Local country singer and guitarist Presley Barker will perform as part of the Concert on the Deck series on Saturday, August 17, at the Yadkin Valley Marketplace in North Wilkesboro, followed by “Songs of the South: A Tribute to Alabama.”
Window World of North Wilkesboro is the main sponsor of the Concerts on the Deck series of live music every third Saturday from June through September. Admission to these family-friendly concerts is free. The Yadkin Valley Marketplace is located at 842 Central Business District Loop.
Saturday’s concerts have an added attraction. The North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro Police Departments, in partnership with Wilkes Youth Life Development (WYLD), held a diaper collection contest last month for local nonprofit Our House – Child Abuse Prevention Team.
The two police chiefs agreed that the chief of the department that collected the fewest diapers must participate in a “Dunk a Police Chief” event at the concert on Saturday. For $2 per litter or three for $5, the public is invited to dunk Wilkesboro Chief Randy Rhodes in a dunk booth from 6-8 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Wilkes Youth ___ Development (WYLD) and Our House.
Presley Barker
With a classic country sound and award-winning guitar playing, Barker will open the musical evening from 6 p.m.
Barker learned to play guitar at age 7, inspired by Watauga County’s Doc Watson. He won the Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention guitar competition in the adult division at age 10 and again at age 13. In subsequent years, he won the West Virginia State Flatpicking Guitar Competition and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Competition.
Barker has performed at major events and venues including the National Folk Festival, Richmond Folk Festival, Montana Folk Festival, Lowell Folk Festival, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Ole Red, Song of the Mountains, Washington County Fair, and MerleFest.
He has also appeared as a guest star on Steve Harvey’s TV shows “Little Big Shots,” “The Today Show,” and “American Idol.” Presley appeared as a guest of Ricky Skaggs at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in 2019 and has performed numerous times at NASCAR events.
He has opened for and shared the stage with artists such as Clint Black, Billy Strings, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and Albert Lee. Barker is a Traphill native, a 2023 graduate of East Wilkes High School and is now a Dean’s List student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Songs of the South
Songs of the South was founded in 2019 and consists of five musicians from the mountains of Tennessee and southwest Virginia.
Wayne Kelley performs lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Jerry Hanger plays drums and sings, Mike Thacker plays lead guitar and sings, Chris Kelley plays bass and sings, and Don Stevens plays lead guitar, keyboards, fiddle and sings.
The group has been together for over 20 years and has played over 1,500 shows. Their stated goal is to provide a show that is high energy and engaging, taking audiences back to the time when they first heard classic songs.
“They want to make you clap, dance, sing along and leave you wanting more. It will be an unforgettable night with the ultimate tribute to Alabama,” a press release said.
Food and beverages can be purchased on-site or before the show at downtown restaurants and from participants in the Downtown Social District.
Most recently in 2024
This year’s Concerts on the Deck series ends on September 21 with “Bobby Sings The King – Elvis Tribute” and “Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience.”
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