HAMLET — The amphitheater located at Richmond Community College is an outdoor venue which is hosting several musicians for the entire month of May.
The venue is located on RichmondCC’s lakefront, which makes a beautiful backdrop while enjoying live music. Each Friday night, a different artist takes the stage with Taylor Bowersock taking the spotlight this past Friday, May 7.
It wasn’t clear if the weather would hold out until nearer to time for the concert which began at 6:30 p.m. It was windy and cool, but fortunately that didn’t stop folks from attending.
Bowersock is a 19-year old aspiring artist who has a love for singing and writing music. He will soon be attending his second year at RichmondCC and wants to major in English. Bowersock periodically plays at Hudson Brother’s Deli in Rockingham.
When asking him what sparked his interest in singing he replied, “I was around eight years old and had went to visit a friend. He had drums, a piano, and a microphone hooked to an audio tuner. I thought that was pretty cool.”
“I noticed his interest in music at a very young age,” said his dad, Joe. ‘When Taylor was around four or five years old, I took him to a company Christmas party. Rudolph was there to entertain the children, and Taylor, as well as other kids, followed him around the room singing songs. When Rudolph was finished singing, he left the room. Taylor wasn’t ready to quit singing yet, so he ran Rudolph down for more songs.”
Three years ago, Taylor’s mom found a good used guitar and purchased it for him; this was his first guitar.
“I wanted to do something special for him for graduation a few years ago. Since John Mayer is Taylor’s favorite singer, I surprised him with tickets to a John Mayer concert, as well as buying him a new guitar because his old one had broken.”
“My goal was to play at the Cole, and I thought it wouldn’t happen because of the rain earlier today” Taylor Bowersock said. I’m glad it stopped.”
Friday night’s setlist included 17 songs, four of which Taylor wrote himself.
“I see myself as a singer/songwriter; becoming a good songwriter is my ultimate goal.”
Bowersock is also in the process of completing final edits to a book he is currently writing called “That’s Just the Way It Goes.”
The Beach Fever Band, which played its very first gig earlier this year at the Berry Patch, will perform May 14; and another RichmondCC student, Madison Watts, will open for local singer/songwriter Heather Henry on May 21. Bluegrass band Caroline and Company opened the series April 30. (See photos from that show at the RO’s Facebook page.)
