The sounds of dance music and the aroma of frying fish will pervade the Old Commons Neighborhood Saturday, May 21, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., when The Foundation Band plays three-hours of blues, R&B, oldies and pop hits outdoors in the heart of the Commons. Nearby the Sons of Beaufort Lodge #36 will hold an old-fashioned fish fry with all the trimmings, noon – 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the Old Commons Neighborhood Association, Concert in the Commons III is part of an ongoing neighborhood inititative to build community, awareness of its long history and to fund neighborhood improvements.
The fundraiser is one of a half-dozen that the neighborhood association has held in support of activities which preserve and protect its history. It was a leader in the drive to stabilize the 130-year-old Sons of Beaufort Lodge, the only one of many 19th century civic lodges still in use in Beaufort. Funds were raised at the 2009 and 2010 concerts for historical markers and tree plantings.
The Foundation Band is led by Seaborn Westbrook, a New Orleans musician who was happily blown to Beaufort on the winds of Hurricane Katrina. Married into a local family, the Frazier-Pazants, with professional musical roots in Beaufort since the early 20th century, Westbrook organized The Foundation Band in 2005. Regular band members are locals Kevin Young, vocalist and drummer; and Manuel Landers, vocalist and keyboards. Westbrook plays bass guitar and sings.
Intermission at the concert will feature “The Queen of the Commons” pageant. Audience members will be invited to dress the part of a queen (costumes available on site) and compete to reign over the festivities.
In keeping with past events, an original piece of art painting depicting some facet of the neighborhood’s character will be available to win. The 2011 art is a photograph by neighborhood artist and photographer, Barbara Washington called “Garden Gate.”
Tickets to Concert in the Commons are $5 each and will be sold at the gate. The event will be held at the southwest corner of Prince and Scott streets, in a large field. Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets.
The fish fry dinner will be served noon to 6 p.m. by lodge members. Tickets are $9 for the dinner.
Call 843-597-5600 for more information.
