Another summer of smooth sounds by the Cape Fear River starts soon as the Rock’n on the River Summer Concert Series tips off on May 24th and runs until September.
The community can catch the free concert series jam-packed with tribute bands, bringing the nostalgia of the ’80s, ’90s, and 00’s. Concerts start at 6 p.m. at Deep Creek Outfitters at Campbellton Landing located at 1122 Person Street. While the event is free, there will be a $10 fee for parking. Parking fees help the host, Deep Creek Outfitters, provide a safe and navigable parking lot for concertgoers.
There will be no outside coolers or food allowed, but chairs are allowed and highly encouraged. Security will be enforced and clear bags are recommended.
The event is presented by Healy Wholesale, which will be on-site selling cold brews for concertgoers and Deep Creek Grill will be slinging food from their stall at the event venue. Half of the proceeds from this year’s sales of food and beverages will go to the Karen Chandler Trust, a local cancer charity that provides local patients will a multitude of services during treatment, from rides to bill assistance.
Rock’n on the River founder and Rivermist member, Greg Adair, is pumped about this season's lineup and is enthusiastic to bring back this concert series.
“I wanted to have another place for folks across the river area and everybody else, it’s very convenient for everybody… I just wanted to create another concert series for people to enjoy, something to do,” Adair remarked on the beginnings of the concert series.
This year’s event has several sponsors, a sign the concert series is an asset to the community. Corporate sponsors include: Up & Coming Weekly, Deep Creek Outfitters, Bob 96.5, MinuteMaid Press, Sandy’s Automotive, Darling Ingredients, and Deep Creek Grill.
Bill Bowman, owner of F & B Publications, publisher of Up and Coming Weekly, and continuous sponsor of Rock’n on the River spoke about Adair and the projects led by him.
“I’ve known Greg Adair for many, many years… there is not anyone in this community, especially in the entertainment arena, that has more integrity… Just community-minded…I didn’t know him personally until he won Best of Fayetteville 8 years ago and realized what a tour de force he was in this community. Matter of fact, he’s won Best of Fayetteville 8 years in a row. The guy is phenomenal. He believes in music, he believes in musicians, he believes in the quality and purity of music. Adair is a stark music professional. He really values the art,” Bowman said.
“He was involved with several concert series, including the Karen Chandler Trust. He and I started looking at the needs here to promote live music, quality concerts, you know that would add value to the community and try to get it to all areas of the community. He created Rock’n on the River, which is just the perfect venue for a music concert and we wanted to help him promote that, really tell the story of the bands and their history, give people the awareness of what it is, more than just a musical concert. We also wanted to promote it so we could promote those other people, like Healy Wholesale and some of the other major people who step up, too.”

Rock’n on the River Schedule

May 24
• 6 p.m. Mostley Crüe- Motley Crüe Tribute Band. See more about them at https://www.mostleycrue.com/
• 8 p.m. Shoot to Thrill- All Female AC/DC Tribute Band
Shoot to Thrill is a female AC/DC Tribute Band based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Members, Susan, Kara, Jai, Wendy, and Kate tour the East Coast playing the best of the acclaimed rock band. Visit their website at https://www.shoot2thrillband.com/band

June 21
• 6 p.m. Joyner, Young & Marie and Friends - 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s Pop. For more information, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Joyner-Young-and-Marie-100063664837105/
• 8 p.m. Autumn Tyde- 70’s and 80’s Variety
Autumn Tyde brings the sounds of beach, oldies, rhythm and blues, Billboard Top 100, and hit originals to their audiences as a newly formed group (2022) based out of North Carolina. Members Doyle Wood, Ted Ray (TR), Bob James, Dez Humphrey, and Russell Garland have been playing gigs all over North Carolina including the 2022 Kinston Barbeque Festival. Their Facebook page has more information at https://www.facebook.com/autumntyde/

July 19
• 6 p.m. Dalton Davis- Country
Making sure the country fans get a night to celebrate too, North Carolina-based country music artist, Dalton Davis will hit the stage with his original hits, like current single Wild Child. See more about them at https://www.instagram.com/_daltondavis_/?hl=en
• 8 p.m. ZZ Top Notch- ZZ Top Tribute
Formed in 2022 by members Chuck Sirko, John Hubacheck and Joe Synder, ZZ Top Notch brings the same energy to the stage with over 100 years of musical experience between the three. Find more information on their website at https://zztopnotch.com/

August 16
• 6 p.m. Reflections ll- Variety
Winner of Best Cover Band in Fayetteville in 2012, Reflections ll is set to bring good vibrations to the stage. See more on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/partyband.net/
• 8 p.m. Tuesday’s Gone- Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band
Based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, Tuesday’s Gone brings the smooth rock of the Alabama favorite to stages up and down the East Coast. Since its beginning in 2005, the band has seen members come and go.
The current members are Ryan King (Lead Vocals), David "Elwood" Elmore (Bass), Michael Meeks (Piano/Keys), Joe Sprunt (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Spencer Carlson (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Dave Nicholls (Guitar/Backing Vocals), and Kevin Peele (Drums & Percussion). Their website is https://tuesdaysgoneband.com/

September 20
• 6 p.m. 80’s Unleashed- Local 80’s band
Hailing from right here in Fayetteville, 80’s Unleashed will be bringing all the 80s hits you loved and hate to love. Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/80sunleashed/
• 8 p.m. Beggers Banquet- Rolling Stone Tribute Band
Beggers Banquet is a North Carolina-based band that could almost be called an ensemble, as they have members who play a plethora of instruments, adding to the essence of their performances of some of the best rock'n'roll songs of this lifetime. Find out more about them at https://beggarsbanquetband.com/about-us

(Top photo: courtesy of ZZ Top Notch's Facebook Page.  Bottom photo: courtesy of Autumn Tyde's Facebook Page)