ELIZABETHTOWN — It’s just a handful of days to the Summer Sounds Concert Series, part deux.

After a successful, blistering hot start — thanks to the music of The Entertainers and Mother Nature’s heatwave — to the four-concert series on July 14, the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in downtown Elizabethtown will once again be a popular destination on Thursday when the Spare Change Band takes the stage.

The concert, sponsored by the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Cape Fear Valley/Bladen Healthcare, will run from 6 to 9 p.m.

“If last year repeats itself, we should see bigger numbers for this one,” said Dawn Maynard, executive director of the Chamber. “And if things are a little cooler that evening, more people should come out; less heat would be nice.”

The Concert Series kickoff saw temperatures in the mid-90s when the first notes were played, which may have kept visitors away early in the evening.

“The first hour was a little slow, but once it started to cool off things picked up for the second and third hours,” Maynard said. “I’d say we had about 500 people there that night.”

The Spare Change Band comes to Elizabethtown with a strong reputation for quality music. Based in LaGrange, the group got its start in 2002 as a four-piece band made up of friends. Traveling throughout the southeast, this band grew into what is today one of the most sought-after bands in the market — playing a wide variety of venues with a diverse selection of music from rock, country, beach, funk, rap and classic rock.

“Those who have heard them say they are really very good,” Maynard said. “Their variety of music is pleasant to the ears of all genres — and they have a fiddle player (Matt Bell from Greenville) who is phenomenal. They also harmonize very well.”

It will be the first visit to the Summer Sounds Concert Series for the Spare Change Band.

Folks are encouraged to bring their own chairs, and can also bring umbrellas or pop-up tents. No coolers will be allows.

Lu Mil Vineyard will be selling muscadine wine and slushies. There will also be beer, water, slushies by Sunset Slush and the Chamber will be selling concert T-shirts. In addition, Cape Fear BBQ & Chicken will have a walk-up sire at the Farmer’s Market for food items and milkshakes.

“We hope people will come right from work and have dinner, then enjoy the music,” Maynard said.

She added that she continues hear from folks who praise the free summer concerts.

“I’ve really been humbled by the support and community’s kind words about the concerts,” Maynard said.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

Courtesy photo The Spare Change Band will perform at the Summer Sounds Concert Series on Thursday at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in downtown Elizabethtown.
http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_SpareChange.jpgCourtesy photo The Spare Change Band will perform at the Summer Sounds Concert Series on Thursday at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in downtown Elizabethtown.

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com