It’s been 17 years since the last Beach Music Festival was held in Emerald Isle at the Holiday Trav-L-Park. Typically held in May as a way to kick off the summer; the festival will return as a way to bid it farewell as a last hoorah to the summer. The new 2016 event promises to match the great times of the festivals of the 1980s and 1990s. What originally began in 1979 as a shag inspired dance festival with notable headliners like The Chairman of the board and The Embers will now add some newer sounds to the stage. Many of the acts play a variety of music from Blues to Rock, Country to Top 40. Drawing from its last festival in 1999, The Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival had an audience of 10-12k people, which meant Emerald Isle could no longer accommodate the parking and crowds it drew due to the massive growth of this seaside community. After several attempts to revive the festival at other locations in the years that have followed it was clear that fans of the festival wanted in moved back to Emerald Isle. Mayor Frank Rush has mentioned that the event has been brought up in several town meetings over the past few years and felt like it was a good time to reintroduce it to the area.
“We’re also excited to have the festival on the beach strand itself, with the stage constructed atop the dunes, facing the ocean, with the audience on the beach. It should be a great day in Emerald Isle, and encourage everyone to enjoy it with us! It’s free to the public!”
Frank Rush, EI Mayor
Sammy O’Banion
Spare Change
Hip Pocket
The Fantastic Shakers
Jim Quick and The Coastline Band
The Tams
Too Much Sylvia
Video from EIBMF circa 1980
Strolling Along Bogue Inlet Pier