RichmondCC, Fidelity Bank Announce New Concert Series to Debut in 2019

December 3, 2018 – Richmond Community College and Fidelity Bank announced on Monday a new series of shows coming to the Cole Auditorium that will appeal to classic rock and country music fans.

The Fidelity Bank Classic Rock’N Country series will debut in 2019 with three nationally known acts: country music icon Craig Morgan, the premier Eagles tribute band Hotel California and North Carolina native singer/songwriter Scotty McCreery.

Morgan will be in concert Saturday, Feb. 23; Hotel California on Tuesday, March 5; and McCreery on Friday, March 29. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC, said the continued success of the DeWitt Performing Arts Series over the past 19 years led them to consider what genres of music were not being tapped into with the local audiences. 

“The DeWitt Performing Arts Series has provided nationally and internationally known acts for our audiences, but we recognized an opportunity to do more and to meet a demand for shows we weren’t always able to include in the DeWitt Series,” McInnis said. “Another key element for the launching of this brand new series is having the generous support of one of our great partners, Fidelity Bank.”

Phil Woodard, Fidelity Bank Executive Vice President, and Patrick Chappell, Fidelity Bank Market Executive, attended the press conference on Monday and expressed their excitement to be involved in this new concert series.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of something as fun as this concert series is going to be,” Woodard said.

Chappell, a past officer for the RichmondCC Foundation, noted that he and his family have strong ties to Richmond Community College and know firsthand the excitement that performances at the Cole Auditorium bring not only to Richmond County but also to the surrounding areas.

 “We know this series is going to bring even more shows for our community to enjoy, and this partnership will be a great benefit for both of our customer bases,” Chappell said.

Director of the Cole Auditorium Joey Bennett said having a community partner like Fidelity come alongside was essential to keeping ticket prices affordable.

“In an effort to maintain affordability, series tickets, including all three shows, will start at just $100 and individual show tickets will start at just $40,” Bennett said. “These are acts that you can pay $100-plus for tickets at other venues in bigger cities. Our top ticket price will be only $50. That price includes tax, and even parking is free.”

The Fidelity Bank Classic Rock’N Country series will also offer a VIP Club package that will allow members to enjoy a meet-and-greet with performers, special parking, and a social hour with refreshments before the show. The VIP Club will cost $500 per couple and $350 per individual per year. Proceeds from the VIP Club will go to the RichmondCC Foundation to support student scholarships.

“We want all of our purchasers to have a memorable experience from the moment they buy tickets until they leave the venue after the performance,” Bennett said.

About the Performers

CRAIG MORGAN

A multi-faceted entertainer, Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran.

One of country music’s best-loved artists, Morgan has charted 25 songs on Billboard and thrills massive crowds with signature hits including “Bonfire,” Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” “This Ole Boy,” Wake Up Loving You” and the four-week No. 1 hit, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” Morgan received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008.

Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan spent 17 years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserves. Morgan remains an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and has made 15 overseas trips to perform for our troops. He is a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award, and in 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world.

HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Hotel California is the premier tribute band to The Eagles, one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, selling 150 million records.

For three decades, Hotel California has been recreating the legendary sound of The Eagles and thrilling audiences all over the world. Incredible lead vocal similarity, intensely accurate instrumental work, soaring harmonies, and top-flight live performances set this tribute band apart from all of the others. These are the band’s hallmarks, and the foundation on which their reputation has been built. With over a century of collective professional experience in the band today, they’re going stronger than ever.

SCOTTY MCCREERY

Scotty McCreery is a talented singer/songwriter who quickly established himself as one of country music’s hottest new stars. He has album sales approaching 3 million and debuted three consecutive albums at No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

Originally a North Carolina boy from Garner, McCreery attended NC State University. McCreery won Season 10 of “American Idol” and captured the hearts of millions of television viewers both nationwide and overseas. He became the youngest man and first country music artist in history to have his first album debut atop the all-genre Billboard Top 200 albums chart.

McCreery has had a number of fan-favorite hits including “I Love You This Big,” “The Trouble with Girls,” “See You Tonight” and “Five More Minutes.” His deep voice and irresistible sound create a perfect blend of contemporary and traditional country.

Ticket Information

Show tickets are now on sale for $40 to $50 each, with series tickets available starting at $100. These tickets and VIP Club packages are available through the Cole Auditorium Box Office. The Box Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Call (910) 410-1691 or visit the box office at the venue, which is located at 1042. W. Hamlet Ave., Hamlet, NC. Visit Classic Rock'N Country for more details.