Behind the Scene With Tracey Stones

Stay Inspired

There are a lot of dreams and visions that came with writing this blog. The greatest dream born, was the one that came with the desire to build a stronger music community. Behind the scenes, this operation comes together in the sanctity of my bedroom and for me, that is perfect because it comes from the intimacy of my wounded soul! Writing is a personal exercise that warrants a lot of alone time. Something I thrive in.

Music is so important to our survival because life is full of hardships and trauma. Personally, I use music to escape the pains of my existence. I close my eyes and feel the rhythms that connect me to the universe and my Father in heaven. I know I am not alone in this, which is why I am motivated to bring people together for music. Getting lost in music’s vibrations replenishes the mind and reminds us that life is much greater than the negative impositions we face from day to day and more about sharing the positive results that come from those impositions.

Healing In Focus

Having started this blog after the end of a marriage, I became entrenched in this thought of a community, with the hopes of feeling more connected to one. Part of this happened because I came out of a situation of alienation from the world. From that situation, I was left with a wanting. A wanting to belong to something instead of someone. I wanted to use all of my talents and past experiences to bring music to light in my area. And I didn’t want anyone to stop me. Instead of getting lost in another lonely relationship, I ended up here, cultivating a more connected music community.

Life and Living It

Our experiences in this life are what guide us. Having been through a lot of trauma I naturally became an advocate. I have been an advocate for the hurt and suffering victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. My best work in life, however, comes in being an advocate for musicians on the local level. I have known this to be my calling since I was 17 and I started pursuing it passionately when I was 25 years old. Music is essential to our existence and I am on a mission to keep people connected to it!

Write A Blog and Dream

Writing this blog came with a great many learning curves and plenty of frustration too. However, from those educationally trying times, came my dreams of developing something better for others to use.

If all goes well, freelancers like myself will have a user-friendly program to create and share content, while music appreciators will be able to download an app on their phone that connects them to the scene in their state. Should those efforts be successful, we will help put freelancers like me to work, while keeping people connected to the things they love. This will also keep the local music scene lively and thriving. Once that mission is complete and cash flow is no longer an issue, I would love to build a foundation funded by that success.

Profit Before Non-Profit Please!

Having just completed a year of sitting on the board for the Down East Folk Arts Society, I know about non-profits and how they work. As for DEFAS, they do good work and warrant the grants they seek for bringing and promoting the shows they bring to our area. They have a mission similar to mine, which made it a good fit. Over the years, I have also been involved with quite a few Blues societies in several states. There again, good work, for local and regional blues artists.

I am also fully aware and understand that my work as a writer, serves also as a non-profit service to this community that I support. However, that was never my intention. No lie, my sights are still set on being very profitable and changing the world. I am a hard worker, who will be looking to someday attain the fruits of my labor.  I am not interested in setting myself up as a charity to get started.

It is frustrating to me that life has come down to a GoFundMe, thanks in part to living my dreams! Nonetheless, I believe in my plans enough to still foresee having so much profit that there needs to be a foundation in place for the run-off. Something I can invest in regularly while encouraging growth for years to come through music development. Did I mention, DREAM BIG!

For The Love Of Family And Music

This non-profit foundation will focus its efforts on some very personal goals. First and foremost, it’s my want and my wish to bring an orchestra program to the North Carolina public schools. I would start with Craven County while keeping all of NC in the scope.

My reason for this is personal. I was in the process of rearing my son in Louisiana during the middle school years when he signed up to be a part of the school orchestra. He loved learning the violin. When we moved back to the area, there was no orchestra here. The band director handed my son a triangle and stuck him in the back next to the big drum. For obvious reasons, I did not become a band mom. And I never let go of wanting to change the system, even if it is by bringing music choices to our children.

Motivation Moved From Family to Friendship

About a year into writing the blog, another major motivation inspired more nonprofit dreams and missions. That is when Big Jim took ill and could not make it out to the store to buy some booze. When shock set in from alcohol withdrawal Big Jim found himself a ride to better health and a life of sobriety and the blues.

