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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

The arrival of spring and warmer weather means that it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy some good music.

Certainly, Lewisville is ready with another busy lineup of concerts, starting as always with the Military Appreciation Concert featuring the Embers and Craig Woolard on Monday, May 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Shallowford Square.

The 10th annual event will feature a special Memorial Day Tribute by American Legion Post 522.

Stacy Howard, the longtime office manager/special events coordinator in Lewisville, takes pride in putting together a variety of groups using her personal experience as a musician and songwriter.

Howard often will “scout” bands on her own to make sure they are a good fit for taking the stage at Shallowford Square. Typically, she’ll bring back traditional favorites and mix in a few new groups to perform at the square, which has been the site of concerts for more than 20 years. 

Howard said that “back by popular demand is the beloved Camel City Yacht Club. This local group brings all things fun to the square. Their versatile mix of yesteryear’s classic hit songs always engage the crowd and makes for a great community event.”

As for newcomers to the stage this season, Howard said that the town is excited to welcome Rev On, The Foreigner Experience, and Landscape — Tribute to Fleetwood Mac.

“The group Foreigner achieved its popularity in the late 1970s through the mid-80s,” Howard said. “Their timeless style of music is still popular today. The band members are seasoned musical and vocal professionals. Folks are in for a real treat with this group. 

“And Fleetwood Mac’s music is forever popular and enjoyed by old and young alike. This band does an excellent job of preserving the authenticity of the music and style of the legendary group.” 

Howard added that the state is blessed with an abundance of talented singers and songwriters, including five singer/songwriters that are the perfect combination for a “Singers in the Round” event in Lewisville.

“It’s as if we are providing that Nashville ‘Listening Room’ experience,” she said. “These singer/songwriters (James Vincent Carroll, Michael Chaney, Darrell Hoots, Anna Mertson and Jon Montgomery) are richly talented and their friendship and mutual respect for each other shows through.”

One change is the number of concerts being reduced from 12 last year to eight in 2025.

“The management expressed to me that they wanted to cut back as everything has gone up in the last couple of years,” Howard said. “This includes the cost for the band, sound and the law enforcement we hire for each event. I was hoping to add a few more, but unfortunately that was not permitted this year.”  

Here’s the complete lineup for 2025 at Shallowford Square:

• May 26: The Embers, featuring Craig Woolard (Military Appreciation Concert Tribute by American Legion Post 522), 6-8 p.m.
• June 21: Street Party & Food Truck Festival featuring the Entertainers, 6-9 p.m.
• June 28: On the Border (The Ultimate Eagles Tribute, Special Independence Day Tribute Concert, including American Legion Post 522), 7-9 p.m.
• July 12: Camel City Yacht Club (smooth rock of the ’70s and ’80s), 7-9 p.m. 
• Aug. 16: Rev On (The Foreigner Experience), 7-9 p.m. 
• Sept. 6: Landslide (Tribute to Fleetwood Mac), 7-9 p.m.
• Sept. 27: Singers in the Round (featuring James Vincent Carroll, Michael Chaney, Darrell Hoots, Anna Mertson, Jon Montgomery), 7-9 p.m.
• Oct. 4: None of the Above (a rocking bluegrass concert and Lewisville Community Assistance Program Food Drive), 5-7 p.m.

Clemmons is having “one big concert” this summer, according to events coordinator Lynette Fox, but plans to have more in the future with hopes of adding some type of facility/amphitheater to the recently acquired property adjacent to the Village Point Greenway.

“We are planning on having a concert again this year at our annual Summer Shindig that will take place on Saturday, June 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the back fields of the Jerry Long YMCA, Fox said. “This is the event we do in conjunction with the Y’s Volleyball BASH tournament. I haven’t hired a band yet, but we will have live music, food trucks and the foam cannon, along with a few other fun activities.

“We plan on renting the stage from the county again. Hopefully one day we will have a small amphitheater of our own.”

Bermuda Run also has provided concerts in the past in the Town Square, starting in 2015, before partnering with the Davie County Arts Council the next year and expanding the lineup.

However, Mayor Mike Brannon said last week that the town “is still in the planning process for our 2025 town entertainment. For our musical events, the town has decided to take a different approach by connecting with local businesses for some sponsorships and try to leverage more local performers.

“We will not be partnering with the Davie County Arts Council for this year’s events. While we have had several successful years of larger name performers as part of that partnership, we want to pivot instead to finding more local acts, a greater percentage of residents attending our concerts, and leveraging our entertainment dollars more efficiently.”

Brannon said he wasn’t aware what the future plans are for the Davie County Arts Council hosting other events in the county, and attempts to reach the non-profit organization were unsuccessful.