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The family-friendly event is intended "For Those About to Rock," and the buzz around one of the hottest bands out of Raleigh couldn't be louder.
The concert series has proven both successful and popular amongst those looking for good music and good vibes on a lazy Friday night.
The show offers concert-goers a little bit of everything up on the stage. Heartbreaker, Tuesday's Gone, and Mostley Crue, cover bands for Heart, Lynard Skynard and Motley Crue, respectively, are just a few of the bands still destined for the Gates Four stage before the concert series is over.
The relaxed, outdoor event will have food for purchase as well as beer with liquor provided by Healy Wholesale Co. Inc. Guests are encouraged to unfold their camping chairs and spread out their blankets to enjoy this awesome show against the backdrop of a fiery North Carolina sunset.
The gates open at 5 p.m. and local musician, Judah Marshall, will open the show shortly thereafter. The "Hometown" crooner's folksy, acoustic-driven offerings will undoubtedly be the perfect counterbalance to Shoot To Thrills' hard rock riffs.
Shoot To Thrill, featuring the talents of Kara (Vocals), Susan (Guitar), Jai (Bass), Wendy (Guitar), and Kate (Drums), are a powerhouse ensemble that brings the Australian rock n' roll band to which they pay tribute boldly to mind during their high voltage sets.
The five Raleigh women often take to the stage in a mix of lingerie and thoughtful nods to AC/DC, like Angus Young's classic school boy uniform and Brian Johnson's iconic newsboy cap. The energy and heart they bring to the stage as the crowd before them whips into a frenzy, stomping along to the first heart-stopping chords of "Dirty Deeds" is quite an experience, and the Gates Four audience should prepare for a wild ride.
"We love to have a lot of audience participation," Wendy, Shoot To Thrill's guitarist, told Up & Coming Weekly. "We really try to put on
a show."
Shoot To Thrill's journey started around five years ago with Kate, Susan and Wendy. Originally a southern rock cover band, the response to their hard-rock covers, especially AC/DC, caused the band to shift focus and drill down on their niche. From there, Shoot To Thrill was born.
"People were just going crazy," Wendy joked. "We thought maybe we should just do an AC/DC tribute band, and here we are."
Despite their success, popularity, and undeniable talent, the road isn't always easy. As an all-female band, the women have had to deal with the challenges of sexism throughout their careers.
"People think we have it easier because we're women, but we get rejected a lot," Wendy said candidly. "People are concerned that women won't show up to see us, but our audience is about 60% women. We definitely have our own fight to get in, but we're working hard, and we're really happy, we're having fun, and we're all friends."
Fans of the classic rock band will hear hits from throughout their catalog, and there will be plenty of opportunities to sing or scream along. From Bon Scott era "Highway to Hell" to Brian Johnson's powerful anthem "Back in Black," Shoot To Thrill aims to please and knows how to get a crowd going.
"We watch a lot of live AC/DC, and we try to change it up, even the more obscure stuff. We try to design the sets, so the die-hards are happy, as well as the people who've never heard a single AC/DC song," Wendy said.
Off the stage, the women all lead lives very different than their rock-star stage personas. Wendy has worked at IBM for the past 22 years, Jai is a veterinary surgeon, Kara is a salon owner, Susan is a professor of music at Elon University, and Kate is an architect. To accommodate the demands of their two worlds, the band tries to maintain a three-week on, two-week off schedule to ensure there's room in their lives for all the things that matter.
"We were going non-stop, and then COVID happened, and it helped us realize we need to find a balance, to take our time for our family vacations. We don't want to miss anything."
The Gates Four performance will be the band's second time playing Fayetteville, and they're excited to return. After Shoot To Thrill wraps for the evening, guests are invited to hit the free after party at the Sand Trap Sports Lounge, which promises more fun beginning at 10 p.m. with an opportunity to meet the band.
Though the event is free and open to the public, the Gates Four Summer Series offers an experience for every taste and budget. VIP packages are available for those that crave a more exclusive experience. Four packages range from $38 for single tickets, including table seating and all food, beer and wine, to $500 for a table seating eight inside the pavilion with food and beverage included. Guests can also look forward to door prizes.
As the summer season winds down, there is no shortage of opportunities for people to come together for a good time in all corners of Cumberland County, a primary goal for the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre.
Businessman and Up & Coming Weekly publisher Bill Bowman reconceived the Bordeaux Dinner Theatre intending to bring premium entertainment options to Cumberland County residents living outside of downtown Fayetteville.
With a name change and a move to Gates Four, Bowman and many talented performers have more than made good on that intention.
Additionally, events held under the banner of Fayetteville Dinner Theatre support Cumberland County education by contributing to Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation.
"Through Fayetteville Dinner Theatre, we get to create new cultural events and help fund an education initiative," Bowman said.
Gates Four Golf & Country Club is at 6775 Irongate Dr. in Fayetteville. For more information about Gates Four, visit www.gatesfour.com/.
For more information concerning the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre and to purchase VIP tickets, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.
To keep up with Shoot To Thrill, visit www.shoot2thrillband.com/. For those about to rock, we salute you.