Fact is, Big Jim was sick from pneumonia, which had him incapacitated. But interestingly enough, it was alcohol which held him down the most. When he couldn’t get his hands on any, it literally took him down. To survive the withdrawals he was placed in a coma and put in ICU. This man is one of my best friends. I was scared we would lose him in this battle and it stirred a movement in me like no other. He is the inspiration behind the Foundation, funding the recovery expenses for local musicians.

Never Say Die

For those that were not here back then, I had a call to action when Big Jim grew ill.  I made a lot of promises that meant something, as I was saying them to my sick friend before God’s ears. And even though Jim is slim now, and sober for nearly two years, I still want to start a foundation to raise the money needed for musicians to get treatment, should they make the healthy choice of clean and sober living.

That is a much needed and worthy goal as this business creates a lot of dependencies that other job opportunities don’t. As there is no other job that I can think of where you walk in, set up and have drinks handed to you as you work. There is no shortage of people wanting to get the band high either. It makes me a little heartsick. All of this leads to awesome troubles for many entertainers. Given that, I feel it is important to have a safety net for this industry.

Then A Hurricane Came and I thought of Ways to use Music to Heal the World

The next big upset that inspired me more was Hurricane Florence. Since her visit last September, my mind and life have been completely altered. That is true for most in my area. Though I can’t move a mountain or tear down a building I can dream…and today I still say we need to tear down Trent Court, in its entirety and build a parking garage where the Days Inn used to stand. Build an amphitheater in town, something that can withstand the weather. Then use a percentage of those profits to build better housing in a safer location. We can help the poor and heal the hurt by bringing an awesome music venue to this city. And yes I do know there is a plan to build an amphitheater on the outskirt of this town, but, it seems to make more sense to put it in town. Who do I talk to about this dream?  Who can help me propose it?

Tracey Stones Productions Bringing Concerts to Communities

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One of the ideas that came from my work as a videographer, was this idea that we can bring music to the people. I get a lot of messages. Some messages came from recovering alcoholics who would share their tales with me. In short, they enjoy my work because they miss the music. Pair that with my sober friends making music on the scene, and there came this idea of bringing music out of the bars into our neighborhoods.

This is the kind of work that I am most excited about. We have so many small communities in my area that would thrive with a mini-concert series. But this is work that needs community partnerships interested in doing business with me as an advertising vessel. I serve as a legitimate advertising write-off for any company interested in putting their banners up behind my stages.

These types of community activities promote friends and neighbors coming together in a healthy environment for the sake of afternoon fun and music. I was hopeful that partners in the community would see this good work and support it, but thus far I am still the only advertising banner being featured at these shows.

Sponsors would serve as banner advertisers and would be promoted as such. Their banners would drape the stage setting and be featured in all live feeds on social media. The cost to sponsor a show is $500. This allows me to offer fair pay to the band and promote the shows within the communities. I still have several shows remaining and would love to alleviate the request for donations from a community harshly impacted by the Hurricane.

Up Next for TSP at RSP

For our next show in Fairfield Harbour, we will delight in the Americana folk and gospel-infused music of Caffeinated Soul Boogie. A New Bern based father/daughter band backed up by a couple of rhythm makers on bass and guitar. We gather in Red Sail Park for these shows and the residents are all invited to pack a snack and bring a drink. I hustle people for a $10 donation to pay the bands, but I would rather partner with community businesses to make this dream the best it can be. On Sunday, July 28th, the inspiration of the movement, Big Jim Kohler returns for his second performance. The series concludes in September, so there is still an opportunity to be a part of greatness.

Be the change you want to see

If you would like to partner with me in bringing these shows to your community,  please do not hesitate to contact me. Same is true for any business looking for a unique advertising vessel. I am happy to incorporate partnerships with my social media sites and this blog page as part of the package. Those advertising dollars, in turn, help to build healthy, fair paying stages in neighborhoods looking to incorporate live and local music.

This helps to expand the local music market and brings more people together in an area they know and love with the people they live near. Nothing is more beautiful than that vision.

So for those that have been wondering what is up with the blogger, now you know. I am taking a break, but clearly, no one has seen the last of this girl!

