NC band to perform at Pitt Street Brewing Company

The Caroliners are scheduled to perform at Pitt Street Brewing Company on Friday, with the concert at 8 p.m. and concluding at 11 p.m.

The band formed last year in Wilmington, and it consists of songwriter Mark Jackson, lead guitarist Matt Rushin, vocalist Victoria Hayes, Sean Potter on drums and percussion, Conrad Junior on bass and Joel Lamb on keys, according to the band’s official website.

“Formed in the summer of 2018 in Wilmington, NC, The Caroliners have thrust themselves into the music scene with a sound similar to that of southern rock and folk-rock bands of the 1960s and 70s,” the website says.

According to the website, the band released their EP, titled “Blue Ridge Beauty” in March of this year, and have played at various venues throughout the Southeast United States since then.

The band was initially started with just two band members, Jackson and Rushin, before they went on to add Potter, Hayes, Junior and Lamb, according to Jackson, who also sings, plays rhythm guitar and harmonica for the band as well.

“We’re a band from Wilmington, NC that incorporates elements of rock & roll, blues, and roots music to create a sound that folks from any age group will enjoy,” Jackson said.

According to Jackson, the band plays a style of music often called “Americana,” which means the blending of old Amerian styles of music, like rock, country and blues.

Jackson said that he and Rushin decided to start the band while they were in college. Jackson attended Appalachian State University and Rushin at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

“I guess the actual idea for the band originated when I lived in Boone, North Carolina attending Appalachian State and Matt (our guitarist) lived in Wilmington, North Carolina attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington,” Jackson said. “We both wanted to pursue music and decided this would be a fun place to start.”

According to Jackson, this will be The Caroliners third performance at Pitt Street Brewing Company. He said the band is looking forward to playing at the venue again and “seeing familiar faces” as well as meeting new people.

Jackson said that he is looking forward to playing the new songs that he wrote for the band, as well as performing some new covers that the audience will know.

“Truthfully, I look forward to performing just because it’s so much fun to do. I think everyone in the band plays music because we just love doing it. We all have jobs outside of music, so we wouldn’t be spending nearly as much time playing shows and being around music as much as we are if we didn’t love it,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the feedback the band has gotten from its fans has been positive so far, and a lot of their fans in the Southeast tend to enjoy the style of music they play.

According to Brianna Long, the general manager at Pitt Street Brewing Company, Friday night’s concert will be free of admission and open to everyone. She said those who came out when The Caroliners performed last April enjoyed the show.

“When they (The Caroliners) performed back in April, people enjoyed their laid-back vibe, with their sounds of rock mixed with folk. It (the concert) was very easy going,” Long said.

According to Long, Pitt Street Brewing Company strives to be inclusive and host shows which everyone can enjoy, whether it be young professionals living in Greenville or college students attending East Carolina University.

Long said the brewery’s concerts, which they hold five to six times a month, usually on Fridays and Saturdays, typically brings out an audience of anywhere between 15 to 100 people depending on the band.

“People obviously like that we offer the shows for free. There’s not a cover charge, so you can enjoy a beer, bring your dog, and listen to the music. We have received good feedback from those who have come to enjoy the music,” Long said

According to Long, people should attend Friday night’s concert not only to have a good time and enjoy the music, but also to support a band that is local to Eastern North Carolina.

For more information on Friday night’s concert, visit the event’s Facebook page, or call Pitt Street Brewing Company at (252)-227-4151. For more information on The Caroliners, visit their Facebook page or the band’s official website.