My favorite memories in life, and my favorite times to remember often center around music. The people I meet, the stories I witness, the sounds that I hear all fascinate me so much that it is hard for me to contain my excitement. Music is as necessary to living as water and air are to me! Music is a very healthy outlet for people to turn to, as it provides an escape and therapy all in one! This is true for the players and the listeners alike.
For as long as I can remember I have simply wanted to write about music, and to keep people connected to it. I have been doing it since I was a teenager and now that I have raised my own son to an adult, I am dedicated to turning back to the music and the talent I offered to the music scene in years past.
I found this site to be a good alternative to most social media outlets, as it allows me to build it at my own pace and with my own talents. I am not certain how to use all of the sites feature but I have learned a lot since the day I signed up three years ago, completely clueless on how to blog or build a website.
I found this to be the best way to have an outlet for all of these music stories I was accumulating. I created this page for that purpose. This past weekend while I was away with my son, for a very important weekend, this blog celebrated it’s one year anniversary, of connecting NC people to the local music scenes throughout the state. I have shared events from towns I would have never known existed had I not started out on this venture.
The only reason we are still rolling is because of the enthusiasm you have shown for this service. I try my best to do it with professionalism and dedication. I put my heart and many, many hours of time into this so everyone knows where to go to support live music.
Your shares and your feedback are appreciated. I welcome and thank you all for signing up to follow my posts. Your support is very much appreciated. If there is music happening where you live and you want me to know about, please do not hesitate…shoot me a message! I include my email at the end each time, because I want to hear from the readers and the players, the venues and the friends who are helping me with this grand venture.
www.ncmz.live was born as www.thetraceystoneszone.com Then I remembered no one knows how to spell my name so that is bad and changed it to The North Carolina Music Zone. Then I did a radio show and realized that was too long and that night NCMZ.LIVE was born. I purposely went with .live over .com, as my sole focus is live entertainment.
Deep breath! Wow! Thank you!!! What a magnificent trip this past year has been! Proof that NOTHING stays the same; I started things out with old name The Tracey Stones Zone, hailed from a radio show I hosted years ago and it was my thought to build TNT Productions, a dream company I once knew lifetime ago.
Today it has nothing to do with my name other than, well, I write it and make it happen. But the purpose is for you…and you….oh and you over there. The music lovers, the music makers and of course the people who open the doors for it. I appreciate what you do for our music community.
For so very long I heard there is nothing to do around here!!! Actually, I had heard that my whole life growing up in a little town, Cranford, NJ. My response, I call BULLSHIT! Get out and seek fun. Quit moping! Life is short. It is hard. People suck! They complicate our journey, deplete us of energy. We have to recharge! Forget them! Forgive them and DANCE! There is live music all around us! Support it! Support the music makers. Support the venues that open their doors for us and them. Buy merchandise. Spread love. Hug strangers.
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Live Music Options for Friday, May 26, 2017
~Rocking Around the Region~
Rocking The Aurora Fossil Festival tonight in downtown Aurora, NC, you can catch Steel Shot live on stage from 5-8 pm. They will get things warmed up for tonight’s awesome close out concert, featuring Nashville’s Nine North Recording Artist and New Bern’s own country crooner Bryan Mayer. He will close the night of fun with a full set of rocking country music, that will have you boot scooting with the kids! Listen for that at 8:00 pm
Jill & The Authentics have a show tonight. Concerts on the Greens at Minnesott offers live music under the stars on the Greens at Minnesott Golf & Country Club. Here are the details for tonight’s event:A Summer Concert Under the Stars
Old time Rock & Roll, Beach and Jazz
Friday, May 26, 2017 ~ Minnesott Golf and Country Club
The public is welcome to enjoy an evening filled with music by
Jill and The Authentics
while dancing to Old Time Rock & Roll, Beach Music and Jazz!
The beer/food tents open at 6:00
$25.00 per person~$30.00 at gate
The ticket price includes:
Music, BBQ chicken and a selection of craft beer and hard cider.
IDs will be checked at the gate.
Blackaphillyated Presents: Who’s Up Next Showcase, which will be taking place at Crave Grenville, Restaurant and Bar, located at 409 S Evans St.Greenville, NC. Doors for this event open at 7 :30 pm and music happens 8-11 pm. On the agenda you can expect this:
Philadelphia based site, Blackaphillyated, is bringing their first stop for their “Who’s Up Next” series to Greenville, North Carolina.
