Florence After Five is set to kick off another season of summer concerrts in downtown Florence.
FAF’s fourth season begins Friday, April 27, with Speakeasy, a soulful rock band based in Florence.
The band was formed at the end of last year and fronted equally by longtime Florence music staples Mark Humphries (vocals, guitar, trumpet, keys) and Bobby Roberts (trombone, vocals, keys), both former members of The Flow Town Band, who each bring a unique style and dynamic to the Speakeasy sound. Completing the equation are longtime music veterans Brian Tarte (guitar, vocals), Kevin Singleton (bass, vocals) and Mike Dowling (drums, vocals).
“We’re thrilled to be opening (Florence After Five) for the year,” Humphries said.
Speakeasy plays a variety of music including but not limited to blues, jazz, classic rock, country and R&B. Humphries said the band plays mostly covers with some original songs but more originals and recordings are in the works. In a previous interview, Dowling explained the band’s unique approach. “We play a lot of covers and people can relate to that, but playing music how you hear it on the radio is not what we’re about,” he said. “You get five or six songs in one so it’s not cut and dry, and I like that.”
The concert series will again be held on the final Friday of each month April through October. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and the band will play from 6 to 8 p.m.
Following last year’s street festival-style setup, the concert stage will be on South Dargan Street, near Thai House 2 restaurant. South Dargan Street will be closed off from Evans to Cheves streets to allow people to fill the street and enjoy talented local and regional musicians.
“Florence Downtown Development Corp. would like to see Florence bring out their families for the music and entertainment and to have a good time,” FDDC Promotions Chairwoman Tara Durden said.
Florence After Five admission is free. Residents can bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music with friends and family while supporting downtown revitalization.
Once again local food and beverage vendors will set up during the event; 2012 vendors include: The NY Butcher Shoppe, Crown Beverages, Victor’s Bistro and Rita’s Ice.
Participants will purchase tickets to buy food and beverages. No outside refreshments are allowed.
Florence After Five plays a vital role in the continued development of Florence and gives the people of the community an opportunity to come downtown to see the growth and development in downtown firsthand.
The Art Trail Gallery, funded by local artists and the FDDC, will be open again this year. Gallery tours during the concert are available and encouraged. The gallery features the work of local artists of the Pee Dee and hosts the Affordably Unique marketplace where local artisans sell their unique goods and merchandise.
April 27 will be the last night for the Photofabulous exhibit. It will begin exiting the Gallery immediately after the event.
Also immediately afterward the night’s event (and throughout the series), Victor’s Bistro on Irby Street is hosting “casual night.” Drink specials will be available.
The April 27 event will also highlight the Durant Children’s Center, a service of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Each event in the Florence After Five series highlights a local nonprofit organization. The organization provides volunteers for the event in exchange for a tent and information booth and a flat fee donation from the FDDC.
A similar, local employer spotlight program has been added to this year’s program. At each month’s FAF, a new employer will highlighted. Employees that come to the concert receive free tickets for food and beverages. April’s employer is Honda Manufacturing of SC.
The FDDC presents its 2012 season with the support of series sponsors Victor’s Bistro and Crown Beverages. A local business serves as concert sponsor each month, helping provide funding to make this a free event. Pee Dee Electric will fill the concert sponsorship role in April. Florence After Five is a rain or shine event. The rain location for this year’s concert series is the Florence-Darlington Technical College parking garage on the corners of McQueen and Cheves streets.
Parking for Florence After Five is available at the city parking lot behind The Art Trail Gallery, the Pee Dee Mental Health building, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Central United Methodist Church, the Florence City-County Complex and along the streets in the surrounding downtown area.
Florence After Five is funded through, and organized by, the Florence Downtown Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization devoted to revitalizing and restoring civic pride in downtown Florence.
Download the flyer for the overall and monthly events on the FDDC website at www.florencedowntown.com .
Become friends with “Florence After Five” on Facebook or follow the FDDC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/floscdowntown for up-to-date information.
