'Stomp to the music'
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on August 24, 2018 5:50 AM
Full SizeWalking down Center Street Thursday evening, Faith Broadie, 6, approached the growing sounds of music with one goal in mind.
"We're gonna stomp to the music, mister," she yelled, determination in her voice.
Hundreds of people did just that Thursday, as the Embers lit up the annual Center Street Jam summer concert series.
It was Faith's first time attending one of the shows. Excited as she was to get to the music, she was hardly even interested in being interviewed, straining over her father Charles Broadie's shoulder to try and get a peek farther up the road.
Charles, a gospel musician, said it had been years since he came to the jam. He is a big fan of the Embers, though, and decided to come out specifically because they were playing.
"I came to see my boy Jeff Grimes, he's one of my producers. We do music together," Broadie said. Grimes plays guitar and saxophone in the Embers.
As the Embers started up, the sun -- and the temperature outside -- started to go down, a nice break from the heat for the crowd that packed the John Street parking lot. People entered from all sides of the lot, walking between food trucks with drinks in hand and swaying to the music as the Embers played.
As is a common sight to anyone who has been to the jam before, a small group took up residence in front of the stage to strut their stuff. From couples to groups of friends and plenty of adventurous individuals, there was space for anyone who wanted to get on their feet and dance.
Among the dancers was Joy Grant, who teaches line dancing at the Herman Park Center. She, along with three women who take her class, got up to step and twirl as the Embers finished up a cover of "Get the Party Started" by Pink and moved on to classic beach music.
Grant said she has been coming to the jam for too long to remember.
"It's been years," she said. "I can't even tell you how long I've been coming.
"I love it."
Grant said she has students from all over the area.
"All these ladies that were out there with me, they come to class," she said. "I've got people from Greene County, they come, then some people from Lenoir County that I know, sometimes they come."
Grant said that coming out to the jam usually depends on the weather for her, as well as the band. With an act like the Embers playing, for instance, there was no question about whether or not she'd be at the show.
As a dance teacher, the jam is a great place for Grant and her students to put what they've been working on to the test.
"I love coming out and being with my friends, we get to come and have some fun," she said, gesturing to the women who had accompanied her. "And then we get to practice on our dances, because when you're in classes it's one thing, but then you have to come out and dance actually to the music."
Of course, Grant said, it's not all just about practice. It's also about simple fun.
"It's just good fellowship," she said.
Thursday's jam was initially going to be the last one of the summer, but the series has been extended with another show on Sept 6. due to an earlier show being rained out. Jupiter Jones will perform that night, which will take place the same week as the N.C. Poultry Festival.