By Victoria Ewing Ware
Guest Writer
There are just three concerts remaining in the 2025 Summer Friday Concert Series on the historic Hayesville Square. This Friday will be better than average when the “Joe Average Band” takes the gazebo stage.
The “Joe Average Band” is an eight-member group whose talent is locally grown. You’ll recognize the names — Moss, Burch, Logan, Hedden – that formed the band in the early 2000s and love performing at weddings and community events like Clay County Historical & Arts Council’s summer festival kick-off a few weeks ago and the 2024 Friday Summer Concert Series. The band has a few new members this year. Former Hayesville High School Band teacher Joey Forbes, an all-around musical talent, lends his percussion skills as the band’s great drummer. Emily Rogers Gerdes’ beautiful voice will be familiar to many. She has been singing since she was a child in church, when she was a student at Hayesville High School and continues to perform around the tri-state area. Rick Pennington, a Robbinsville native who plays keyboard and saxophone, has a lifetime of musical experience along with a music education background.
“The Joe Average Band” plays a wide variety of music — something for most everyone in the crowd. They sing 70s and 80s pop rock and sprinkle in some 50s, 60s and country tunes. They cover ZZ top, The Beatles, The Doobie Brothers, The Monkees, Orleans, Van Morrison and many more.
The popular and free summer concerts, hosted by the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, are made possible because of the hard work of countless volunteers, donations to the “red bucket” on concert nights and the support of local businesses. The 2025 season’s key sponsors are RE/MAX Town & Country - The Richard Kelley Group, Hwy 69 Storage (Tony Wiegold) and Edward Jones - Financial Advisor Jodi Sullivan.
Why not make it a date-night or family-night-out and support some of our great local vendors? Pic-A-Nick Basket Deli, Hayesville Q and the American Legion Post 532 will have their mouth-watering specialties available. Sweet tooth? The Funnel Bar will fix you right up with festive funnel cakes. Laughing Dogs Brewing will tap cold brews and Shooting Creek Vines will offer locally made wines by the glass. Sunny Sips will mix refreshing lemonade and fruit drinks. Food and beverage service begins at 6 p.m.
Last year, the band set the all-time concert attendance record with 770 people. Earlier this season, “Run Katie Run” took the title with 800, so come out to help the “Joe Average Band” regain the title. There is plenty of space on the courthouse square for your camp chairs or blankets. Parking on the square fills up early, so take advantage of the Red Rider cart from area parking lots, courtesy of Historic Hayesville Inc. In the event of inclement weather, check the CCCRA website: https://www.cccra-nc.org/ or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cccranc for updates.