Community Concerts of Fayetteville has lined up legendary soul, country and disco music for its upcoming season of shows.
The concerts will feature Earth, Wind & Fire; Alabama; Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker; and “Direct From Sweden: The Music of Abba,” according to a news release from concert organizers.
“Community Concerts is back,” said Bill Kirby Jr., president of the organization.
The concerts are held at the Crown Center Complex. Ticket information is available at Community Concerts tickets.
More concerts are planned and will be announced when confirmed, according to Kirby.
Earth, Wind & Fire will kick off the season on Oct. 1, the news release said. The band, known for hits such as “Boogie Wonderland,” “September” and “Shining Star,” spans many genres of music, including jazz, R&B, soul and pop.
The band is the winner of six Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors and was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Country singers Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker will perform Nov. 4, according to the release.
Lawrence rose to fame in the 1990s with a rock-tinged honky-tonk sound, according to allmusic.com. His debut album was “Sticks and Stones” in 1991, and he hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts with “Can’t Break It to My Heart,” “My Second Home” and “Time Marches On.” In 2009, he released an album of Christian music, “The Rock,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Walker made his debut in 1993 with the single “What’s It to You,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He has released a total of 11 studio albums and had six No. 1 singles, including “Rumor Has It” and “If I Could Make a Living.”
County staple Alabama, a carryover band from the 2021-22 season, will perform Dec. 22, the release said. The band’s hits include “Mountain Music,” “Love in the First Degree” and “Song of the South.” A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Alabama was named Vocal Group of the Year by both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music in 1981. It won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award five times, from 1982 to 1986.
“Direct From Sweden: The Music of Abba” will be performed Feb. 11, according to the release. The show, which has sold out venues around the world, features the music of the Swedish disco band which had dance hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia” and “Take a Chance.”
Kirby expressed appreciation to Community Concerts’ sponsors, including Cape Fear Valley Health System and CityView Media, as well as the group’s board and staff members.
“We are grateful to all, and grateful to our patrons, who fill our seats and attend our concerts season after season after season,” Kirby said in the news release.
Community Concerts also announced the receipt of a $22,500 grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County to support the 2022-23 series and the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame.
