Just Show Up Show gets rained out

Published 4:41 pm Monday, May 22, 2017

PELHAM – A few area residents began camping out in front of the Oak Mountain Amphitheater with ponchos in tow as early as 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, for the Pelham Palooza’s Just Show Up Show, but the concert was canceled around 6:45 p.m. because of heavy rain and lightning.

Ginger and Fleming Cartee traveled about 35 miles from Concord to attend the concert with their three daughters.

“We heard about the concert on the radio and wanted to come,” Ginger Cartee said. “We just grabbed some ponchos.”

Fleming Cartee said he’s a fan of Lukas Graham too and was excited about the family outing.

“We’re a blended family and this is the first time I’ve gotten to take all three girls out to something like this,” he said. “It’s important for communities to have free events like this that families can enjoy.”

Chelsea resident Charlene Robertson and her family were also looking forward to the concert. She was shocked and excited to hear that such a popular band was secured to headline the concert.

“Because of my daughter I have to listen to it [Lukas Graham] no matter what in the car and their music rubbed off on me,” she said. “Once I saw Lukas Graham on the lineup I didn’t need to know anything else.”

Robertson’s 16-year-old daughter Robin Robertson said she likes the band because their music is catchy but also real. Her favorite song is “7 Years.”

Before the heavy rain hit, attendees enjoyed free ice skating, bouncy houses, a magic show, games, food trucks and an array of vendors at Pelham Palooza.

Pelham resident Joan Henderson she and her four children enjoyed the free ice skating and vendors.

“Pelham doesn’t have many fun community events so it was really nice of the city to do this,” said Joan Henderson’s daughter, Jore’Alle Henderson, who attends Pelham High School. “The inside vendors were really nice. I like that it was all local because not a lot of people know what we have here, so it was nice to introduce it to people.”