Who’s Up Next is used to show who’s the hottest artist in the city and also providing a platform where they can perform their music. The line-up for the show is amazing and has some of the best artists on the coast in North Carolina performing. This will also be a great opportunity for artists to network with each other.
CEO of Blackaphillyated and Sony Music Representative Dymond Alexis will be hosting.
Price: $5
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Come enjoy the modern country and rock grooves of Steel County Express on stage tonight at TieBreakers, which is located at 1920 Smythwyck Dr., Ste B, Greenville, NC. They will keep you grooving from 9:30 pm til 1:30 am.
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Just Andy, will start out with a night of originals and then be joined by good friend and fellow music brother Nick Schaaf, for a fun show tonight at Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery, located at 707 Dickinson Ave, Greenville, NC. Music starts at 8 pm and continues til 11 pm.
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Reggae Jam Band TreeHouse will be bringing their show to Crossbones Tavern tonight, . Located at 114 E 5th St., Greenville, NC. They will be joined by Conscious Pilot who will open the night. Here is what was said on the Facebook Event:
Show 10:30-1:30
$5 Cover
www.treehousetheband.com
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Bill Lyerly will bring his honky tonking, roadhouse sounds to The Red Room tonight. Located at 220 N Herritage St. Kinston, NC. Joining Lyerly on stage for this show will be Dex Horton behind the kit and Daniel Grant on bass. There was also a Facebook rumor about maybe a little five string banjo. Music charge is payable at the door and the show starts at 10 pm.
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Adam Hill Band is live tonight at North Street Pub & Eatery, located at 115 West North Street. Music starts at 9 pm and there is a $5.00 music charge for the entertainment. You are encouraged to come early for the great food and stay late for the awesome band! Adam Hill is a regional stringer with strong vocals and serious skills. Backing his beat are Gordy George on bass and Cecil Pittman, Jr., on drums. Each of the players add vocals to the mix and they are great at mixing up the styles and selections offering everything from rock to soul, funk to blues. They play music that feels good and offer originals that people can relate to. Check out more on Adam Hill at adamhillmusic.net
On the bill tonight at Local 506 located at 506 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC you can get rocked by original acts
Icaria // Waking Tera // Guts Of The Oven // Paper Dolls
Four bands one fun night! Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Doors: 7:30pm
Show: 8:30pm
Line Up:
Icaria (Atlanta, GA – Cardigan Records)
Waking Tera (Raleigh, NC – Wendigo Records)
Guts Of The Oven (Durham, NC)
Paper Dolls (Raleigh, NC)
Brought to you by Cardigan Records and Local 506
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Live at Craft City Sip In tonight, you can enjoy the acoustic offerings of Jamie Leigh. Located at 2130 New Garden Rd., Greensboro, NC, they open their stage from 7-10 pm for you enjoyment.
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Gears & Guitars Music Fest takes place this weekend in Winston-Salem.
4 Day Music Festival in downtown Winston Salem, North Carolina
Friday May 26th Corey Smith with Muscadine Bloodline Eric Dodd
Saturday May 27th Collective Soul with Tonic and The Blue Stones
Sunday May 28th Barenaked Ladies, Edwin McCain and SUSTO
Monday, Free Music in Bailey Park sponsored by Winston Salem Cycling Classic, all day free music with Clay Howard The Plaids Hank Pattie and The Current and Mipso.
FOR INFORMATION CALL 336-365-1941 OR THE TICKET BOX AT
336-727-2236
FOR 2017 WE WILL ALLOW FOLDING LAWNCHAIRS INTO PARK (NO CHAIRS ALLOWED IN PIT AREA FOR COLLECTIVE SOUL AND BARENAKED LADIES). PLEASE BE COURTEOUS OF WHERE YOU PLACE CHAIRS AND DO NOT BLOCK OTHERS. FOOD AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE IN SHOW
NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR ALCOHOL
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Cruising Along The Coast
Justin Castellano will be serving up the sounds at Boro Restaurant & Bar, located at 109 Front St., Swansboro, NC. Music plays from 7-10 pm and this is a great place for a date night. The food is impressive, the service very good and the entertainment this evening, exceptional!