To Advertise or Become A Sponsor Call

318-789-6929

Looking for Music In New Bern Tonight

I write a weekly column for NewBernNow.com for all of the fun happening in and around town. It publishes each Thursday and you can check it out by clicking the NBN link.

Have a great week and take time to enjoy the dance!

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I accept many forms of payment!

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All donors are added to the Thank you Page.

I set out on a musical adventure in March 2015 with grand hopes of changing the world with my words and my works. This all came to happened nearly two years after my life was turned inside out.

In April 2013 I walked into my house, through the garage side door to find that my husband of six years, five and a half unhappy, was hiding an arsenal of weapons right under my nose. I thought we had four shotguns. Four months prior to learning about the stockpile of 21 weapons that included AK 47s and AR-15s, we had received, a letter of denial in the mail. It was actually addressed to him, but we read it together,  via Skype like all the other mail. It was a rejection from my husband’s life insurance company, saying they denied his request to double my insurance to half a million, due to a recent illness. ( I had pneumonia and blood clots in my lungs!)

When I found the safe full of guns, after I caught wind of the request, a few things became clear. My opinion or life was not valued, my husband was delusional, and I was getting a divorce. On April 12, 2013, I had no idea how that was going to happen, given my situation of living with a controlling man. But let me tell you how I think it came to be…

Pray For Better Days

At this time, six years ago,  I was randomly touring Europe with this mad man I had married and felt alienated from and unsafe with. Along the way, from Amsterdam to Rome, over the course of 15 days, we toured 27 cities and we visited many churches along the way, including St. Peter’s Cathedral.

I am not Catholic but I am a huge fan of St. Anthony, so when I came upon his shrine in Kutz, Germany, I got down on my knees and prayed for his help in finding ME again. I did this for two weeks at every St. Anthony Shrine I found. Two days after my return from that long emotionally charged and unhappy trip, where we would even witness our Pope Francis conducting Mass, I had a house fire. It was small and under control in no time and little damage was done. It cost me $1000 for a new stove and before it was even installed, I hit the jackpot.

My ex-husband was a wealthy man. When I departed my marriage my husband was working in Saudi Arabia making a cool quarter million a year. The more money he made, the more out of control he became. It took some planning to remove myself from that situation, but on Valentine’s Day 2014 I filed for divorce and started to move away from our home on February 10. I left the marriage accepting $25,000, my truck and a trailer as an exit deal and I ran like hell.

In July 2013 after I had a small house fire, I felt as though life was at the lowest point. But after the smoke cleared, there remained hope in the ashes. That is when I met Robert Walker and the plan of rebuilding began. I never told Robert when we started out, that I was going to use him to get away from my marriage, but I knew exactly what was happening in my life. He was my escape plan. Robert came to my home to clean it after my fire and needed a better opportunity. I knew I could pay him more for work that had fewer health risks. It was not a bad deal for him either.

Create Your Best Days

From August thru December, Robert and I communicated about building a business and working together. Our first day of the new adventure was December 1, 2013, and we cleaned up messes that some people would never consider. We dabbled in estate cleaning and sales, we hosted regular appointments (15-20 each week on average) cleaning homes and businesses.

 Behind the scenes, I have been a writer my entire life. Journaling and crafting short stories are my favorite ways to pass my downtime. It is something that started in my rebellious childhood. Each time I was grounded and sent to my room, I turned on the radio and picked up a pen. I wrote poems and short stories throughout my childhood. By my teenage years, music held my full attention and writing about it has been a thing for me since.

In working with Robert, we developed the best relationship I have ever known. This man stood by me throughout the emotional roller-coaster of divorce and watched me fight my demons over people in the truck daily. He calmed me down when I acted out and got upset and did irrational things. He told me we had plenty of time to get to know each other and was the first person who slowed me down enough to think things through. He reminded me to find myself and that I still did not know who I was going to be.

He inspired me to follow my dreams and those dreams led us both here. Robert has been reading each blog and removing commas and editing since June 2016. Whether he knew it or not, Robert was single-handedly rebuilding my life by just being in it! He gave me the inspiration to dream and follow my heart. That made my heart settle on him as I set out on my own adventure.

