Rockin' beach music
By Sierra Henry
Published in News on July 27, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Glynn Potter and Sarah Leach dance to Jim Quick and Coastline as they perform music Thursday during Center Street Jam.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Jim Quick and Coastline perform for a crowd in the John Street parking lot Thursday during Center Street Jam.
After a week full of heavy rain and gray skies, the weather finally cleared up for a hot summer evening full of music and dancing Thursday night, as nearly 200 people came out to hear the rockin' beach tunes of Jim Quick and Coastline for the seventh installment of Center Street Jam.
The jam was hosted by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that funds initiatives to revitalize Goldsboro's downtown area.
The jam was held in the John Street parking lot, with plenty of food, drinks and kid friendly activities.
"I'm so pleased because we've had such a rainy week that I was a little bit worried about the weather today, but it's beautiful weather," said Erin Fonseca, promotions coordinator for DGDC. "We've got a great crowd. I think everyone is wanting to break out 'cause they've been cooped up all week."
Center Street Jam is one of many initiatives DGDC has started in order to increase interest in downtown Goldsboro. It is one of the largest events hosted by DGDC, and consistently brings in crowds of anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 depending on what bands playing.
Jim Quick and Coastline is a popular summer headliner, Fonseca said. The band mostly plays beach music and top 40 hits from across the decades.
Fonseca said that the main goal of holding events like Center Street Jam is to provide a family friendly environment that everyone can enjoy.
"It gives people a reason to enjoy their city in the summer, they don't have to go to the beach or the mountains to enjoy their summer they can go downtown," Fonseca said.
This is the 19th year for Center Street Jam, with concerts every other Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. during the late spring and summer months.
"Who doesn't love outdoor concerts, right? Especially when the weather is nice," Fonseca said. "One of our missions is to create fun, free family friendly programing in our downtown. We want everybody to enjoy downtown. The Center Street Jam is no exception."
Geraldine Outlaw, from Pink Hill, has been coming to the Center Street Jam for the past four years. She especially enjoys Jim Quick and Coastline, and even brought her granddaughter to the festival to join in on the fun.
"I think it's nice," she said. "I enjoy it very much."
Jason Johnson, from Wilson, attended Center Street Jam for the first time this year. He said that he enjoyed the family friendly environment the jam provided.
"It's really nice," Johnson said. "I just like this environment, it's a contained environment, it's a good vibe."