ROCKINGHAM — Attendees of the upcoming NASCAR races this weekend at Rockingham Speedway looking for live music afterward have several choices around Richmond County.
Entertainment kicks off Thursday, April 17 in Harrington Square with the Marshall Tucker Band at ThunderFest in downtown Rockingham.
The free street festival, celebrating NASCAR’s return, starts at 4 p.m., with the band taking the stage from 7-9 p.m.
The event also features a Kids Zone, multiple racing-related booths and displays, a beer garden and a meet-and-greet with several drivers from each series racing at the Rock. Former drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, hosts of the Herm & Schrader podcast will also be at ThunderFest.
Following the Black's Tire 200 Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday, April 18, local band Good Company will be performing a free concert with a variety of country and classic rock covers across the highway at Rockingham Dragway from 9 p.m.-midnight.
The band features singer/guitarist Eric Whitfield, guitarist Brian Grooms, drummer Eddie Brown, bassist Phil Burgess and keyboardist Casey Schultz. Whitfield, along with longtime bandmate Chuck Smith, was the first to play on the Dragway’s new stage the weekend of Mopars at the Rock.
Ducky Medlock and Charles Trotter — who perform as "Ducky and Chucky" and are joined by drummer Alan Lansburg — will play at Hudson Brothers Deli in downtown Rockingham from 8-11 p.m. Friday.
That band also played at the Dragway for Mopars at the Rock. Medlock will return to the Dragway in September with Bucky Covington.
Skyler Whitfield, out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will be playing at Double Vision after the truck race from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
As a tie-in to the races, Whitfield is sponsoring Andy Jankowiak, driver of the No. 73 in the ARCA Menards Series East.
“A couple of years ago, I performed the National Anthem & he scored a victory at South Boston in his Modified car, so we're looking to make it 2 for 2,” Whitfield said in an April 8 Facebook post. “My logo will be on the side panel behind the number & website on the back fender! Very excited to join forces with a driver and team that can play as hard as they work!”
Whitfield said the driving team members will have free admission to his show. For all others, the cover is $5.
Norton Farms kicks off its outdoor concert and food truck season April 18 with Kyle Garris, followed by Jonathan Robinson on April 19 after the ARCA and N.C. Education Lottery 250 Xfinity Series races. Both shows run from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Laurinburg-based EchoVibe will also be playing from 9 p.m.-until April 18 at Axe to Grind in Hamlet.
