Arts

Country music stars come to Fayetteville, Nov. 11

12Pumpkin spice, cool temps and … country music? Yes, indeed!
Fall favorites and tantalizing tunes unite in Fayetteville, home to Southeastern North Carolina’s biggest country music showcase. Presented by John Hiester Chrysler Dodge Jeep and John Hiester Chevrolet, the WKML Stars & Guitars Concert comes to the Crown Coliseum for the 12th year on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring a mixture of hitmakers and newcomers to the country music stage, the popular promotion stages five artists in a unique, acoustic setting.
Fans will enjoy a spectacular night of great music, engaging live entertainment, a few surprises and the opportunity to support a good cause. A portion of the ticket proceeds benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Here's the lineup for this year’s SOLD-OUT show:
• LOCASH
• Zach Top
• George Birge
• Kameron Marlowe
• Tigirlily Gold
If you can’t pick just one favorite, the good news is you don’t have to! Compliments of The Big 95.7 ‘KML, Today’s Country, and Stars & Guitars’ generous sponsors, Fayetteville gets them all!
Chart toppers, record makers, social media sensations and no strangers to country music fans, these artists have and are making names for themselves across radio and other platforms.
As no one performer headlines, opens or closes the Stars & Guitars show—all the artists are on stage simultaneously and perform individually in rounds—concertgoers experience a true cross-section of talent. The artists sing songs, share stories, tell jokes and wow audiences year after year. The show’s “Unplugged, Unscripted and Unforgettable” tagline best describes the scene.
Beasley Media Group Digital Programming Director and Marketing and Promotions Director Brandon Plotnick explained the “why” behind the WKML Stars & Guitars event.
“The idea here is to celebrate country music with our listeners and market audience. We have a unique position in the industry, and we can put together something with a relatively big-name lineup every year. The affordable show is the biggest country show in our market,” he said.
The concert is also part of the station’s mission to assist St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This is the 38th year WKML and the Beasley Fayetteville team have proudly supported St. Jude's families and children.
This November’s Stars & Guitars concert and the December St. Jude Country Cares, the longest continuous radiothon campaign in the country, are among several ways the company supports this cause.
The station’s listening audience, covering Raleigh to Myrtle Beach and concentrated in Cumberland and Robeson counties, has filled the house for Stars & Guitars for 12 straight years, and this year will be no exception. During the Aug. 30 early pre-sale, available to members of the WKML free All-Access Club, the limited number of tickets sold out in three minutes.
The in-person regular ticket buyers—another sold-out situation—celebrated at the WKML’s Parking Lot Party at the Crown. These sellouts have not prevented fans from winning tickets in several other ways, including Ticket Stop opportunities and online and on-air contests—with chances still remaining.
Three Ticket Stops—chances for YOU to win tickets—remain before the Nov. 11 concert: Nov. 7 at the Holly Day Fair, hosted at the Crown Expo Center, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 8 at Timely Treasures, 1003 Honeycutt Rd., from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and Nov. 9 at John Hiester Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Lillington, 940 N. Main St., Lillington, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get all the details, including info on the Grand Prize VIP Experience, featuring front-row tickets, VIP pre-show passes and an autographed poster, at https://wkml.com/listicle/2024-stars-guitars-ticket-stop-calendar/.
Named “country music’s iconic feel-good duo” by PEOPLE, LOCASH, Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, levels big-hit sounds reminiscent of tunes from the 2000s.
Pumping up the crowds with Florida Georgia Line kind of energy, LOCASH has a pop-country feel that gets audiences singing and shouting for more. The circa 2015 band has eight charting singles, two successful albums, nearly 800 million global streams and a history of industry award recognitions. Announcing their 2024 partnership with 44 Farms, LOCASH recently supported Kane Brown’s DRUNK OR DREAMING TOUR.
Stars & Guitars attendees are likely to hear the duo’s smash hits, “I Love This Life,” “One Big Country Song” and “I Know Somebody,” along with other big-name collaborations.
The classic country sounds of Zach Top channels 90s nostalgia that wins with the WKML audience, according to Plotnick. Top released his first radio single, “Sounds Like the Radio,” at the top of 2024 via Leo33; he will join CMA Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson, on her “Country’s Cool Again” Tour throughout the year following the release of his debut record, Cold Beer & Country Music. The Sunnyside, WA, native grew up ranching, tending to livestock and playing bluegrass music—the backstory to his love for country music today.
A TikTok sensation after the posting of “Beer Beer, Truck Truck,” George Birge is an original songwriter with two records currently on the radio: the chart-topping “Mind on You” and “Cowboy Songs.” Country artist Clay Walker and country rapper Colt Ford, among many others, have recorded Birge’s songs, and Walker even released Birge's co-write “Need a Bar Sometimes” as his new single.
“George Birge has a modern, gritty country feel to his music and is particularly appealing to the 20-something young female audience,” Plotnick said. “He has a Morgan Wallen kind of vibe.”
Kannapolis, North Carolina, native Kameron Marlowe, who formerly rocked Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival, is happy to return to the city to play Stars & Guitars. Described by Plotnick as an “earthy, sort of alt-country artist with tension and meat behind his music,” Marlowe’s biggest hit, the Platinum-certified single “Giving You Up,” earned over 57 million views on YouTube. He’s also had hits with “Girl on Fire” and this year with Ella Langley on the song “Strangers.” The rising star from Season 15 of The Voice, who grew up singing in church, is currently touring alongside some of country music’s biggest stars. Marlowe is considered one of Nashville’s most exciting emerging voices and songwriters.
The duo Tigirlily Gold—North Dakota sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh—have played music together practically since birth. They officially formed their band in high school and toured the mid-west, selling out amphitheaters across their home state of North Dakota.
Nashville was their next residence, where they earned a weekly spot at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on Nashville’s famous lower Broadway. The emotional pop country sounds of Tigirlily Gold propelled the band onto the country scene, where their debut single, “Shoot Tequila,” reached the Top 40 and went viral.
The duo’s hit single, “I Tried A Ring On,” released earlier this year, is currently finding huge airway success. Tigirlily has already debuted on the Grand Ole Opry and the TODAY Show, so why shouldn’t Fayetteville be next?
The 2024 WKML Stars & Guitars concert is a can’t miss! Tap into all your chances to win by tuning into The Big 95.7 and visiting https://wkml.com/.

