This is the first season for Fayetteville After 5 under new management. Starting with the May 19 concert that featured The Tams, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival has been at the helm. With all the other community events that the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival puts on — the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Historic Hauntings, New Year’s Eve Party in the Park and the Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Pagaent — it is no surprise that the transition has been painless for concert attendees. Carrie King and her staff know how to host a great party.

On Thursday, July 21, The Embers will perform at Festival Park. This marks the third of five concerts for this season of Fayetteville After 5. Local favorites, The Tams opened the season in May and were followed by Café’ Mars in June. The August concert will feature another local favorite, Suicide Blonde on Aug. 18. The concert series will conclude with The Band of Oz performing on Sept. 15.

No strangers to the music scene, The Embers have been performing to-gether for decades. In fact, their website, www.theembersband.net, points out that “After 17 albums, numerous single releases, The Embers are one of the most popular bands as well as one of the most active groups in the country. The Embers boast an average of 300 dates per year all ranging from Toronto to Florida, and westward to California and Hawaii.”

The album Beach Music, Super Collaboration, which featured The Embers, among other internationally known recording artists, received international critical acclaim. It not only “evoked the best of memories and emotions for anyone who has been touched by the magic of beach music,” according to www.theembers.net. It also “introduced newcomers to the same passion that has made these enchanting melodies one of the greatest music phenomena of all time.”

Their latest album The Show Must Go On featured the single “The Last Time I’m Saying Goodbye” which debuted at number four in the UK’s Soulwalking charts.

In addition to the great music, Fayetteville After 5 is a great way to relax with friends and family and take a break from the worries of the work week. Enjoy a corn-hole tournament, participate in the 50/50 raffle and the prizes and giveaways. Like always, there will be food and beverage vendors (no out-side food or beverages are allowed within the park), and plenty of space on the promenade to get up and dance.

The gates open at five. Attendees can look forward to hearing a perfor-mance by local talent before the headliners perform around 7 p.m. The event is free and takes place downtown at Festival Park, so bring a blanket or a lawn chair to enjoy the show. Find out more at www.faydog-woodfestival.com.

Photo: The Embers are set to entertain at Fayetteville After 5 on July 21.