Just a few short months ago, summer beckoned. Trips to the beach, the mountains, the mall and visits to family filled the calendar. Now it’s back-to-school shopping and the fast pace of fall that demand attention. Don’t let go just yet. There is still time for one more concert under the stars before bidding summer adieu. On Friday, August 26, Fayetteville After 5 brings Firehouse to Festival Park.

The Charlotte-based band Firehouse headlines this concert. Glam metal at its finest, Firehouse rocked the charts in the 1990s with a series of singles:  “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “All She Wrote,” as well as their signature ballads “I Live My Life for You,” “Love of a Lifetime” and “When I Look Into Your Eyes.” In 1992 the band was named Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Band/Hard Rock New Artist at the American Music Awards, beating out Nirvana and Alice in Chains. Selling more than  6 million albums, the band tours internationally and plays in the U.S. as well.

In its quest to bring great entertainment to Fayetteville, Fayetteville After 5 is one venue that area artists can count on when it comes to providing opportunities for local musicians to share their talents. Hailing from the Pembroke/Lumberton area, Breathe New Life opens the concert.  The alternative/metal band is made up of performers from former locally well-known bands such as Lucid, When Words Fail, Mis2Mia, Driven and Tribal Conflict. Comprised of Mark McKinney performing lead vocals, Chris Locklear on guitar, James Hunt playing guitar and singing, Shay Jones on drums and Brandon Hall playing bass and piano and singing, all of the members are Native American.

Also in the lineup, Brad Benson’s music career started when he was 5. He played the piano. He picked up the guitar as a teen. His albums include Eternal Life, Smoke and Mirrors and Attitude. Benson hales from Kinston, N.C.

This season, Fayetteville After 5 added a new component to the concerts: food trucks. Everyone is sure to find something to tickle their taste buds and to wet their whistle. While fall is coming, it’s still really hot, so make sure you plan on purchasing lots of water or yummy lemonade to keep you hydrated while you dance the night away. Come hungry because there are 12-16 trucks slated to attend the concert. Sponsor Bud Light will have beer and refreshments for purchase as well. 

Come ready to sing, ready to dance, to eat, to drink. The gates open around 5 p.m. and the music lasts till 10:30 p.m. or so. Bring chairs or a blanket and enjoy the show. The concert falls on 4th Friday, which means an entire evening of culture. Enjoy the galleries, shops and businesses in downtown Fayetteville before the show. 

For more information about Fayetteville After 5, visit the website at www.faydogwoodfestival.com.