ROCKINGHAM — A South Carolina-based party band will be making its Plaza Jam debut Thursday to start off the city’s annual summer concert series.
Chocolate Chip and Company, out of Myrtle Beach, will be performing a variety of rhythm and blues, rock, beach, soul, hip hop and reggae starting at 6:30 p.m. in Cole Plaza.
Frontman Tony Howard, who goes by Chocolate Chip, started playing drums at 6 years old and has been entertaining crowds since the ‘70s, according to the band’s website.
Other band members include singer Monique Howard (Chip’s daughter), guitarist Chris Smith, bassist Dylan Parker, singer Jennifer Gibson, keyboardist Cary Simpson, and singer Kellie Jenkins Willard.
“We’re so excited to kick off the Plaza Jam season with a new band and great weather,” said Events Coordinator Kim Williams.
The series features free concerts — weather permitting — the first Thursday of each month from May through October.
Other bands scheduled for this year include The Entertainers in June, The Embers featuring Craig Woolard in July, the Cat 5 Band in August, The Tams in September and The legendary Band of Oz closing out the season in October.
This is also the first year for the Cat 5 Band.
The Tams have performed at every Plaza Jam since it started, according to Williams, even playing the day after frontman Little Redd’s birthday one year.
The Entertainers last performed in Rockingham in 2018. The band was scheduled to play in 2021, but the show was canceled because of weather.
The Band of Oz hasn’t been to Plaza Jam since 2016, according to Williams.
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
