'No. 1 cover band,' fireworks added for next Dock Jam: What to know

Music has the ability to create long-lasting memories.

That is precisely what husband-and-wife duo Caitlin and Jamie Evans, owners of Dockside, intend to do — use music to unite the people of their small town of Pocomoke City.

And what better way to incorporate music at a hopping local restaurant and bar scene than with a one-of-a-kind concert series? In Pocomoke City, that experience is known as “Dock Jam.”

“Music creates memories,” Caitlin, 36, said. “For us, it’s all about what’s one common thing that brings people together in a large group? And the answer is always music. To do it outdoors, to do it on the river — it just made sense.”

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Multi-platinum, award-winning country music stars Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw brought the Eastern Shore town to its feet on May 20 during Dockside’s inaugural Dock Jam concert series celebration. Altogether, the musical artists from the "Roots and Boots" tour drew in a crowd of more than 2,000 guests to the riverside venue, Delmarva Now previously reported.

Now, the Evans family is gearing up for the next installment of Dock Jam, set to take place Saturday, Oct. 7, when country music group Lonestar will take the stage. The event will take place rain or shine.

First Dock Jam 'kind of an overwhelming experience'

Nearly three months later, the pair is still reveling in the success of the inaugural Dock Jam, a family-friendly event that they hope will help put Pocomoke City back on the map.

“Everybody was just super excited to have three phenomenal artists like that come to the small town of Pocomoke,” Jamie said of Tippin, Raye and Kershaw. “It was kind of an overwhelming experience in the fact that we were able to put on such a big-name event in such a small town.”

Now, Aaron Tippin has a 9-year-old fan that only exists thanks to Dock Jam, Caitlin said of her eldest son.

Pocomoke City Mayor Todd J. Nock, sporting a cowboy hat and all, was happy to have been in attendance.

"The energy was amazing. The fans were amazing. Everything was amazing," said Mayor Nock. "It was top-tier; something the Eastern Shore has never seen."

The Evans are eager to do all that they can to make Pocomoke City stand out.

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“The more you’re able to showcase the town you live in, the more opportunities you have for it to grow and bring in some outside influences to revitalize or revive what used to be,” Jamie, 51, said.

"I definitely see the community trying to make Pocomoke the best version of itself," Mayor Nock said. "People are really ready to take Pocomoke to the next level. If we continue to do what we're doing now, within the next two years Pocomoke is going to be exactly what we want it to be."

Mayor Nock could only describe his personal post-concert feeling from Dock Jam in May in one way — walking on sunshine.

"There's a song that says, 'I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good.' That's the feeling that I got during and after that concert. I was definitely walking on sunshine," he shared.

Unlike Caitlin and Jamie’s two sons, who both started listening to Tippin, Raye, and Kershaw’s music beforehand, Mayor Nock went into the concert blind. He plans on doing the same for Lonestar later this fall.

"I don't know anything about Lonestar. I'm not going to cheat. I'm not going to go online and listen to anything. I just want to be surprised. I want to be caught up in the moment," he said.

Dockside currently hosts three large events during the year — two Dock Jam concerts and the Pocomoke Boat Docking challenge, which takes place in August.

Currently, for sanity, Dockside is going to stick with two Dock Jam events. However, said Jamie, he and Caitlin are just crazy enough to add a few more Dock Jam events in the future, or even expand the concert series to nearby Eastern Shore towns.

But, he said, Pocomoke City gets first priority.

"I've had people, elected officials, all over the Eastern Shore ask me for Caitlin's contact information because they want a Dock Jam in their town," Mayor Nock said. "I told them, 'This is Pocomoke only, baby. If you want it, you've got to come and see it.'"

'No. 1 cover band' is coming to Pocomoke

The couple is making a few electrifying additions to the second installment of Dock Jam, come fall.

Dockside announced it has snagged a cover band that pays homage to the greatest Southern and classic rock bands of the 70s — Six Gun Sally.

Six Gun Sally jumped at the opportunity to come to Pocomoke City, said Caitlin.

“It’s going to be a full, opening act experience. Then, Lonestar will come onstage,” Caitlin said of the cover band. “The crowd wanted it, so we said, ‘Let’s go all in.’”

“We’re bringing the no. 1 cover band. Jamie and I don’t do no. 3, we do no. 1,” she added with a laugh.

As a result, the concert will be extended an extra hour.

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The restaurant will also be handing out a special award to one sponsor, Pam Price of Pam Price and Associates Remax Advantage Realty. The unique “Woman of Vision” award was created by Dockside as a way to recognize philanthropic individuals who make a viable effort to be involved in the surrounding community.

“It’s an award we’ll keep giving out year after year to someone,” Caitlin said.

The couple is also working on designating someone a “Master” or “Mistress of Ceremonies,” who will kick off the event alongside of Mayor Nock. Who that celebrity will be is still a mystery. However, Caitlin shared, there’s a good chance it will be someone from the sports arena.

Another addition will come in the form of fireworks. Dockside will be scratching the firework show which typically takes place during the town boat docking and, instead, shooting them off after Lonestar’s epic performance for a true grand finale.

“I had this idea on the Fourth of July,” Caitlin said.

More food and beverage opportunities will also be made available to concert attendees, which will result in shorter lines, said Caitlin. Dockside will continue to offer cold beer, orange crushes and food straight from the restaurant's bar and kitchen. Deep Eddy Vodka Distillery will also make a return.

“I’m sure if Lonestar will have her, (Beth Sharply) will be back up there singing,” Caitlin said of the local singer and New Church, Virginia, resident who graced the stage with a surprise performance of Gretchen Wilson’s 2004 hit song, “Redneck Woman,” at the inaugural Dock Jam.

Andrea Sims, president and founder of Lion’s Share Communications, Inc., is proud to have a hand in bringing Caitlin and Jamie’s vision to life.

“2024 is in the works,” said Caitlin. “Our goal is to do one country and one a different music genre (in 2024). People are really itching for some pop, and Andrea is working really hard to broaden that opportunity.”

One thing is certain — Dockside is just getting started.

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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Dock Jam expands for next show with 'No. 1 cover band,' fireworks