(Graphics courtesy of Beasley Media Group)

Step Into Possibility: Fayetteville State University presents Kinky Boots

9Get ready, Fayetteville…something fabulous is coming to Seabrook Auditorium in November! Fayetteville State University’s Department of Performing and Fine Arts presents the smash hit musical Kinky Boots Nov. 14-17. This high-energy musical about the power of friendship, compassion, and collaboration is sure to have you dancing in the aisle.
What do you get when a pop icon and two Broadway legends put their heads together? You get the Tony-award winning Best Musical called Kinky Boots. The musical features 16 original songs by the incomparable Cyndi Lauper, dialogue written by theatre legend Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. When it debuted on Broadway in April of 2013, it was an instant hit, and for good reason.
Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie and Lola’s unlikely friendship. Charlie, a young man with sights set on a life in the big city, finds himself suddenly thrust into the role of saving his father’s struggling shoe factory.
He meets Lola, a drag performer, and learns about the common struggle she has to find shoes that are sturdy and well-made while also being flashy and fabulous. The unlikely duo put their heads together, along with the folks in the factory, to create a line of sturdy stilettos, specifically made for drag queens.
It is a funny, high-energy show with moments that are tender and moving as well.
The story shines a spotlight on the need for compassion, for understanding, and being one’s true, authentic self.
The theme of collaboration that is so prominent in Kinky Boots is a significant part of the Fayetteville State University production of this hit musical. The production is a collaboration between the Theatre, Dance, and Music departments of the university and features students from FSU, a few Early College high school students, and even one alumnus. Theatre professors Jeremy Fiebig and Evan Bridenstine are working together to co-direct the production, with technical leadership in scenic and lighting design by FSU Theatre Professor Dave Griffie.
Through funding provided by a Kenan Charitable Trust award, they are also able to collaborate with local professionals who are providing support with music, choreography, fight work, stage management, set construction and painting, and more.
Fiebig explained that in their usual productions, they might be able to hire one or two local professionals to consult and assist with the show; but for Kinky Boots, there are nearly a dozen people from the local arts community contributing. Not only does that provide a wealth of experience for the students involved, it is a unique and important networking opportunity for those aspiring performers.
Proceeds from the show will help fund FSU students' participation in the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival-the world's largest arts festival. The Fringe Festival is an annual multi-week celebration of theatre and arts in Edinburgh, Scotland; some say it is like the Olympics for the performing arts. The Festival features the International College Theatre Festival, an opportunity for students from colleges and universities all over the world to come together and perform.
Plans are for the contingent from Fayetteville State to write and produce an original, world-premiere play at the 2025 Fringe Festival.
Such an experience is rare and incredibly valuable for the students who will participate. Such an experience is rare and incredibly valuable for the students who will participate.
It will allow people from all over the world to get a glimpse into the talent and creativity happening in Fayetteville. Funding such an endeavor is a daunting task but every ticket sold to see Kinky Boots helps them get closer to that goal. Audiences can even look forward to a couple of “Easter egg” moments in the show that pay homage to the world-renowned festival and FSU’s participation in it.
In addition to proceeds from ticket sales, there will be additional opportunities at the performances for patrons to contribute to the FSU at Fringe Fund.
Patrons should be aware that the show contains some mature content, including discussions of gender identity, adult language, and some suggestive material.
Tickets are on sale now; visit https://www.uncfsu.edu/fsu-presents-kinky-boots and scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to purchase tickets. Admission is free for FSU students.

