group the Embers. Lead singer, Jackie Gore is the composer and original lead voice on the beach music classic, "I Love Beach Music".
Other former Embers are Gerald Davis, Jeff Grimes , Mark Black, and Johnny Barker, who wrote the beach music classic, "Summertime's Calling Me". Additional musicians are Glenn Edwards -- drums, Rusty Smith -- trumpet, Scott Bailey -- trombone, and Seth Carper -- sax, along with Steve Davis, former sound technician with the Embers for 25 years.

The group will be playing the beach music classics they were known for in the '80's and '90's, as well as some brand new original beach music songs.

Zydecopious
www.zydecopious.com
A hot, swingin' Zydeco band guaranteed to make your feet happy! Their name means "ample amounts of zydeco," and that's what this new band promises dancers and listeners alike. Their debut in December 2006 at The Flipside in Clayton, followed by a special performance at Yancy's in Raleigh, prompted raves from all who experienced the band's unique sound.


Zydecopious offers up not only tunes that zydeco aficionados and dancers have come to know and love (such as "Have Mercy," "I'm Comin' Home," "My YaYa," "Born in the Country," "Midland Two-Step," "Give 'em Cornbread"), but it also plays songs that reflect the heavy R&B-tinged music of Louisiana and the other Gulf Coast states, such as "Baby Please Don't Go," "Diddie-Wah-Diddie," and "Iko-Iko." And always expect some surprises, as some popular hits of the past get the zydeco treatment (remember Peggy Lee's "Fever" from 1958 and Mongo Jerry's "In the Summertime" from 1970?).

Zydecopious is the Triangle's only local zydeco band. It includes Kenny Shore on frottoir; Tracy Wiebeck on bass; Mike Davis on guitar; Leo Briere on accordion; Ed Mezynski on Drums, and Mick Voiland on organ. They all invite you to listen, enjoy, tap your feet, and, most definitely, DANCE!

Band of Oz
www.bandofoz.com
The Band of Oz was formed in 1967 as a part-time band playing fraternity parties and high school proms all over the South. In 1977 the band went on the road full time.

Since that time the band has made an exceptional name for itself throughout the Southeast by playing the top clubs and corporate parties, and getting excellent reviews along the way. For several years the group has been a guest on most of the major beach concerts in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia. The Band of Oz is one of the most successful groups in the Southeast, and continues to get the very best reviews from the top people in the entertainment business. The band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group. They still perform well over two-hundred shows per year for corporate events, festivals, concerts, wedding receptions, and many other public and private events.