The Concerts on the Pier final concert is at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 on Lake Tillery, near Goat Island (the last cove before the southern dam on the Stanly County side of the lake).

It will feature Joy Almond.

People can listen to the free concert from their boats, from shore, or by watching the live stream on the Stanly County Arts Council’s Facebook page. If interested in shore seating at the Coatses, email the Stanly County Arts Council to reserve a spot at stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com.

The Stanly County Arts Council’s Facebook page will be updated if cancellations or postponements are necessary due to weather.
Almond has been entertaining the Charlotte metro area for the past couple of decades, bringing original and cover songs to life.

Almond got her start performing with her father’s country/southern rock band, Different Directions, while a student at Pfeiffer. During her time at Pfeiffer, Almond was also a member of the college’s Symphonic Choir.

In the late 1990s, Almond moved on to Blues/R&B group Fat Cabbage, playing shows across the Piedmont, including the Double Door Inn of Charlotte.

She also earned accolades as the winner of Albemarle Idol and as a contestant on WSOC’s “Gimme the Mike-Charlotte” in the early 2000s.

Joy Almond

Almond’s vocal style is heavily influenced by R&B singers such as Aretha Franklin and Etta James.

Almond is also known for her method of playing left-handed rhythm guitar.

Almond performs regularly at Open Mic Night hosted by Rick Scaffe at Uwharrie Brewing on Wednesdays, and as half of the acoustic duo Joy and the Gent with long-time guitarist and friend George Blalock.

Concert on the Pier is the brainchild of Austin Coats, host and performer of Concert on the Pier.

The Summer 2023 included performances by Coats, Jack Burns and the upcoming show by Joy Almond. The weather did not cooperate for the planned concert with The Hatleys. That show will be rescheduled for 2024.

Donations are accepted on behalf of the Stanly County Arts Council, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit whose mission is to encourage and promote broad-based cultural and educational activities in the arts throughout Stanly County.

“We are so grateful to the Coatses for their strong support of the arts in Stanly County. This unique fundraiser has become our favorite. If you haven’t been able to join us for any of our previous concerts, I hope you will join us for the finale. Find your way to Goat Island on Lake Tillery, either by boat, by car or by viewing on Facebook, to enjoy the vocals of Joy Almond and support the mission of the Stanly County Arts Council. We are so blessed in Stanly County to have so many talented artists and are fortunate that this unique venue and concert series can highlight these artists,” stated Renee VanHorn, director of the Stanly County Arts Council.

The Stanly County Arts Council is supported by private donations and by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.