LAURINBURG — Beach band Hip Pocket will in Laurinburg on Friday to perform in the Smithfield Foods Laurinburg After Five concert series.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. at the James L. Morgan Recreation Complex.

Founded in 2008, Hip Pocket has become one of the more popular groups on the Carolina beach music scene. The Greensboro natives won the 2009 CBMA New Artist of the Year Award.

The members of Hip Pocket include Little John Thompson, Michael Maffeo, Dustin York, Eric Stephenson also known as Easy ‘E’, Tim Sidden also known as Big Sexy, Frankie Hoggard, Preston Honeycutt, and manager Chris Boyette. Favorite songs include “It’s Gonna Take a Long Time and “Dance like it’s 79.”

In addition to beach music, the band plays Party, Motown, soul, hot new country and “everything in between.”

Hip Pocket has been compared to the Band of OZ in the 1980’s and Bill Deal & The Rhondels in the 70’s.

“We love the comparison. Just ask anyone who has been to a Hip Pocket show and you will know what we are talking about,”Boyette said. “We love to perform, and we will make your event one that everyone will remember.Check us out and get the party started.”

Admission is $2 with children under 12 allowed in for free. Organizers say coolers and pets are prohibited. The James L. Morgan Recreation Complex is on Turnpike Road.

This year’s Laurinburg After Five series will continue on July 15 with The Entertainers, and an Aug. 12 finale featuring The Tams. The first concert in the series featured Jim Quick and Coastline.

For information on Hip Pocket, check out their website http://www.hippocketlive.com/about-the-band. For information on the Smithfield Foods Laurinburg After Five, you may contact the Laurinburg-Scotland Chamber of Commerce at 910-276-7420 or email at [email protected]

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Hippocket_2_cmyk.jpg

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_summer-experience-2-2_cmyk.jpg

Staff report

This article is part of an ongoing series on things to do and place to visit this summer in Scotland County