Follow Your Heart

Not interested much in relationships after my last marriage and track record, I became comfortable in building my relationship with a community. I have remained devoted and dedicated to the mission of connecting people to music and I have been successful in my work when it comes to people knowing where to go to find live music.

For most of the time that this blog has existed, I funded it by way of my cleaning business. Most people do not recognize how hard I worked to make all of this happen. I understood and knew what I was doing. I was working on building my retirement plan from the cleaning business, that enlisted the talents and passions of my youth.

Work Hard and Harder

Through most of that time of supporting this blog with cleaning, I was working with Robert. Things shifted and changed with time because as the weeks rolled by, the blog’s popularity grew and as it did, it demanded more of my time. Quite frankly this excited me. I was making appearances on radio shows all over the state, people were making a big deal out of me, because of the work I was doing for music makers. In short, shame on me, I was living my dreams for a hot minute!

I was fooled enough, by this time last year, getting ready to walk into another Summer music season and I wanted to embrace it fully. Robert accepted a job where 40 hours was a promise and I continued cleaning by day with the hope of selling the business we built and investing it here. I had a business that was easily worth $50K at a hot sale. And that would have been enough to get my dreams rolling.

Learn Lessons

As last Summer progressed, there was little hope that my old self-serving friend would amount to being worth any investment, I was onto a new plan. I ran into someone I had partnered with in business throughout the years, at Barn Bash. Mark Berry and I were getting ready to talk and we spoke briefly about the middle of the week. Well by Tuesday of that week,  September 11, 2018, I was leaving town for NJ under evacuation, in a rush and without my wallet. We would not return until September 22. It was one of the longest 11 days stretches of my life. It was true hell watching my home town on TV as it suffered through Florence. Hearing reports of the homes lost and knowing the people that lived there leaves you powerless when you are 500 miles away.

 I wanted to jump into action from NJ and felt stranded and frustrated at every turn. When I came home, I was paralyzed by the destruction. I could not believe it and I definitely did not want to work. I wanted to help anybody and everyone I could. So I turned on my phone, jumped in my truck and put all three of us to work. I delivered buckets and meals for days. I went live and shared info, and begged everyone for help. I was so displaced by the damage it took a long time to get past it all.

The Fall Between the Cracks

In the end, I lost no personal goods, my house and my family are very lucky. I lost my businesses. And with having no good credit, given the divorce and single motherhood life, I decided to accept that I have no worth to this world. I got to thinking that was true when the SBA agent said: “You have nothing positive to work with, call us back if you turn something around.” I have not had any desire to even address that!

As I did get back to a new normal, I went back to work with the work that remained. Only this time alone and for the moment in time, that was perfect. Then it was back to music also after another month. It remained like that for six weeks until I got sick with the Flu and gave away all but one cleaning account. So in short Flo and the Flu kicked my a$$ in 2018.

To be honest, as I walked into 2019 in reflection, I looked at Florence as a message from our Father above. I built that business with Robert and after turning my back on that plan I certainly did not deserve any return on investment. Knowing my relationship with Robert, I know it is an act of God that he showed up here and maybe I should have honored him more. He is a good man. He put up with a lot from me. I always knew I was a handful! He only learned it with time and handled me well. Given that, I was already longing and lost before the middle of September, yet behind the scenes that man remained.

New Day New Opportunity

For me, it has been quite a year in the whole dream development arena of life!! I am grateful that I chose Robert and music to help me grow and heal. Today I can say I love Robert even more than I ever can remember loving any man! He does not provide for me by giving me money and expecting me to be someone I am not. Instead, he shows up every day to help me find my own way.

Never wanting to change me, always wanting to be helpful and always tolerant and patient with my tornado of a personality! This man who served our country as a Marine years ago is my hero today and for the last 6 years! Given that, it is my wish to return to the goals that helped me reclaim my life after a psychotic marriage. Cleaning houses may not be glamorous work but we are skilled deep cleaners, we earned good money and now he is available again for work and I want nothing more than to employ him.

