By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Dorothy followed the yellow brick road, but Salisbury’s summer concert series will stray off the brick street and try two new venues this year.
The line-up for Brick Street Live 2011 includes three shows on Fisher Street, where the series debuted last year and drew 12,000 people for six concerts.
But promoters will venture to other parts of town this summer. They’ve booked two shows at Castaways on West Innes Street, and they’re asking the city to consider a one-day music festival in the 100 block of North Main Street.
The Aug. 27 event, headlined by a Sugarcreek reunion concert, could draw 3,500 people, said promoter Mike Miller of Miller Davis.
“We don’t want to put any body out or be a burden to anybody,” Miller told City Council Tuesday. “This is about engaging people and bringing people to Salisbury.”
The street concert would run from 1 to 11 p.m., featuring Band of Oz, Big Sam, Atlantic Groove, Choby Badgio Band and finally Sugarcreek at 9 p.m.
Based in Charlotte, the band played more than 4,000 shows from 1971 to 1990. They released five albums in the 1980s. Their biggest hit was “What A Night.”
When Sugarcreek, the house band for the Attic at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion for 10 years, reunited in 2007 in Charlotte,
one how drew 2,500 people, Miller said.
He called the band “the Backstreet Boys that never made it.”
Miller said he will work closely with Salisbury Police and Alcohol Law Enforcement.
He said merchants and tenants in the 100 block of North Main support his plan. City Council will hold a public hearing April 19 to be sure.
While the street would close at the Square between Spanky’s and the Plaza, the stage would stand at the other end of the block, away from most residential apartments.
The natural grade will create an outdoor amphitheater for spectators on blankets or lawn chairs, Miller said.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said she favors the proposal but wants to hear from business owners and residents.
Councilman Paul Woodson said the event could boost business in that block.
Miller said he received requests from businesses and people in other parts of the city to bring Brick Street Live to other venues.
He said the 2010 series was financially successful.

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Brick Street 2010 Facts
• Held six concerts from May through October (one a month)
• Had more than 12,000 in attendance for series.
• BrickStreetLive.com had more than 20,000+ unique visitors.
• Advertising campaign had more than 300,000+ impressions.
• Media: Targeted cable, radio, online & newspaper
• First (1,000-1,500) got a collectible cup to keep.
• More than $30,000 in advertising purchased (direct cost).
• More than 4,000 posters distributed throughout concert series.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.