Morehead City's Alive at Five summer concert series is back.
This year is the twelfth time Downtown Morehead City is hosting the event. They haven't had a concert since October 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What You Need to Know
Morehead City's Alive at Five summer concert series is back
The events raise money for downtown businesses in Morehead City
Liquid Pleasure was the first band to take the stage
There are five more concerts scheduled for 2021
Lisa Rueh is the executive director of Downtown Morehead City, Inc., a downtown economic development non-profit organization. She said the crowds seem to finally be ready to come out and enjoy some summer entertainment once again.
“This is one of the fundraisers that we have to help our downtown businesses,” Rueh said. “[The money] goes back to them whether it just be a side grant or helping them with whatever it is that they need.”
The first band to take the stage in June was Liquid Pleasure, a band based out of Raleigh. Kenny Mann, a founding member, started this band in seventh grade.
“It's funny. We never missed a show in 55 years of performing,” Mann said. “We've never let anybody down. ... Then we were on the phone almost every day, like 'what are we going to do?' I mean it's just like our world stopped.”
During the pandemic, many concerts had to be postponed. COVID-19 was hard for everyone, but especially for those whose livelihoods depend on crowds and performances. Now, they're finally back to doing what they love at Alive at Five in Morehead City.
However, the concert is bittersweet for this band. They are missing someone up on that stage. Another founding member, Melvin Farrington died from COVID-19 in March.
“For me not to have him on stage was one of the roughest performances I've ever experienced,” Mann said.
The band says they miss him dearly, but the show must go on.
“My playing never stops,” said Charles Bradshaw, keyboard player for Liquid Pleasure. “You know the little playing I do at home to practice and stuff like that, but it's nothing like being on stage. We have our little kinks, but everything comes back by way of either memory or muscle memory. It all returns, and once it all returns, everything flows just like clockwork.”
Many venues rescheduled their concerts instead of cancelling them. That means Liquid Pleasure is busier than ever, but they are happy to perform because they love what they do.
Morehead City has five more Alive at Five concerts planned for 2021. Concerts are free and run from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. in Jaycee Park.
Here is a schedule of upcoming events:
- July 16: Bounce Party Band
- August 20: Soul Psychedelique
- September 2: Night Years
- September 16: Band of Oz
- October 14: The Embers