Last time I upstarted the cleaning business on 10K and I know that I can do it again with the right equipment, insurances, and advertising.  As much as I have loved being your music lady, accolades and praise do not pay the bills. I am stepping away from trying to impress people with my music plans and working my way back to earning a good living so that I can afford to blog for you again! To help me do that please visit my Go Fund Me Page today! Thank you for your support and for reading!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/9464c-back-to-business

I have nothing to hide. I live my life out loud. I stay true to my word and I always hope that people will act better tomorrow, including my hormonal self. Fact is, last May I made decisions to upset the apple cart and follow my dreams. After 5 years of planning and working with Robert Walker, I decided to be a B L O G G E R!

This man, he walked into my life and stayed by my side for years and years. He showed up for work on time every day and was usually always waiting for me to get it together. So patiently, he stood by me during an emotional separation and even crazier divorce, where I decided to upstart my business, so to change my life.

As I healed, I did so in trying to help others, as that is my nature. In 2013 I returned to the board of directors for Promise Place and by 2014, I was the Chair for the board…that proved too overwhelming for me and I still Thank God for the day I returned to the board and saw now Maj. David McFadyen sitting at the table. He would step up and Chair the board after I stepped down and away from my work at Promise Place. I still remain as a volunteer, and as for David, he will be replaced in his role as Board President next month. I still celebrate his work in our community in helping Promise Place do their best work for our community members in need of their service.

During those days you could find Breeze and I feeding the homeless and learning how to be better advocates for children who might be suffering from sexual violence. His motorcycle club sat with Carolyn Wynne and me one Sunday afternoon to become Guardians of Light thru the Darkness to Light platform.

After being an advocate for sexual abuse survivors proved too emotional to this survivor, I started advocating for my truest passion, music and music makers. Instead of getting into one bad relationship after another, I hung out with the sidekick whom I love dearly and we cleaned up all over Craven County together. At night when I got bored, I would text Robert endlessly and go look for live music. This is how two men born on the same day handed me the Keys to the Highway. Jim Kohler and Breeze are the men I thank most for bringing me back to music.

Without Big Jim and his blues and his ultra-supportive wife Kathleen Kohler, I might have stayed locked away from this world and all its people. Instead, they brought me back to thinking about my life and I ran after it without any thought. This couple spent hours upon hours with me in my new life, and they are a part of my foundation! This is why I rally for and champion them in their own time of need. Let’s not forget we nearly lost the big guy!

Meanwhile, days roll by and things progressed and as things took off for the blog, I turned to Robert and asked if he would be my editor. I need eyes to oversee me always! He has been reading every blog before you most weeks for nearly three years. Instead of telling me to stop what I was doing, and pay attention to business, he went and found a job he thought would be a stepping stone to another opportunity. We all know how that can work out sometimes.

Last May, he took another job offer and worked things through with me until the end of June last year. I was told by a friend that she would work with me and buy my business. A week after Robert’s departure my friend told me she would need two weeks a year off to do another job. Three weeks after that I learned she would need six weeks off a year. (Sorry no one can run a business like that.) Instead of being forthright she accepted $15 an hour, doing $8.00 an hour quality work. I  was going broke before the hurricane, take my word on that!

We all learn our lessons with friends, don’t we? That is not what this story is about, nor is she to blame for my desire to follow my dreams. Though that zing still stings to some degree. Nonetheless, after not firing her (my own bad decision)  three weeks in, we made it through the Summer and that is when God hearing my struggles said, “Hey, you, about this idea of selling your business, here let me take care of that for you. I see you need a new plan!” Florence changed lives and plans swiftly with her watery force!

Since then it’s been pretty rough around here! The only thing I want to do is heal people and the best way I heal is with music. So I stopped cleaning and dreamed bigger after getting sick in December. I took a job and gave my cleaning accounts away to a “competitor.” I had hoped that my community would back those dreams and that work. The job that I took is helping Wendy Card and New Bern Now.  I remain committed to all of that work as well as my own product! I still have big dreams and major developments underway and it is well worth the time and effort I put forth.

