It’s not too late to buy tickets to see musician Edwin McCain perform at Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium Thursday and in turn help a local nonprofit.
But waiting to purchase them at the door might not be a sure thing.
“There is limited availability,” Seamus Donaldson, market president at Vantage South Bank, said Tuesday. “It will be sold out tomorrow.”
Vantage South Bank organized the concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County.
Paul Finnican, who works as a business development officer out of the Charlotte branch, had the idea to bring McCain to Salisbury. He found out Vantage vice presidents Jeff Wetmore and Crystal Hodges, who both serve on the Habitat for Humanity of Rowan’s board of directors, were brainstorming fundraising ideas.
“He has a long-standing relationship with Edwin McCain,” Donaldson said. “Their relationship and our desire locally to help Habitat brought him here.
“Edwin was very willing to help out.”
Donaldson said McCain has performed the venue Finnican owns in York, S.C. called Sylvia Theater.
Doors for the concert open at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Jeff Black will open the show with his blend of country, folk and rock music at 8 p.m. Raleigh native Brent Jordan will share his acoustic, folk, rock sound after that.
McCain, who is known for the hits “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More,” will take the stage at about 9 p.m. Thursday.
Tickets for the concert are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. They can be purchased by visiting the Habitat homepage at www.habitatrowan.org.
“We’re hopeful we will raise a relatively substantial amount of money,” Donaldson said. “Every little bit helps in this day and time.”
Tickets are also available at Vantage South Bank, 322 E. Innes St., and the Habitat ReStore at 1707 S. Main St.
Donaldson said Catawba’s Board of Trustees have purchased 750 tickets to give out free to students.
“They have been a huge supporter of this concert,” he said. “We don’t think parking should be an issue since the bulk of the tickets are going to students.”
Donaldson anticipated a total of 1,000 people will fill the auditorium, which has a capacity of about 1,400.
“All tickets are general admissions, so seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he said.
Donaldson said instead of simply writing a check, the bank wanted to get the community involved.
“This event will not only raise money for Habitat, but it will also raise awareness,” he said. “I think we’ve been successful at that.”
Coleman Emerson, Habitat’s executive director, said this is the first time the nonprofit has been part of a benefit concert.
“We are thankful to Vantage South for making it happen,” he said.
Emerson said any money the organization receives from the concert will go back into the community.
“Everything we do, no matter what it is, is directed toward obtaining money for the construction of low-income housing in Rowan County,” he said.
Emerson said the land and construction of each home, which typically includes three or four bedrooms, costs about $72,000.
Habitat has completed more than 83 homes in Rowan County.
“We are thankful to Vantage South for presenting us with this opportunity and we look forward to the concert,” Emerson said.

Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
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