Movin’ and groovin’ during Thursdays on Main
By Joanie Morris
For the Salisbury Post
KANNAPOLIS — As the band Déjá Vu warmed up in the gazebo at Veterans Park, people old and young gathered, laying out blankets and setting up lawn chairs. Soon, the band started their set, including covers from the ’60s, ’70s and beyond.
This is the third year that the city of Kannapolis has sponsored the Thursdays on Main concert series in Veterans Park, a lunchtime concert for anyone who wants to come.
“We needed something for the community to come together,” said Becky Tolle, the city’s special events coordinator. “We decided to offer a lunch time music series. There was a niche we could fill and we did.”
The series will run through June, with bands playing from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the park next to First Baptist Church on the corner of Main Street and First Avenue. All of the concerts are free.
Performances will feature everything from jazz to classical and big band, as well as cover bands like Deja Vu, under the trees in Veterans Park. Concert goers are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch or buy food from vendors showcased each week. Parking is available on-street in downtown Kannapolis.
James and Katherine Carter have lived in Kannapolis their whole lives. They come to the concerts to get out of the house.
“It’s a break in the week,” said Katherine. “Something to do.”
If she wasn’t at the concert, she said, “I’d probably just clean the house.”
“It’s a good community activity,” said Freddie Lewis, a Lifeskills teacher at A.L. Brown High School. He brings his students to the concerts every week to help learn social skills and have a little fun.
The students, part of the moderate to severe intellectual disabilities class at the school, have a blast. Most dance with others at the concerts, or simply shake their groove thing alone. With smiles on their faces and a bounce in their steps, it’s not hard to see they have a good time at the concerts.
The concerts continue on Thursdays through June 30. Included in the line-up:
May 19 – Acoustic Supershow (Superglide Unplugged)
May 26 – White Chocolate
June 2 – LJTT (Little Johnny Trailer Trash)
June 9 – Movin’ On Bluegrass
June 16 – Naked Blue & Ellen Cherry
June 23 – SoundBarrier
June 30 – Sea Cruz
Restaurants that will be showcased include Old Stone Vino, the Sweet Pickle Bakery and Chef Jeff. The city is working to find another restaurant to fill two weeks on the schedule.