Vagabond set for Boxcar Concert Series in Hamlet

HAMLET — Another local band takes the stage this Friday in Main Street Park for the September installment of the Boxcar Concert Series.

The three-piece group Vagabond is made up of guitarist and vocalist John Baker, bassist and vocalist Patrick Razon and drummer Anakin White. All three are former members of the Ponder Project, with a set list including covers of tunes by the Beatles, Steely Dan, Gin Blossoms, Foo Fighters and Sister Hazel.

Baker has been playing around Richmond County for more than two decades, including stints with Willow Creek, Hydrenaline and The Way She Goes, in addition to Ponder and various other side projects. He also once performed with former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, along with several other local musicians, at Rockingham Dragway.

Despite starting as a drummer while still living in the Philippines, Razon has been on bass with the Safety Committee and Ponder before forming Vagabond with Baker and White. He still performs with the Safety Committee.

White, the youngest of the group, started sitting with Ponder while still a teenager before taking over when original drummer Shot Allen retired from the group. He also plays for Oero and has recently filled in with Hardwired.

Oreo was originally scheduled to play the Boxcar show.

The free series was started in 2022 with concerts on Sunday afternoons, but was switched to Fridays to coincide with the food truck events at the Visitors Center.

The food trucks and concert are rain or shine, according to Mechelle Preslar, director of community engagement for the city of Hamlet.

In the case of rain for the concert, Preslar said, “We’ve got you covered…literally,” with a contingency to have the band perform under the picnic shelter. The concert will only be canceled in case of a thunderstorm.

The food truck lineup for this week is as follows: Mama Blairs; Tacos Mr. Pancho; Gee’z Backyard BBQ; Seasoul Melody; Burger Bros; Big D’s Donuts; and Puckered Up Lemonade.

The concert runs from 6-8 p.m. and food trucks will be open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Rockingham native Erik Hawks and the Hard Luck Band will close out the series Oct. 25, the night before the Seaboard Festival, with the stage set up on Main Street in front of the Depot. He will also perform the following Saturday at the festival, along with Jonathan Robinson, the Sand Band and the Special Occasions Band.

Hawks was honored earlier this year by the Carolina Country Music Association as Male Performer of the Year. He will be playing a solo show Friday at Hudson Brothers Deli from 8-10 p.m.