FAF’s fourth season begins Friday, April 27, with Speakeasy, a soulful rock band based in Florence.
The band was formed at the end of last year and fronted equally by longtime Florence music staples Mark Humphries (vocals, guitar, trumpet, keys) and Bobby Roberts (trombone, vocals, keys), both former members of The Flow Town Band, who each bring a unique style and dynamic to the Speakeasy sound. Completing the equation are longtime music veterans Brian Tarte (guitar, vocals), Kevin Singleton (bass, vocals) and Mike Dowling (drums, vocals).
“We’re thrilled to be opening (Florence After Five) for the year,” Humphries said.
Speakeasy plays a variety of music including but not limited to blues, jazz, classic rock, country and R&B. Humphries said the band plays mostly covers with some original songs but more originals and recordings are in the works. In a previous interview, Dowling explained the band’s unique approach. “We play a lot of covers and people can relate to that, but playing music how you hear it on the radio is not what we’re about,” he said. “You get five or six songs in one so it’s not cut and dry, and I like that.”
The concert series will again be held on the final Friday of each month April through October. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and the band will play from 6 to 8 p.m.
Following last year’s street festival-style setup, the concert stage will be on South Dargan Street, near Thai House 2 restaurant. South Dargan Street will be closed off from Evans to Cheves streets to allow people to fill the street and enjoy talented local and regional musicians.
“Florence Downtown Development Corp. would like to see Florence bring out their families for the music and entertainment and to have a good time,” FDDC Promotions Chairwoman Tara Durden said.
Florence After Five admission is free. Residents can bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music with friends and family while supporting downtown revitalization.
Once again local food and beverage vendors will set up during the event; 2012 vendors include: The NY Butcher Shoppe, Crown Beverages, Victor’s Bistro and Rita’s Ice.
Participants will purchase tickets to buy food and beverages. No outside refreshments are allowed.
Florence After Five plays a vital role in the continued development of Florence and gives the people of the community an opportunity to come downtown to see the growth and development in downtown firsthand.
The Art Trail Gallery, funded by local artists and the FDDC, will be open again this year. Gallery tours during the concert are available and encouraged. The gallery features the work of local artists of the Pee Dee and hosts the Affordably Unique marketplace where local artisans sell their unique goods and merchandise.
April 27 will be the last night for the Photofabulous exhibit. It will begin exiting the Gallery immediately after the event.
Also immediately afterward the night’s event (and throughout the series), Victor’s Bistro on Irby Street is hosting “casual night.” Drink specials will be available.
The April 27 event will also highlight the Durant Children’s Center, a service of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Each event in the Florence After Five series highlights a local nonprofit organization. The organization provides volunteers for the event in exchange for a tent and information booth and a flat fee donation from the FDDC.
A similar, local employer spotlight program has been added to this year’s program. At each month’s FAF, a new employer will highlighted. Employees that come to the concert receive free tickets for food and beverages. April’s employer is Honda Manufacturing of SC.
The FDDC presents its 2012 season with the support of series sponsors Victor’s Bistro and Crown Beverages. A local business serves as concert sponsor each month, helping provide funding to make this a free event. Pee Dee Electric will fill the concert sponsorship role in April. Florence After Five is a rain or shine event. The rain location for this year’s concert series is the Florence-Darlington Technical College parking garage on the corners of McQueen and Cheves streets.
Parking for Florence After Five is available at the city parking lot behind The Art Trail Gallery, the Pee Dee Mental Health building, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Central United Methodist Church, the Florence City-County Complex and along the streets in the surrounding downtown area.
Florence After Five is funded through, and organized by, the Florence Downtown Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization devoted to revitalizing and restoring civic pride in downtown Florence.
Download the flyer for the overall and monthly events on the FDDC website at www.florencedowntown.com .
Become friends with “Florence After Five” on Facebook or follow the FDDC on Twitter at www.twitter.com/floscdowntown for up-to-date information.
Florence After Five will take place from 5:30-8pm on Friday, April 27th on South Dargan Street in downtown Florence.
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