Celebrate the rich legacy of American music with the Tar River Swing Band as they take you on a Journey Through America’s Songbook. From the spirited sounds of Dixieland and the golden age of Swing to the soulful rhythms of Blues and Jazz, this concert honors the timeless styles that define our nation’s musical voice.

One of the most distinctive musical events ever presented in Rocky Mount!

Formed in 1999, the Tar River Swing Band will mark twenty-seven years of performance in eastern and central North Carolina by welcoming six professional musicians who regularly appear at the North Carolina Jazz Festival in Wilmington, a festival founded in 1980 and long recognized as one of the premier traditional jazz gatherings in the South.

About Our Special Guests

Rossano Sportiello, featured at the festival, is an internationally respected pianist from Vigevano, Italy, trained at the Italian conservatory and widely admired for stride piano, swing, and bebop performances throughout Europe and the United States. His presence will bring both virtuosity and stylistic authenticity to the program. 

Chuck Redd, another festival artist, is an accomplished performer on drums and vibraphone who has appeared internationally, worked with major jazz figures, and taught at the University of Maryland School of Music; his artistry will add both rhythmic drive and color, especially alongside Tar River’s own outstanding percussionist, Jon Wacker, a retired music professor at East Carolina University.

Adrian Cunningham, the Sydney-born multi-instrumentalist who now lives in New York City, has performed at major festivals and clubs around the world and is known for his work on reeds, clarinet, flute, and vocals. His breadth and showmanship would make him a natural fit for a festive traditional jazz program. 

Bruce Harris, an outstanding trumpeter who serves as Program Director at the Louis Armstrong House Museum and Center in Queens, New York, will be a guest artist as well. The Armstrong Center, opened in 2023 across from Armstrong’s historic home, houses the vast Louis Armstrong Archive and serves as a major performance and educational center dedicated to preserving and advancing Armstrong’s legacy. Harris, a Bronx native who studied under Jon Faddis at SUNY Purchase and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz performance there, combines institutional leadership with a flourishing performance career. His involvement would connect the Rocky Mount concert to one of the most important living centers of traditional American jazz heritage. 

Lucy Yeghiazaryan is an especially compelling guest vocalist. She is an Armenian American singer who has become a leading voice in straight-ahead jazz. She has performed widely in major venues and has earned recognition for combining emotional richness, jazz phrasing, and deep interpretive power. Her artistry will bring a strong vocal dimension to the concert, and her presence will carry added symbolic value in Rocky Mount, the birthplace of Thelonious Monk. Her connection to the larger jazz world, together with Rocky Mount’s own historic link to Monk, will help frame the evening not simply as a concert but as a celebration of the city’s place in the story of American jazz.  

Trombonist Charlie Halloran of New Orleans will likewise be an excellent fit. Halloran is known as one of the most active and versatile musicians on the New Orleans scene, deeply grounded in traditional jazz performance. His command of the idiom, together with the authentic New Orleans character he brings to every appearance, would strengthen the traditional jazz concept being envisioned for the program. 

Important local and regional support help make this undertaking possible. Sandy Evans, longtime leader of the North Carolina Jazz Festival, provided contact information for the musicians and will assist in promoting attendance from the Wilmington area. Winkie Earp, a Johnston County resident and major supporter of the NC Jazz Festival, has also provided support for the May 12th concert. She is known for her enthusiasm for jazz that spreads beyond Smithfield, Clayton, and Raleigh to Wilmington each year and now to Rocky Mount.  Such support will help broaden the audience base well beyond Rocky Mount area itself.

By bringing to Rocky Mount several leading artists associated with the North Carolina Jazz Festival and pairing them with the Tar River Swing Band, this concert will celebrate twenty-seven years of local musical commitment while also honoring the broader legacy of traditional American music. In the birthplace of Thelonious Monk, such a collaboration will become more than a concert. It will become a cultural event of genuine distinction, linking Rocky Mount to Wilmington, New Orleans, New York, and the wider history of jazz itself. Through thoughtful planning, strong local partnerships, and outstanding guest artists , the evening of May 12, 2026,  will be unlike anything the Tar River Swing Band has ever done before.

Come early and enjoy a lively pre-concert reception with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and entertainment by members of the swing band (VIP ticket required). Don’t miss this extraordinary night of jazz excellence and musical camaraderie—sure to be one of our season’s highlights!

May 12, 2026
7:30 PM

General Admission

Standard Ticket: $30
VIP Pass (includes pre-concert reception): $60

Since 17th Director John Philip Sousa was first granted permission to tour the country by President Benjamin Harrison in 1891, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band has delivered a White House experience from Washington, DC, to the far-reaching corners of our country. This beloved event has been shared by generations of Americans, and we invite you to join us in this tradition by attending the Marine Band performance. This will be an unforgettable musical and patriotic experience for your the eastern NC community.

TICKETS

General Admission Tickets are FREE for this event and will be available on September 5, 2026. (one month before concert). SAVE THE DATE!

About the United States Marine Band

Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Its mission is unique—to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

President John Adams invited the Marine Band to make its White House debut on New Year’s Day, 1801, in the then-unfinished Executive Mansion. In March of that year, the band performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration and it is believed that it has performed for every presidential inaugural since. In Jefferson, the band found its most visionary advocate. An accomplished musician himself, Jefferson recognized the unique relationship between the band and the Chief Executive and he is credited with giving the Marine Band its title, “The President’s Own.” READ MORE >

For the third incredible year, we return to the stage at the Dunn Center for a night that keeps getting bigger, bolder, and more unforgettable. The Ultimate ElvisTribute is back, and this year it’s an all-new experience. Starring Ultimate ElvisTribute Artist Champion Cote Deonath, alongside World Champions Alex Mitchelland Austin Irby, three of the best in the world join forces for one powerful night paying tribute to the legacy of Elvis Presley. This is not the same show you’ve seen before. It’s a completely reimagined production featuring brand new costumes, all-new medleys, and a fresh, creative journey through Elvis’ legendary career. Inspired by a completely different concept, this show takes you deeper into the music, the moments, and the magic, presented in a way that’s never been done on this stage. From the raw energy of the early years to the power of Vegas and the iconic moments that defined a legend, you’ll experience Elvis like never before.

This is also the only licensed and endorsed Elvis show in the state of North Carolina, officially recognized and approved by Elvis Presley’s estate. One night only. One stage. One legacy. Don’t miss Year 3 at the Dunn Center, where the music lives on.

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Tickets

$25 – $65