Sock Hop & Rock ‘n Roll Revival Fun for the Entire Family

Fri, 06/26/2009 - 8:39am
By: The Citizen

Sock Hop & Rock ‘n Roll Butch and the Buckheads will play “The Fred” next Friday. Photo/Special.

"Stay-Cationers” who will stay close to home this Independence Day holiday will have a fun and affordable event for the whole family, right here in their back yard at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater.

Fun at the Fred takes on a new meaning July 3rd as area residents can help celebrate Peachtree City's 50th Anniversary with music of the City’s formative years at the "50's Family Sock Hop and Great American Rock 'n Roll Revival!" This 50th Anniversary event is being sponsored by the Delta Community Credit Union.

The Fred in Peachtree City will host three bands who play music spanning 30 years of history that paralleled the City's chartering in 1959 and early development through the 60’s and 70’s. “The Sock Hops,” “Damon Hendrix as Elvis” and “Butch and the Buckheads” will bring back memories and create new ones as families enjoy the sound and sights of the Fred's unique atmosphere.

There will be a costume contest and twist contest with prizes for both!

Butch and the Buckheads is a six-man band that has played rock ‘n roll from Dallas to Saudi Arabia and all points in between. “Fun” is their middle name as they perform music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that makes people get up and dance. Through the years they’ve shared the stage with such greats as Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker, The Commodores, the Drifters and many, many more.

The band, led by Butch Evans, got its name from playing clubs in Buckhead during its formative years. Evans formed the band after returning from a stint in Vietnam. “Why not just do what you like doing,” he said and never looked back as he embarked on a rock and roll career.

“The Sock Hops” is a five-member group formed in Marietta, GA in 1989 that performs hits of the 50’s through the 80’s and is sure to have people dancing in the aisles. The group has been featured by Atlanta radio stations Fox 97 and Cool 105.7 in several major concert productions, including the Ultimate Oldies Concert at the Georgia Dome and as opening acts for internationally-renowned performing artists. The Sock Hops have shared the stage with such notables as The Temptations, Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits), Three Dog Night, The Swingin' Medallions, Sha-Na-Na, The Grass Roots and The Rascals.

Elvis Tribute Artist Damon Hendrix will shake things up as he emulates the voice, hip moves and power of “The King,” Elvis Presley, arguably one of the greatest forces in shaping music of the 50’s, 60’s and beyond.

Hendrix, who says he has listened to Elvis music all his life, said, “He has always been my idol and I can only hope to bring to his music what he gave to so many during his career.” He has earned several first place finishes in Elvis singing contests over the past several years and was a world finalist in the 2006 “Images of the King” contest in Memphis.

All three acts will be on stage for one fun night July 3rd; gates open at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7:30. Tickets are on sale now at $17 for adults, $12 for children under 12 or purchase a Family Pack of 4 tickets for $50. Tickets can be purchased at the Fred box office (open Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or on-line at www.amphitheater.org. Call 770-631-0630 for more information.

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