On Friday, April 30, 2021 the Feature Attraction Band announced on their website and Facebook that their guitarist and vocalist, Jonathan "JJ" Sharpe had submitted his resignation with the band. JJ started performing with the members of FAB back when they were called "Overtime" until his return in 2017 when he rejoined the band members after the name change to "Feature Attraction Band".

Their post reads: "OFFICIAL RELEASE: Jonathan JJ Sharpe, guitarist and vocalist for The Feature Attraction Band announced his resignation on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.We've traveled a lot of miles with JJ over the years including with the Overtime Band and we will miss his playing, singing and fellowship in the band. His wife Shanon and children J.W. and Miranda will also be missed at the summertime events we have planned this year. Thank you for everything you've done to move the band forward as FAB wouldn't be where we're at today without your hard work and dedication. We love you brother and we'll miss you!"

Jonathan is also co-owner here at Flip Flop Live and in response he says: "Thank you to everyone that has called, sent a text or messaged me via social media. It's so special to know that I've made so many friends because of my time performing live music. Giving my notice with the Feature Attraction Band was bittersweet and I will always cherish my time with such a great group of talented individuals and close friends. I look forward to seeing them on the road soon during a Flip Flop Live road trip and of course I live within mintues of most of the members so I will still be able to see them often and we still text daily.  They have a talented guitarist coming on board so stand by because he will be a great asset to the band.  So many people have asked what I will be doing and as of right now I will be getting settled at my new office as I'm transferring to another location with my employer and I will be enjoying a little more family time. I'm not removing music from my life as I have Flip Flop Live, I'm working on personal recordings here at home and you just never know where you may see me doing in the near future so I will just say stay tuned."

We've included the band's original post below and we encourage you to visit them on Facebook and give their page a like/follow. You can also keep up with band news by visiting their website.

A large number of Beach Music lovers showed up on a beautiful day in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the 4th Annual Ocean Drive Beach Music Festival on Saturday, May 1, 2021. We've seen several photos, videos and posts and it looks like everyone is having a great time and things are starting to get back to normal for the Beach Music community. The event today was hosted by Mike Worley and Chad Sain and featured musical entertainment from Too Much Sylvia, Band of Oz and Jim Quick and Coastline. The content below does not belong to Flip Flop Live and remains property of the person(s) that posted.

In a recent post on Archie Bell's Facebook page, Randy Overton updated the fans on Archie. You will find the original post below along with Archie's mailing address to send him cards, lettters etc. We send our love and prayers to Mr. Bell and we look forward to hearing good news throughout his recovery.

Original Post:
"This is Randy Overton for Archie Bell. This message goes out to all of you around the world who are Archie Bell fans, and facebook friends. Back on March 11, 2021, Archie had a light stroke. We kept this quiet per family request until now. He was in the hospital for a week and then 2 weeks in rehab. He went back into the hospital this past Thursday due to an infection from a pressure ulcer/bedsore. The Dr's said his prognosis for recovery is very good. He will be going to another rehab center once he leaves the hospital early this coming week. He could be there 1-2 months until he gets back to normal. His stroke was on his right side. Dr's said this was a blessing for him. Since he is left-handed and your voice comes from the left side of the brain, he has a lot to be thankful for. He should be Tightening Up again in the near future.

This will be Christina Black's first release since her husband Tommy Black passed away on July 17, 2019. You will have a couple of different options to hear the new single this weekend. Your first chance will be Friday, April 30, 2021 at 1:30PM on 94.9FM The Surf as Christina joins DJ Mike Worley at HOTO's in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you're in the N. Myrtle Beach area and you aren't able to catch Mike's show, you can stop by Castaway Beach Bar and Grill on S. Ocean Blvd. at 4:00PM. 

Saturday you can watch the YouTube Premiere (video below) at 10:30AM right here on Flip Flop Live. You will also have another chance at 3:00PM to catch Christina at the Marina Bar on Bridgeview Court in N. Myrtle Beach. The song was written by Charlie Sattenfield and produced by Tim Sidden and we're certainly looking forward to hearing it. Be sure to stop by Christina's Facebook page and like/follow for all updates!
 

You will able to play this video at 10:30AM, Saturday, May 1, 2021

The Lake Life Live Summer Concert Series held in Clarksville, Virginia was scheduled to kick of their 2021 series on May 1st with North Tower however the plans have changed. On April 23, 2021, Lake Life Live announced the need to push back the opening date due to restrictions the state has in place.

Venue's Original Post
"Due to current crowd restrictions set forth by the State of Virginia, we find it necessary to move the start date for Lake Life Live to June 5, 2021. The Governor’s new executive order going into effect on May 15th will allow us to accommodate ALL of our sponsors and patrons safely in June. We have moved the North Tower concert originally scheduled for May 1, 2021 to Saturday, September 18, 2021.We will kick off 2021 with local favorites The Feature Attraction Band and The Konnection Band. SAVE THE DATE... SATURDAY, JUNE 5th... LIVE MUSIC IS BACK.... AT LAKE LIFE LIVE!!"

If you're interested in attending the events in Clarksville, we can promise you will not be disappointed. They bring the best Beach Music to the lake and they're Virginia's only lakeside town. On their website you will find accomodations, links and more. Visit: www.LakeLifeLive.com. Located just 64 miles from Raleigh, 158 miles from Virginia Beach, 51 miles from Danville and 115 miles from Charlottesville, their events bring people in from all over Virginia and North Carolina. Spend the day or the entire weekend and soak up some of that smalltown Southside, Virginia southern hospitality and experience what lake country has to offer. We'll see you there!

