Concerts on the Pier – Austin Coats

The Concerts on the Pier returns in Summer 2023 as a concert series.  The first concert is Saturday, June 3rd at 7:30 pm on Lake Tillery, near Goat Island (the last cove before the southern dam on the Stanly County side of the lake) and will feature Austin Coats.  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, please email the Stanly County Arts Council at stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com or Austin Coats @  coats_austin@yahoo.com to reserve your spot.

Austin is a Stanly County native. At 18 he moved to New York City and earned a BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University. Since then he has performed around the world in more than 50 countries across five continents with various cruise lines as both a lead singer and dancer. He has performed works by Tony and Emmy Award winners Andy Blankenbuehler, Mandy Moore, and Michael Rooney and for Warren Carlyle at the Astaire Awards. As a dancer, he has also worked with choreographers Dee Caspary, Gustavo Vargas, and Monica Kapoor and performed repertoire by Bob Fosse, Twyla Tharp, and Agnes de Mille. Professional theatre credits include Cats (Skimbleshanks), Anything Goes (u/s Billy), Mamma Mia, and Chicago. Coats would like to thank the Stanly County Arts Council for their continued support!

Concert on the Pier is the brainchild of Coats. When the Covid pandemic hit, Coats returned to Stanly County from New York City. In Fall 2020, Coats determined that performing from a pier for boats or for an audience socially distanced on shore would meet the needs to hear live music while being performed in a safe environment.  The first Concert on the Pier occurred on a chilly night in October 2020 with Coats performing and raising much-needed funds for the local arts community by having donations benefit the Stanly County Arts Council. He followed that concert with another concert in May 2021, with much better weather and once again the funds raised benefited the Stanly County Arts Council.  Even though restrictions no longer exist, the Concert on the Pier is still a great way to enjoy live music.  In Summer 2022, it expanded to a three-concert series, offering other local talents to grace the pier.

The Concert Series for Summer 2023, will also include:

• July 15th with The Hatley’s
• August 12th with Jack Burns
• September 9th with Joy Almond

Each musician has their own style, so it’ll be fun to attend all four concerts.  Donations will be accepted again 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.