I might have learned that I have more work to do to prove my worth in that regard. Trust me, I am not giving up on me and our music makers. We have a lot of work to do! After sometime after a while, I decided to return to cleaning and under a new business model. This model has me back to working with my editor and favorite one, three to four days a week doing one time, detailed cleaning jobs. This is our niche. We do good work together! We have rhythm and we can make a house shine with a good day of honest hard work! He is a former Marine who served our country for 8 years.

Robert showed up on my front porch when he was working for another company. I tend to believe that July 11, 2013, was a pivotal day in both of our lives. He was there to clean my house after a fire. He ended up staying and helped me rebuild my life from the ashes. He has been teaching me new ways to clean stuff for six years gone by. He is my best friend and favorite one! It has been a very long year without him and I am glad that, together, we have a plan to get things right in both of our lives again.

Now that we have a plan I am asking for the help I need to get our apple cart upright and rolling again so that we both can get back to getting some rest at night! Thank you!

GoFundMe Getting Back In Business

And when we get to the part of my truck needing tires, this is what I mean!

On The Scene With Tracey Stones

We Rocked Our Midweek Blues Away at City Stage

Starting things off with a look at last week, we begin at the mid-week point whereupon at City Stage we find  Big Jim Kohler and his band sharing some blues with good friends and talented players. Those that joined the fun last week included the regular rock riffs of Jayke Steel who is not pictured above but, who is, the leader of his own modern country band and as it turns out he is available to play in your bar and every Monday and Wednesday as best I can tell. Feel free to find him on Facebook and hire him today!

Making the night fun and most enjoyable was the incredible voice of Kathy Kohler and helping fill in the sounds was Jonathon Peck with his six-string and Phillip Alcock who joined in on bass. Adding a new and talented blues twists to the night was Derrick Moore for a nice change. Moore keeps busy with Caffeinated Soul Boogie, an Americana pop band based here in New Bern.

For those looking to check them out, they will be rocking their grooves at one of my favorite places in Oriental next Friday night, at The New Village Brewery & Taproom. Music for that starts at 6:30 pm. On Sunday the 30th of June Frank and Lili Bacon will host and celebrate their Second Anniversary with Big Jim Kohler Blues Band. Music for that event kicks off at 2 pm.

 If you are interested in breaking up your mid-week blues, be sure to join us at The City Stage. The fun happens every Wednesday from 7-9 pm.

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On Thursday We Rode To Durham to Jam Some More

Last Thursday Big Jim and I rode to Durham and along the way, we picked up Phillip Alcock to join us on the journey. We stopped by the House in Durham to join in the weekly fun they have at Woolly’s Big Blues Jam. This fun event takes place every Thursday and it kicks off at 6:30 pm and rocks in rotation until 10 pm.

We will do this again soon as we are planning a show in the triangle area happening next month at Raleigh’s prime music venue The Pour House Music Hall. On the bill for Sunday, July 21, 2019, will be Woolly & The Wingnutz Blues Revue, Big Ron Hunter with Appaloosa Redd and Big Jim Kohler Blues Band. For tickets to this show in advance,  check out the event on Facebook by clicking this link:

Tickets for Big Jim at The Pour House

Getting back to The House, last week, there is always a strong showing of talent at the jam. Last week was no exception. It was top notch talent throughout the night. All blues players are welcome to be a part of the fun, just come out and sign up to be included in the rotation of jammers. Besides serving up the cool blues music, The House also serves up great food too. Come hungry and stay late to dance your blues away!

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Friday Came Courtesy of Mary Shine On The Scene

Mary Shine offered the assist and covered the scene last Friday night for NCMZ.LIVE.

Jan Michael Field Band Rocked New Bern

Mary Shine headed to Blackbeards Triple Play to check in with the Jan Michael Fields Band. They were rocking the deck and keeping the crowd happy with their wide variety of popular hits. This band offers everything from Motown to popular rock classics. Some of the highlights include Journey and even the fun sounds of KC and The Sunshine Band.

The South Carolina based band will be heading back to NC to rock Heroes Sports, Oyster Bar and Grill in Goldsboro, NC this Saturday night. Music rocks from 10 pm until closing. If you have yet to see them, be sure to wear your dancing shoes and party hats, because you are about to have you some rock and roll fun!