2021 Concert Series Features:
- June 5, 2021 (Feature Attraction and Konnection)
- July 3, 2021 (Band of Oz)
- August 7, 2021 (Blackwater)
- September 5, 2021 (JB &  the Get Down Browns w/ The Embers feat. Craig Woolard)
- September 18, 2021 (North Tower)
- October 2, 2021 (Cat5)

Their first studio release in two years for Cat5 debuted on Friday, April 23, 2021 on 94.9FM The Surf and followed that up with a party at Deckerz in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The new single titled " The Beach and the Boulevard" has already begun to receive reviews from industry professionals that you can read below the video. Great job guys, we wish you all the sucess and we can't wait to see you live in 2021.

Official Video:

From Pat Gwinn:
"In the 20 plus years of Pat Gwinn At The Beach, I have always worked to "celebrate the music!"  Celebrate the artist! Celebrating the lifestyle and culture...
Occasionally,  across my desk comes a release that stands out.  Something fresh. Not a tired remake.  A sound that solidifies what summer, the beach, late night neon and music captures. Cat 5 has brought the storm... a storm of music that picks you up and makes you feel good!    Since the formation of the band I have watched the group methodically navigate the market. Cope with a pandemic that closed the world for a year and the loss of a band member Hugh “Tuff” Blanton.  It was an emotional year.  But... the darkest hour is just before dawn... new light and life in music. Beach and The Boulevard is a combination of everything an experience at the beach should be and always has been.  A chance meeting. Drinks. Music. Connections.  How easy it has been for any DJ to look to other's lists and play songs... some claim to have a top 100... 200...  This new "number one with a bullet" features the incredible story telling through song by G T.  Forget Olivia! This is the real GT.  GT found a soulful tone deep within as though he lived it.  He took me to the bar. But that too... " is between her me, the beach and the boulevard." Hold Up!  Cat 5 is the real deal."
Pat Gwinn - Pat Gwinn At The Beach

From Fred Rouse:
"First off, no one generally asks me to truly review a song because they are afraid that I will give them my honest opinion of it. Well let's start here, being a radio DJ, most are on the air a few hours a week, so you better make those 12 songs an hour count.  
The Writer of B&B Buddy Owens has penned a number of great songs for Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert and many others. He along with Producer Tim Sidden that features the lead vocals of Glen Tippett along with a great bunch of musicians/vocalist including the late great Tuff Blanton on bass, have hit gold with this song...  How could you go wrong?  Is it all about beach and shag? No. Is it all about the beach and taking you away to a place in time that no one else can relate to? Absolutely.   
Kid Rock had "All Summer Long", Scotty McCrery had Barefootin’, The Catilinas had Summertime Is Calling Me. And when you hear this song, I want you to roll the windows down, turn the volume up and remember the first time you were out on the town with your significant other, whether you just met them or you were celebrating your 50 year anniversary reminiscing at the beach. That's what this song is all about.  Bottom Line, there have been very few songs that have sparked my interest in the last year or so, however, we are on the horizon of summertime and THIS WILL BE the new summertime staple song.  Personally, I can't think of anything better to come out of a pandemic than with one hell of a Cat5 Storm and B&B is it! I mean, The Cat5 Band together is probably some of the most talented individuals I have ever seen share the stage. And as the song goes,  Always be a gentleman and stand up and wish them goodnight, but whatever happens after that is between her, me, and “The Beach And The Boulevard”.  ENJOY!!!!"
Fred A. Rouse, Jr - Beach Boogie & Blues Radio Network

Many people are asking when we'll see Steve Owens and Summertime on stage again. COVID has affected every aspect of our industry in one way or another and it continues to do so today. For Steve and the band this is especially true! They want you to know where they're at and what they're planning for the future. There will be an official interview released here on Flip Flop Live. Steve will sit down with our very own Andy Lucy to address the questions everyone has been asking. We will announce the exact date that the interview will be relased so be sure to watch our news feed on our website and mobile app.

Be sure to stop by the band's Facebook page and follow them to keep up with the latest news! If you'd like to see photos of Steve Owens and Summertime, be sure to visit our YouTube Channel.

The Tonez announced they will be debuting their new song Saturday, April 24, 2021 on WDZD 99.1 "The Fun One" during the New Wave Countdown with Eric Bowman from 10:00AM until 1:00PM. You can stream the show by visiting their website.

We're looking forward to hearing the new song and we've included the band's original post below so be sure to visit their Facebook page and click that "follow" button to keep up with everything happening in the world of the Tonez!

Mike Worley and Peter Carpenter announced the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame Inductees today on 94.9FM The Surf in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. These individuals will be inducted Friday November 12, 2021 at 6pm in the Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort Ballroom. We'd like to say congratulations from your friends at Flip Flop Live to these three deserving individuals.

- Doug Winstead
- Rick Lee
- Curtiss Carpenter

Take part in the celebration in N. Myrtle Beach and support your favorite bands, artists, DJ's, shag clubs, venues and the entire industry by joining the academy today! The biggest Beach Music party of the year is coming November 11th - 14th in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the 27th Annual Carolina Beach Music Awards. For more details stop by the Carolina Beach Music Academy website.

Stream the Hall of Fame show below starting at 12:00PM

 

Having trouble with the player? You can also stream the show here!