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Over in Cape Carteret you can check in with the young, rockin’ act, Bridge To Breakdown. They will be performing live tonight at Rookie’s Sports Bar, located at 1187 Highway 58, Cape Carteret, NC. There is a $5.00 music charge and they give it back tenfold with their energy and awesome music. Come out and enjoy them tonight!
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Chris Bellamy has a show tonight at Flipperz Family Bar & Grill, located at 311 Mansgrove Dr. Emerald Isle, NC. Music plays during the eating hours of 7-10 pm. Come enjoy this free music while you grab supper.
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Once you settle your bill at Flipperz, head down to SALT to catch Switch live on stage for a night of rocking fun. Doors open at 9 pm music starts at 10 and there is a music charge payable at the door. Cover charges vary per show. SALT is located in the same strip mall at 325 Mangrove Dr. Emerald Isle, NC
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The Tonz kick off the Summer Concert Series Alive at Five, brought to us by the good folks in Downtown Morehead City inc. Here are the details as per the Facebook event:
Downtown Morehead City, Inc. is excited to host its seventh annual Alive at Five concert series! The free concert series is held the first and third Friday of the month from 5:00-8:00 pm at Jaycee Park. Each concert attracts 500-1,000 attendees.
The 2017 concert series kicks off with The Tonez (formerly the Swashtones), featuring a mix of Oldies, Motown, Rock & Roll, Country, Funk, R&B and Beach music. All proceeds raised at the May 26 concert benefit Connect Carteret’s KickStart Carteret program, which promotes start-ups and small businesses in Carteret County, located at 300 N 35th Street on the second floor. www.thetonezlive.com
Alive at Five concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. Those attendees arriving by boat are encouraged to dock their boats at the Jaycee Park Docks, complimentary during concert hours. Beer, wine, water and soda will be for sale during the concerts along with light refreshments. While outside food is permitted, no outside beverages or coolers are allowed and concert attendees are encouraged to visit the many downtown Morehead City bars and restaurants following the concerts.
Contact Downtown Morehead City, Inc. at 252-808-0440 with questions about Alive at Five. Hope to see you there!
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If you stay down by the waterfront for dining and music this evening, you won’t go wrong with Southern Salt Seafood Company, located at 701 Evans St. Morehead City, NC. Tonight they offer the freshest catch of the day as well as the best band in the land…that’s right NC’s own Nantucket return tonight to kick in the unofficial start of the Summer music season. The band gets fired up at 9:30 out on the deck! Come have a rocking good time!
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Live on the deck at Jack’s Waterfront Bar, located at 513 Evans Street, Morehead City, NC, they offer the party sounds of Spare Change live on the deck from 10 pm til 2 am.
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Over at Sammy’s Seafood, located at 109 S 6th St., Morehead City, NC, you can enjoy supper and then the soothing sounds of Tiffany Elaine with Jimmy Kennedy live from 9 pm til 1 am
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Wild Honey’s Hive are a folk and fun duo, featuring the mixed talents of Matt Miller and Angie Cooper. Tonight they will offer a free show at Cru Bar & Wine Store, Beaufort Coffee Store, located at 120 Turner St., Beaufort, NC. Music starts at 8 pm and they perform until 11 pm. This is a great pick for an after dinner drink and dessert. YUM! as the guitars STRUM!
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Bobby Webb & Co are the featured entertainment tonight at The Dock House, located at 500 Front Street, Beaufort, NC. They offer great food, friendly service and music throughout the summer. Tonight the band plays from 9 pm til 1 am. Come make memories by the sea with food, friends and live music!
Closin’ Tyme will be rocking the room at Halftime Sports Bar & Grill, located at 1107 New Pointe Blvd. Leland, NC. They get the good country grooves going at 9:30 and keep ya boot scooting and having fun til 1:30 am. Come enjoy music, food and have some fun tonight with these good ol boys!
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Checking things out further south, here is what is up in Wilmington tonight! I found a Rolling Stones Tribute Band kicking off a concert series…how cool…Here are the details:
Get ready to rock, as Satisfaction takes the stage and kicks off Memorial Day weekend at the Downtown Sundown Concert Series. Bring your favorite dance partners and enjoy an outdoor concert overlooking the Cape Fear River.
For specific event updates please see the organizers website: http://
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Ed Prophet has a show tonight at The Bell Tree, located in Southern Pines, NC. He performs live from 10 pm til 1 am. Come enjoy the rocking mix of original and cover music offered by this talented stringer.