(Graphic courtesy of Fayetteville State University)

Meet Lisa Marie Thayer, photographer behind Best of Fayetteville

14Lisa Marie Thayer's journey as a photographer is marked by her genuine love for life and the world around her. She has been capturing precious moments for families and individuals for several years, driven by her passion to encourage others and be the best version of herself. For Lisa, photography is more than just a profession; it's a way to connect with people and immortalize the fleeting moments of their lives.
Lisa Marie's philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that each season of life is unique and should be treasured. Her aim is to create photographs that not only capture the beauty of the moment but also serve as lasting memories that people can cherish for a lifetime. This dedication to her craft is evident in every photo she takes.
Lisa Marie offers a variety of photography sessions designed to capture the different phases of life. Whether it's a newborn session, maternity shoot, family or childhood portrait, high school senior session, or even hospice and bereavement photography, Lisa Marie has the skill and sensitivity to handle each with care and professionalism.
Each type of session is tailored to meet the unique needs of the client, ensuring that the resulting photographs are personal and meaningful. Lisa Marie's ability to connect with her subjects and bring out their true essence is what sets her apart as a photographer.
Newborn and family photography holds a special place in Lisa Marie's heart. She finds immense joy in capturing the innocence and pure emotion that comes with a newborn's first days or a family's shared moments. Her approach to newborn photography is gentle and patient, ensuring both the baby and parents are comfortable throughout the session.
Family sessions, on the other hand, are filled with fun and spontaneity, capturing the genuine interactions and bonds between family members. Lisa Marie's ability to create a relaxed environment allows her to capture authentic moments that families will treasure forever.
Lisa Marie's portfolio also includes high school senior sessions and hospice photography, two very different but equally important types of photography. High school senior sessions celebrate a pivotal moment in a young person's life, capturing their personality and aspirations as they prepare to enter adulthood.
Hospice and bereavement photography, while more somber, are equally meaningful. Lisa Marie approaches these sessions with great sensitivity, providing families with a way to remember and honor their loved ones during difficult times. Each photograph serves as a precious keepsake that families can hold onto as they navigate their grief.
Lisa Marie Thayer can be found at Tiny Visuals Photography, a studio inside of the children’s store, Tiny Town, specializing in newborn photography. The store recently moved to a new location at 2800 Raeford Road, Suite 24B, next to Ace Hardware, after more than six decades at its previous address on Fort Bragg Road. Lisa Marie made the move with the store and has been a part of Tiny Town for three years.
To discuss your photography goals and book a session with Lisa Marie, you can reach her through her website at https://www.capturedbylisamarie.com/contact. Lisa Marie is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and is committed to providing her clients with a fun, adventurous, and memorable photography experience.
Up & Coming Weekly had the privilege of working with Lisa Maria for our Best of Fayetteville 2024 party on Sept. 24. For photos from the event, see the Oct. 9 edition of Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo: Lisa Marie Thayer offers photography sessions for families, newborns, graduates and hospice care. Her studio is located in the Tiny Town children's store at 2800 Raeford Rd. in Fayetteville. Photos courtesy of Lisa Marie Photography)