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Saturday Night Delights

Nicholas William Bailey at Sara’s Big Apple

It is always a pleasure to check in with our next spotlight artist. Nicholas Bailey is a talented stringer who has explored some depths of songwriting that few from New Bern have done. He has written movie scores, he has lent his talents to television shows and also stays busy with his own band.

I met Bailey a few months ago at Captain Ratty’s here in New Bern and was inspired to ask him to come to Sara’s Big Apple soon after hearing his beautiful playing. He plays the most soothing sounds with six strings and it is a mastery he offers song into song for full sets. It is awesome and offered with pure grace. I absolutely love the beauty and uniqueness of his dinner show offerings. Someday soon I hope to hear his band Nick & The Babes

To learn more check out his biography on Wikipedia by clicking here:

Nicholas William Bailey

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Ryan Cain Plays BrÛtopia

Ryan Cain is the country crooner that keeps busy playing shows from the coastal resort towns to New Bern and beyond. He has a strong voice for country music and shares lots of popular and familiar songs. Sometimes you can catch him jamming with sweet and talented friends other times he flies solo. Last week I caught his at BrÜtopia on his own and grooving for his crowd.

If you love country music be sure to catch this man soon. He will be rocking Atlantic Beach this Thursday at Idle Hour Biergarten with music playing 6:30-9 pm and on Friday you can catch him at The Barnacle live at 6 pm. To keep up to speed with this up and coming talent like his Facebook music page by clicking this link:

Ryan Cain Music 

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Carolina Ale House Celebrates 20 Years Serving Jacksonville with Music by Dean Daughety and the Troublemakers

When it was time for leaving town, Mary Shine and I made our way to Jacksonville Saturday night to check out Dean Daughety and The Troublemakers. This band is based in Lenoir County and they were busy rocking the crowd that gathered at the Jacksonville location for Carolina Ale House, who was celebrating 20 years in business there.

These Troublemakers are a fun band that took some time in selecting their great set list. They are all talented players in their own right and together they sure make beautiful music. From country grooves to pop rock and funk, they offer a great variety of songs and enjoy interacting with their audience. Anthony Dean Daughety is the front man in this effort and causing all of the trouble behind him are guitarists Matthew Hart and Scott Carlisle. On bass is Greg Howard and sitting behind the kit on drums is James Stroud.

To check out the band on Facebook, find them at Dean Daughety and the Troublemakers. Give their page a like and check out a show soon. Next week the boys will be closer to home and rocking The Red Room on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Music starts at 10 pm and there is a $5.00 music charge payable at the door.

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Meanwhile, over In Swansboro, It Was The Will and Tony Show

From Jacksonville, we hit the highway and headed for the coast. Along the way, we stopped in Swansboro where we found The Will and Tony show offering the fans that gathered at The Boro Restaurant & Bar. That was a fun show to find on a Saturday night. They offer a fun show of popular song offerings.

This duo never disappoints and they play in a couple of different rotations. The full band project is Big Drink Music Company and the duo is as mentioned, The Will and Tony Show. They lean toward fun and popular hits of many genres from the ’60s and ’70s. Will Baker offers lead vocals and guitar works while Tony Johnston offers the percussion and backbeats.

For New Bern residents, the popular duo will be performing on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Sara’s Big Apple. Music plays from 6-8 pm and the dinner is always delicious! Fans and friends of the band looking for them along the coast, you can catch them this Saturday at The Trading Post: Southern Food and Spirits. Music starts at 8 pm.

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Morehead City Brings Big Rock, and Rock n Roll

Mike Edwards and The One Reunite at Southern Salt

As you might expect, I love finding new bands to talk about and that finally came at our next to last stop, last Saturday night. After leaving Swansboro, we rolled down 24 East and made our way into Morehead City where Big Rock was underway and the rock n roll was to be had.

