THIS MORNING, WE’VE GOT SOME EXCITING NEWS. THE LINEUP IS OFFICIALLY OUT FOR THE 2023 INDOOR CONCERT SERIES. THERE AT THE WINSTON-SALEM FAIRGROUNDS. YEAH. SIX ARTISTS WILL BE COMING TO THE CITY FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST. LET’S WELCOME EVENT AND BRANDY, MANAGER FOR THE WINSTON-SALEM M FAIRGROUNDS, D.J. HARGRAVE. GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, D.J. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. HEY. SURE. SO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS SERIES, KIND OF WHEN IT ALL GOT STARTED AND THE PURPOSE OF IT. SO THE SERIES STARTED BACK IN 2017. THOSE EARLY SHOWS INCLUDED TRAVIS TRITT AND RICHARD DANIELS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THERE WAS ALSO A TIME PERIOD WHERE WE STARTED TO TRANSITION OUR BRAND FAIRGROUNDS JUST FROM HAVING THE CAROLINA CLASSIC FAIR TO BEING A FELONY VENUE THAT DOES THIS HIGH END PRODUCTION EVENT. SO THE CONCERT SERIES THAT WE MENTIONED, WE HAD SINBAD BACK THAT BACK THEN AS PART OF THE BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL. AND SO WE REALLY STARTED TO CHANGE OUR BRAND FROM JUST HAVING THE FAIR AND SOME TRADE SHOWS HERE AND THERE AND EDUCATION BUILDING AND SO FORTH TO AN EVENT THAT’S REALLY A HOME FOR ENTERTAINMENT, FOR CONCERTS, COMEDY SHOWS AND ALL TYPES OF EVENTS. AND D.J., I REMEMBER WHEN WE SPOKE TO YOU LAST YEAR ABOUT ALL THE HAPPENINGS THAT WERE GOING ON THERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. IT’S EXCITING TO SEE HOW IT’S TRANSFORMING OVER THE YEARS, BUT WE GOT TO FOCUS ON THIS YEAR. THERE ARE. CAN YOU GIVE US JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW OF SOME OF THOSE ACTS AND TAKING THE STAGE? SO IN MAY, WE HAVE THE FAMILY STONE WITH INVISION. WE HAVE CLINT BLACK COMING IN JUNE. ANTHONY HAMILTON IN JUNE AS WELL. WE HAVE JOHN ANDERSON AND THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS, MOORE’S DAY AND THE TIME. AND WE ALSO HAVE DIAMOND RIO. SO THOSE ARE SIX SHOWS SPREAD OUT ACROSS FROM MAY 13 BEING THE FAMILY STONE, FINISHING OFF WITH MORE TO DAY IN THE TIME ON AUGUST 19TH. AND IF YOU VISIT VISIT VARIOUS FAIRGROUNDS DOT COM, YOU’LL BE ABLE SEE ALL THE DATES FOR ALL THOSE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE. CHECK IT OUT OR STAY IN THAT TIME. GOING BACK TO PURPLE RAIN, I LOVE IT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING THIS TO THE WINSTON-SALEM FAIRGROUNDS AND IT BEING MORE THAN JUST THE FAIR. SO WE REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING WINSTON-SALEM HOME FOR ENTERTAINMENT. IT’S NOT JUST OUR TAGLINE, IT REALLY IS OUR MISSION WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND WE REALLY SEE WHAT WE DO HERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN ESCAPE AND JUST A FUN, SAFE HAVEN FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEMSELVES WITH THEIR FAMILY. SO FROM EVERYTHING FROM EVERYTHING THAT YOU EXPERIENCE ON THE WEBSITE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOORS AND YOU’RE GREETED BY OUR WORKERS HERE, WE TRY TO STREAMLINE EVERYTHING SO THAT YOU FEEL WELCOME, YOU FEEL AT HOME, AND THAT YOU REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE FUN AND JUST REALLY ENJOY YOURSELF WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO THAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE CONCERTS FOR US. WE REALLY DO TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO HERE FOR OUR BUSINESSES OF WHAT’S THE TALENT AND BEYOND. D.J., YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED THIS QUESTION JUST NOW ALREADY, BUT THESE ARE ALL FAMILY FRIENDLY SHOWS. YES. YES, THEY ARE. THEY’RE ALL R&B AND COUNTRY SHOWS. YEAH. I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE OF MUSIC GENRE THAT YOU ARE OFFERING. I THINK THAT’S GOING TO GRAB A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM SURROUNDING AREAS. IS THAT ALSO ONE OF YOUR GOALS TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO WINSTON-SALEM FOR THESE SHOWS? ABSOLUTELY, YES. WE HAD A BIG SURVEY THAT WE PUT OUT LAST SUMMER TO REALLY TRY TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE. YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF CONCERTS DO WHAT KIND OF CONCERTS DO PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HERE? AND WINSTON-SALEM, NOT JUST HERE IN WINSTON-SALEM, THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE, BUT PEOPLE WANT TO TRY IT IN GENERAL. AND WE REALLY TOOK THAT FEEDBACK SERIOUSLY. AND REALLY MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO BRING IT UP BY A DIVERSE RANGE OF CONCERTS HERE TO THE FAIRGROUNDS. AND SO THAT’S HOW YOU’RE SEEING IT’S SUCH A DIVERSE LINEUP THIS SUMMER HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS FOR OUR CONCERT SERIES. OKAY, T.J., BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WE GOT TO ASK YOU, WHO ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE HIT THE STAGE THIS SUMMER THERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS? I’M EXCITED TO SEE ANTHONY HAMILTON. HE’S PROBABLY THE MOST IN MY TIME OUT OF 27. YEAH, YOU’LL DEFINITELY CATCH ME THERE, TOO, AS WELL. ANTHONY HAMILTON CONCERT. YEAH. WHEN YOU SAID HIS NAME AND THE GRAPHIC POPPED UP, CHRISTINA, HER EYES GOT THE UP. SHE’S EXCITED, TOO, ABOUT THAT DJ. GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON OUR SHOW AS ALWAYS. WHAT AN EXCITING LINEUP, TOO, FOR YOU GUYS AND EVERYONE AT HOME. THOSE TICKETS FOR THE SERIES GO ON SALE THIS FRIDAY AT 10 A.M. WE’LL BE SURE TO REMIND YOU THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON TICKETMASTER. YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE THEM AT THE FAIRGROUNDS BOX OFFICE. THAT’S AT THE ANNEX ON DEACON BOULEVARD. YOU’LL SEE CHRISTINA THERE. SHE’LL BE FIRST TIME. YES. BEATIN