STARSHIP band to headline the SC Pecan Music and Food Festival

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Organizers with the South Carolina Pecan Music and Food Festival announced Thursday that the 20 ^th annual festival’s headliner will be STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas.

The group will perform on the main stage from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024, the organizers said in a news release.

Mickey Thomas is the owner of the soaring voice that propelled STARSHIP through the decade of the 80’s. His soulful and compelling vocals has established Thomas as one of Rock music’s most recognizable stars, the release said.

Mikey made his mark in 1976 as lead vocalist on the mega-hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” with The Elvin Bishop Band.

In 1979, Mickey joined Jefferson Starship as the lead vocalist, after the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and recorded a string of hits including “Jane,” “No Way Out,” “Find Your Way Back,” “Stranger,” and “Layin’ It on the Line,” the release said.

The group was renamed STARSHIP in 1985 and went on to record three #1 hit songs including “We Built This City,” “Sara,” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” from the film, Mannequin , which was also an Academy Award nominee, the release said.

Their hit “It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over” became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987. Mickey’s stellar voice and video charisma on STARSHIP’s video classics such as “We Built This City” and “Sara” became staples on MTV and VH1, the release said.

The band includes Mickey Thomas on lead vocals, Jeff Adams on bass, John Roth on guitar, Phil Bennett on keyboards, Darrell Verdusco on drums, and Cian Coey on vocals, the release said.

“STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas is a world class act just perfect for celebrating the 20 ^th anniversary of the SC Pecan Music and Food Festival,” Festival Chairman, George Jebaily said. “Their iconic rock performance is sure to delight audiences of all ages with familiar hits and fan favorites on the first Saturday in November.”

Musical acts will take place across nine stages and a full line-up will be announced later this summer.

The SC Pecan Music and Food Festivalgoers will enjoy plenty of food and drink vendors, the annual Run and Bike Like a Nut events, a classic car show, art demonstrations and chalk art contest, free kids fun zone, amusement rides by R&D Amusements, Pecan Pub, and more, the release said.

Visitors are able to look at a user-friendly web app experience on festival day to assist in finding exciting things to do, the release said.

Admission into the SC Pecan Music and Food Festival is free.

Visitors can plan their trip online at www.scpecanfestival.com . Vendor applications are accepted through August 31, 2024 and applications can be found on the festival’s website, the release said.

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Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13 . She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13’s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylor’s work here .

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