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Gettin’ Down Around Town, New Bern
Mac McWilliams is live tonight at The Thirsty Bruin, located at 224 Middle St. New Bern, NC. Music starts at 8 pm and plays til 10:30. This show is free. Come out and support local beer, local wine and local music at this fine local venue!
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Friday May 26th The Music of James Taylor and Carly Simon
A musical tribute to 70s icons James Taylor and Carly Simon. The concert will include performances of favorites such as Taylor’s Fire and Rain, and Carolina on my mind, along with Simon’s collection of works including You’re So Vain, and Anticipation. The evening will include an All Star line up of local musicians and singers, including appearances by Andrea and Phil Owens, Jenn Wiggs, Dora Bullock, Patrick Bliss, Jordan Daughety, Christian Heath, Jake Lily, Wilson White, Megan Acurso, Kyle Preston, and John Van Dyke.
Showtime 8pm
Tickets $15.00
The City Laundry is located at 901 Pollock St., New Bern, NC
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Rick Huff will be on tap at The Brown Pelican, located at 411 Broad St. New Bern, NC. Huff will be joined by his musical brother Tod Stilley and the two will entertain folks from 7-10 pm tonight. This is a free event, but you are always encouraged to tip musicians!
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For those that have the blues, you are in luck, we have options and here is the first that I offer:
The Wilmington Blues artist Arthur “LoveWhip” Shuey will bring his music to Trent River Coffee Company, located at 208 Craven St. in New Bern on Friday May 26. Accompanied by Simon Spalding and other local musicians, Arthur Shuey will sing, play mouth harp, and share his lifelong love and knowledge of Blues music.
“LoveWhip” is the founder of the Blues Society of the Lower Cape Fear and Beat Magazine. He has taught blues history, songwriting and harmonica to over 2,000 people, ranging in age from 4 to 84 in workshops, seminars, arts camps and private lessons. He has been featured in eight films and numerous television documentaries and incorporated five blues societies outside of the Cape Fear region. He has performed with Mojo Collins, Saffire, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Koko Taylor, the James Cotton Band, Drink Small, Big Boy Henry, Walter “Lightnin’ Bug” Rhodes, Johnny Shines, Guitar Gabe, “Slippery Jake” Horton, Mark Hibbs, Truth, Blue Rhythm Club, the HighRollers and Makin’ Whoopie and is currently bringing the best in authentic Louisiana music to southeastern North Carolina with “Chantez les bas”.
Arthur Shuey will be accompanied by Simon Spalding on fiddle, cumbus, and bass on some of his songs, as well as by Ed Ruiz and other local players.
Tickets are $10, available at the door. The doors open at 6:00 pm, and the show starts at 7:00. For reservations or more information, call 252-514-2030. For more on Arthur Shuey, check him out at www.reverbnation.com/arthurshuey.
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The rocking blues outfit out of Kinston, known as Feral Cats, will be live on the patio tonight at The Harvey Mansion, located at 221 S Front St. New Bern, NC. They offer music from 8-11 pm outside under the stars. Come enjoy a beverage and great live music vibes too. This is also a free music offering where tipping the band is encouraged but not expected!
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For your final blues fix, visit with the blues master, Big Jim Kohler, who gives up the grooves tonight with his band at Triple Play Restaurant, located at 111 Williams Rd. New Bern, NC. He gets to rocking the music at 8:30 and plays all night, be sure to come and dance your blues away!
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That is all my news and the gigs that I found for your dancing pleasure for the evening. I hope you get out and enjoy the sounds of live music sometime soon. I am dedicated to making sure you know where to go to find it. If you like this blog please sign up and get an email each time we publish. I appreciate my readers, the musicians and the venues who all do a part in keeping live music alive! Thanks for keeping me informed!
Please take kindness with you today and hug strangers. Don’t forget that life is short and could end in a moment, so make sure you take time to enjoy the dance.
Send all of your event invites to me on Facebook, so I know where you are playing in the days ahead. I can be found on Facebook by following this link:
https://www.facebook.com/TraceyStones69.
I also read emails daily. You can send those to:
tracey.stones.writer@gmail.com
Please include the day, the date, the time of the event, the time of your scheduled performance, what time doors open and the price of tickets. Pictures are also helpful. I share links to band websites, so send those along as well. Thanks so much for taking the time to fill me in on the details, together we will reach the people!