Gallery 208-Chronicles of Time: A Retrospective Exhibition

12The newest exhibition at Gallery 208 brings together many of the artists who have been a part of the gallery’s history during the past ten years. Chronicles of Time: A Retrospective Exhibition is the last exhibit of the 2024 season, opening Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Visitors to the exhibit will experience the ongoing discourse on the role of image and object-making that is taking place by 18 artists. The exhibit is a celebration of 16 artists who have exhibited before and two artists exhibiting at Gallery 208 for the first time. The artists in Chronicles of Time: A Retrospective Exhibition all contribute to the larger dialogue taking place in visual art today.
Visitors will see a painting hanging next to a digitally generated image, a mixed media alongside a photograph. The mix allows for comparisons, to observe common themes or differences in an artist’s approach — deepening our engagement with the artwork and the possibilities of art and creativity.
There are other advantages of a large group exhibit. We are able to compare and observe common themes or differences in what artists choose to focus their work on. Emerging and mid-career artists are exhibiting with established artists — providing an accessible and affordable way for collectors to discover new talent and acquire unique pieces.
Johanna Gore and Shane Booth are examples of an emerging artist exhibiting with a professional artist. Gore, a young artist, has explored identity in the last two years with a series of self-portraits. The work titled Life Mirrors Reality is a blurred digital image floating between the mark-making above and below the portrait.
Gore’s self-portrait hangs next to established artist Shane Booth — an artist known for his years of investigating the self-portrait as a theme in his work. Both artists are exhibiting portraits that hang next to each other in the gallery. Looking at the two portraits, we see the influences of very different historical and cultural experiences between each portrait.
Not all art is a self-portrait. But for many artists, their unique perspectives, preferences, and worldview can be interpreted as reflecting the artist’s identity and, therefore a self-portrait. Leslie Pearson is such an artist who imbues the work with her love of nature, the cycle of life (skeletal remains), and a fascination with our ecosystem.
In the exhibit, Pearson is showing small handmade books. In Pearson fashion, part of a bone or a lock of hair is submerged in a clear epoxy window on the surface of her hand-sewn books. Thick in depth, the books are journals for the owner to take notes in a work of art - each page is part of the greater aesthetic of the functional, abstracted, sculptural book form.
Dwight Smith and Vicki Rhoda both bring the self-portrait to their work. You cannot separate the artist from the image. Smith is exhibiting a small mixed media and is known for his large abstract paintings with references to African and African American symbols.
In Elizabethtown, North Carolina, Vicki Rhoda grew up with a church named Lula’s Temple located across the street from her house. Her recent body of relief prints interprets her memories of the pastor of Lula’s Temple. Rhoda shares her experiences in the print titled Lula’s Temple: Redemption.
One of two digital artists, Jonathan Chestnut used technology and AI to explore known texts. Chestnut’s print titled Genesis 3:24 is an interpretation of a quote: "So he drove out the man, and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Using technology, AI, his drawing and digital skills, Chestnut is creating new visual interpretations on an old subject religion.
Abstracting nature is a theme by two artists: Katey Morrill and Callie Farmer. Farmer has shifted her interest in capturing the beauty of nature to abstracting it in graphic patterns of color and shapes. Morrill is exploring “the process of abstracting observed landscapes by emphasizing southern terrain patterns through color and shape.
Beauty is a theme we still see in a contemporary art world filled with conceptual art and spray paint. Jaden McRae is exhibiting a pencil study of an aged cherry tree in front of a building and its set of stairs. In the drawing titled Nappy Canopy, McRae reduces his subjects to value and planes.
Beverly Henderson is another artist who brings her love of nature as a subject. In the exhibit, Henderson is showing a mixed media work that explores not only the beauty of nature, but the potential of the unseen.
Titled Unconditional Love, Kyle Harding brings the beauty of childhood in a photographic portrait of her daughter Savannah with one of her large dogs. Throughout the years Harding’s two children are a perfect subject to capture the magic and fleeting essence of childhood. In this image, Harding has captured the ineffable: “the joy we experience from unconditional love and trust.”
In contrast, Angela Stout’s portrait painting titled Self-Embrace is filled with a sense of angst, but it also evokes beauty. Not only is it painted beautifully, but as Stout shares: “we can find beauty in the midst of despair.”
Leslie Pearson and Skylor Swann are the only two artists exhibiting three-dimensional works. Swann’s ceramics contrast with Pearson’s organic books. Swann’s recent work has shifted from his well-known organic forms, delicate tendrils emerging from protruding surfaces. His new work is the opposite. Beautifully crafted, the work is a play on minimalism and the everyday object. Made out of clay, Swann has created the illusion of an opened paper bay, standing upright, the open end reveals the negative space of the interior of the bag.
The two artists who have never exhibited at Gallery 208 are Adrienne Trego and Bobbe Garcia. Trego is a fiber artist exhibiting a triptych titled Entangled: Mycelium, Veins and Roots. Visitors will see how Trego uses different colored threads as her medium and focuses on nature and detail. The artist stated: “my work concentrates on the minute, the detail, the minuscule patterns, which we are interconnected in their own forms and with the larger world.”
In the long list of artists, Bobbe Garcia’s prints are another example of a fresh interpretation of beauty and nature around us. Her compositions of patterns and color move across the surface of her paper, reminding us of the patterns of color that can be lost in a moment when the light changes.
A refreshing exhibit, Gallery 208 welcomes the public to view the Chronicles of Time: A Retrospective Exhibition. The gallery is located at Up and Coming Weekly, 208 West Rowan Street in Fayetteville. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibit will remain until Dec. 11. For more information call 910-484-6200.

