Beach music and shag dancing run deep in the Carolinas, and this year’s 2nd Annual CARE Clinic Beach Blast is bringing that heritage front and center. On March 15 at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, attendees will enjoy an afternoon filled with legendary music, championship dancing, classic cookout fare and a celebration of community spirit — all while supporting one of Cumberland County’s most vital nonprofit healthcare providers.
The highlight of the event is the appearance of Chairmen of the Board, one of the most iconic names in Carolina Beach Music. Known for timeless hits like Give Me Just a Little More Time, Carolina Girls, and Gone Fishin’, the group continues to captivate audiences across generations.
Today’s lineup features Thomas Hunter, Patrick McGuire, and original member Ken Knox, whose unmistakable voice and stage presence have kept the group’s legacy alive. Their newest international hit, Baby You’re the Melody, written by Motown legend Lamont Dozier, is currently climbing the Top 10 charts in England and France — proving their sound is as powerful as ever.
“It’s a tremendous, high‑energy show,” said Warren McDonald, head of The CARE Clinic Development Committee and organizer of the Beach Blast. “Ken … gave us a tremendous price, and we’re going to have a good time while raising money for the CARE Clinic.”
Before Chairmen of the Board takes the stage, attendees will enjoy a performance by Classic Soul, featuring three icons of the Beach Music world: McDonald, founder of The Expressions and longtime contributor to the Carolina Beach Music scene; Terri Gore, the “Original Carolina Girl,” daughter of Jackie Gore, the “Father of Beach Music”; and Keith Pollard, veteran musician and music director known for his work with the band Time Machine.
Together, they deliver a rich, soulful sound that honors the roots of Carolina music while keeping the tradition alive for new generations.
The Beach Blast event proudly welcomes a signature rum-based spirit from Cape Fear Winery & Distillery: the Beach Blast Coconut Cream Rum. Cape Fear Winery & Distillery is based in neighboring Elizabethtown, NC, and crafted the special drink to embody the easygoing, coastal spirit of the Carolinas. Beach Blast Coconut Cream Rum is the perfect match for this celebration of beach music, Shag dancing, and Southern hospitality.
Distillery owner Alex Munroe has supported The CARE Clinic for years, recognizing the vital medical services the clinic provides to residents of Fayetteville, Elizabethtown and the surrounding region. His continued commitment makes Beach Blast not just a co-sponsor, but a meaningful partner in the clinic’s mission.
Guests will quite literally be “serving up Beach Blast Coconut Cream Rum at the Beach Blast,” enjoying this smooth, coastal‑style rum known for its fun, approachable flavor profile. Whether sipped straight, mixed into cocktails, or featured in themed tastings, Beach Blast fits seamlessly into the relaxed, festive atmosphere of this event. Its branding and flavor make it a natural fit for the CARE Clinic’s Beach Blast fundraiser, reinforcing the theme while supporting a great cause.
During the event, Cape Fear Winery & Distillery will offer a special tribute and toast using mini‑bottles of Beach Blast—honoring the dedicated medical volunteers and celebrating the life‑changing work The CARE Clinic provides to our community.
No Beach Blast would be complete without shag dancing, a cultural staple throughout the region.
This year’s event features a special demonstration by Tucker and Easton Brown, championship shag dancers from Harnett County. The brothers, sons of award‑winning Beach Music singer Gary Brown and National Shag Dance Champion Nickie Brown, both earned first‑place honors at the 2024 National Shag Dance Championships in North Myrtle Beach.
“They are fabulous,” McDonald said. “People are going to love watching them.”
According to the North Carolina Museum of History, beach music is “the defining sound of the Carolinas.” Born from African American rhythm and blues in the 1950s and 60s, it inspired a culture all its own — complete with its signature dance, the Shag, and beloved groups like The Embers, The Catalinas, The Tams, and Chairmen of the Board. For many Carolinians, beach music isn’t just entertainment — it’s a shared memory, a tradition, and a reminder of home.
While the music and dancing take center stage, the heart of the Beach Blast is its purpose: raising funds for The CARE Clinic, which has provided free, quality healthcare to uninsured and low‑income adults in Cumberland County for more than 30 years.
“These people do such good work,” McDonald said. “In our metro area alone, about 38,000 people have no health insurance.”
The CARE Clinic offers basic medical care, laboratory and diagnostic testing, pharmacy services, specialist referrals, dental care, and general health education, all delivered by volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, and medical professionals who give their time to ensure no one is left without care.
“You would be surprised how many people in the community don’t even know the CARE Clinic exists,” McDonald said. “But they’re learning.”
The 2nd Annual CARE Clinic Beach Blast will be held at Gates Four Golf & Country Club at 6775 Irongate Dr. on March 15. Doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $100 per couple, and can purchased at https://bit.ly/4r70q7u.
Attendees can expect great music, championship dancing, classic cookout favorites — “hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixin’s,” McDonald promises — and an afternoon filled with energy, nostalgia, and community pride. “The Chairmen of the Board know it’s for a good cause or they wouldn’t be here,” McDonald said. “We’ll leave them with a great memory, and they will enjoy this show immensely.”