My first stop there was Southern Salt Seafood Company, where I got to enjoy the rocking sounds of some Mike Edwards Music. He reunited with a couple of cool cats he used to play with back in the day. Billed as Mike Edwards and The One a trio of the five players reunited on Saturday night, after a 30-year hiatus. And these guys rocked the waterfront town straight into the next day! Edwards is a legendary player to our local NC scene and has swapped chops with a lot of bands over the years.

Should there be the talk of more gigs with The One, I will be sure to keep you posted here but for anyone looking to check in with Edwards, he had a music page on Facebook that you can find at

Mike Edwards Music 

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We Closed Out Saturday Night Ridin’ The BiPolar Express

After we arrived in Morehead City, Mary Shine, headed straight for the crazy train and hopped on board with The BiPolar Express who was picking up new passengers at Off The Hook last Saturday evening. This rocking trio out of New Bern offers all of the classic hair bands beats from the ’80s and ’90s era of rock classics. They play everything from the AC/ DC to the Beasty Boys, Poison Bon Jovi, Motley Cru and so much more.

This trio of rockers offers a fun show of quality rock songs played right. They have a great production set up complete with a sound man. For anyone out there looking to book a fun rock band for a party or for a good time in your venue, reach out them on Facebook. For friends and fans of the band looking to get rocked right mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22 when they bring it to the E-Club Emerald Isle. Music and fun start at 10 pm.

Be sure to like their page and follow them on Facebook today by clicking this link:

The BiPolar Express

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Live Music Options In the Days Ahead

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Tuesday TemptationS

It is Honky Tonk Tuesday at The Brown Pelican each week. Country pickers and players are welcome to come jam between 7 pm and closing. All are welcome to participate or just relax and listen!

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For music fans in James City, please note that Tommy Duzan Sr is hosting a weekly open mic session at The Garage each Tuesday evening, Players are welcome to be a part of the grooves from 7-10 pm.

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North Carolina Symphony Performance at Tryon Palace

Tonight the North Carolina Symphony will perform an annual free concert on the lawn of The Tryon Palace. All are welcome to attend. Bring a snack but leave the alcohol at home. Music starts at 7:30 pm

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Crystal Coast Option

Each Tuesday Tiffany Elaine is hosting an open mic event near the beach. Tonight she will be hosting the weekly offering at the KBar which is at Brandywine Bay Golf Club located in Morehead City. This venue is open to the public and is offering live entertainment every other Tuesday and on some Saturday nights. They serve beer and wine and offer a full menu of great food.  Pack up the gear and stop out tonight. All are welcome from 7-10 pm

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Salt Bar in Emerald Isle offers Dueling Pianos on Tonight starting at 8 pm. Featuring the mad playing skills of Mike Huffman and Dave Haywood, this duo of ivy ticklers stand ready for your requests.

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Wednesday’s Weakness

Blues Is Back at City Stage

We get back to the blues on Wednesday when Big Jim Kohler hosts another fun night of swapping blues chops with other players. Live music starts at 7 pm on stage at City Stage New Bern and the fun goes to 9 pm. All are welcome to jam with the blues master or just come to listen and dance along!

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Open Mic at Carolina Wine Mixer

Open Mic Night at The Carolina Wine Mixer with Tiffany Elaine starts this week and will take place each Wednesday night. The fun starts at 7 pm, all are welcome to come out and join the fun with family and friends.

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Those Mischevious Girls are on tap this Wednesday at Kings in Raleigh. Music starts at 8 pm. It is requested that you offer a $5.00 donation for the band

Beer & Banjos

This Wednesday for Beer and Banjos it is Sugar On Fire for your entertainment. Sugar On Fire started in February 2018 on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The band members came together through their involvement in the Carolina Bluegrass Band, the ensemble under the university’s Bluegrass Initiative, and their love of acoustic music led them to form their own group. Drawing on their bluegrass and old-time influences, as well as their interests in other musical styles, the band has created their own unique sound, full of energy and passion.

Live music is offered at 7:30-10 pm tonight. Click the link above the picture for directions

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Thursday Thrillers

Captain Ratty’s Seafood & Steakhouse will offer live music upstairs in the piano bar. This week the offer Chuck Phillips. Music is offered 6-9 pm and dinner is always delicious.

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