(Photo: Jonathan Chestnut print titled Genesis 3:24 is a piece using both AI and Chestnut's drawing skills.)

Discover the magic of "Puffs" at Cape Fear Regional Theatre

9Cape Fear Regional Theatre is excited to announce its next production Puffs. This delightful show opens on Halloween, Oct. 31, and will continue to entertain audiences until Nov. 17.
For seven years filled with excitement and challenges, a certain boy wizard attended a well-known Wizard School, ultimately triumphing over the forces of evil. However, this narrative is not about him. Instead, Puffs is a clever and imaginative parody that brings attention to the often-ignored characters within this enchanting universe—the Puffs. These characters, who frequently play the role of sidekicks, have their own unique stories filled with adventure, camaraderie, and humor.
In Puffs, audiences are treated to a delightful exploration of their experiences, showcasing how these characters navigate their own magical journeys. The play captures the essence of friendship and the joy of being part of a team, even when one is not in the spotlight. With its fast-paced comedy and engaging storytelling, Puffs vividly illustrates the importance of every character, no matter how small their role may seem. This refreshing perspective invites viewers to appreciate the richness of the magical world beyond the main hero's tale.
Featuring a remarkable ensemble of 11 talented actors, this play brings to life over 30 unique roles, showcasing a variety of whimsical characters that will surely delight audiences. Among these characters are the hilariously reimagined "Lord Voldy," the enigmatic "A Certain Potions Teacher," and the ever-charismatic "Professor McG." Each performance promises to deliver not only laughter but also a fresh and entertaining perspective on a beloved universe that fans know and love. This production invites you to embark on a captivating journey, exploring the untold stories of the “Puffs,” who often find themselves in the background of the magical world. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a delightful twist on familiar tales that will leave you smiling and wanting more.
To make your visit even more magical, Cape Fear Regional Theatre is hosting several special-themed nights throughout the show's run. Kick off the fun with Sorting Night on Oct. 31 from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Dress in your House colors and enjoy themed snacks and drinks before the show.
On Nov. 1, join in before the show for Wizard Trivia Night from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Show off your knowledge of a certain seven-book series about a wizard boy, and compete for fantastic prizes. Additionally, they are honoring our community heroes with Military Appreciation Night on Nov. 6 and Teacher Appreciation Night on Nov. 8. These special nights add an extra layer of enjoyment to your Puffs experience.
Tickets for Puffs range from $15 to $28, making it an affordable outing for families, friends, and solo adventurers alike. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.cfrt.org/. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the wizarding world or just looking for a good laugh, this play offers something for everyone.
Cape Fear Regional Theatre is excited to welcome you to their new (temporary) home at 1707 Owen Drive. This new space provides a cozy and intimate setting, perfect for immersing yourself in the magical world of Puffs.
While they look forward to returning to their regular venue, this temporary location allows them to continue bringing quality theatre productions to the community while construction on Act 2 starts at the theatre. To learn more about their renovations visit https://www.cfrt.org/renovation-updates/.

Latest Articles

  • “Redefining Indigenous” artists celebrate heritage
  • Commissioner's commitment to county residents
  • This year, let's take on Big Pharma advertising
  • UNC and Bill Belichick, will it work?
  • Ashanti Bennett named interim president of Cool Spring Downtown District
  • Fayetteville Dogwood Festival hires new director
Up & Coming Weekly Calendar
  

Advertise Your Event:

Login/Subscribe