Beaufort County native performs for a cause

Published 7:19 pm Thursday, October 12, 2017

Adam Brinson stands on top of a red truck on Main Street in a “Window Wizard” T-shirt, scrubbing the windows of the Turnage Theatre. But come Saturday, the window washer will transform into the front man of a rock band.

Brinson, a Chocowinity native, and his four-man band, The Outboards, will bring its pub-rock vibes to Arts of Pamlico’s Turnage Theatre for a locally themed concert Saturday night.

“When it’s a place like this, you kind of step up your game. It’s got the curtains and the whole theatre, you know, it’s not just another rock club,” Brinson said.

Brinson grew up in Chocowinity before moving to the Raleigh area when he was a teenager. He now owns a window washing business in Pittsboro, and plays shows with his band at different venues around the Triangle. Brinson, while getting the windows spick and span for his Saturday show, said it was his first time seeing the Turnage Theatre.

“I remember this place when it wasn’t really anything. This is my first time coming back to it and first time going inside. I was just like — ‘Wow,’” Brinson said. “I’m glad they made this spot a venue instead of just some old Wal-Mart.”

Debra Torrence, executive director of Arts of the Pamlico, said this concert is a way for the “hometown boy” to give back to his hometown. She’s partnered with Sally Love, director of the Beaufort County United Way, to make Saturday a concert for a cause. Beaufort County United Way-sponsored organizations will have tables set up with their information.

“It’s kind of our local for local concert,” Torrence said.

The Outboards have been playing together for about four years, according to Brinson. But his music roots go back much further: he said he’s been playing music for basically his entire life.

“I’ve played, well, forever. My dad had a drum set while I was growing up. I’ve just played forever,” Brinson said.

Torrence said she is trying to create a diverse menu of music, with funk, jazz and blues, country, gospel and more, so that there will be a show for everyone at the Turnage. She said Saturday’s concert is just another way of demonstrating that an artist can be found in anyone — artists are scattered around town, and sometimes even disguised as window washers.

“Artists are all around and people don’t know they are. You know, they are washing windows, or they’re working at a bank. They’re everywhere. We want people to realize how many people here are artists and that we are kind of a little mecca that’s growing,” Torrence said.

The Outboards will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Turnage Theatre, located at 150 W. Main St.