Home Lifestyle Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot to start Rockingham’s Plaza Jam series

Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot to start Rockingham’s Plaza Jam series

Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot will perform May 4 for Rockingham's Plaza Jam series. Photo from band website

ROCKINGHAM — Cole Plaza will be “Smokin’” Thursday evening as the Plaza Jam summer concert series kicks off its 2023 season.

Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot will take the stage in the first of five concerts scheduled for the year.

Thursday’s forecast appears to be clear with sunny skies and a high of 73, before dipping into the 40s overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

This will be the band’s first time playing the series, according to Events Coordinator Kim Williams.

The band was slated to perform in 2020, but was sidelined due to government restrictions in response to the COVID pandemic. They were also on the schedule for May of 2021, the governor’s ban on mass gatherings had not yet been lifted.

Frontman Lowder also plays trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion and is a former member of the Entertainers, who performed at Plaza Jam in June of last year and are on the schedule for this July.

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Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot recently released a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “I’ll Be Loving You Always.”

Other band scheduled to perform this year are Chocolate Chip and Company in June, North Tower Band in August, the Tams in September and Band of Oz in October.

This will make the 20th consecutive year (excluding 2020) that the Tams have played Plaza Jam.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

Food trucks will be set up in the parking lot of Leath Memorial Library.

Smoking is prohibited on the lawn.



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