The 12th Annual Beach Fest lineup has been announced and we've included the information from their website. Be sure to visit prior to attending for any updates and/or changes.

The 2025 National Shag Dance Finals are coming up in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina March 6th - 8th 2025. Below you will find the information for the event. We encourage you to visit their shag nationals website and see the information from past championships, get merchandise and much more.  Good luck everyone!

Dates: March 6-8, 2025

Start Times (doors open one hour before start time):

Thursday 8:00PM

Friday 7:30PM

Saturday 7:30PM

Location: The Spanish Galleon at the OD Beach & Golf Resort (end of Main Street in North Myrtle Beach)

General Admission available at door (no reserved or guaranteed seat) = $20 Thursday / $25 Friday / $30 Saturday

Reserved Grandstand Seating (formerly known as “bleachers”)

Preferred Hotel: Ocean Drive Golf & Beach Resort 800-438-9590

Click Here for 2025 Grandstand Seating Order Form

Disc Jockey

Craig Jennings will return as our 2025 Disc Jockey – welcome back Craig!

Contestants

DANCE ORDER

This is the dance order for each division – for the exhibitions at Prelims; for the first night of

the Finals on Thursday, or Friday for the Masters. New numbers will be drawn for Saturday

night except for Masters, who will be in reverse order from Friday.

JUNIOR I (Combined with Junior II for 2025 due to lack of applicants

N/A

JUNIOR I & II

1 – Maci Walters & Zane Morgan

2 – Liv Kirby & Easton Brown

3 – Graylen Kirby & Mikah Velez

4 – Genesis Beam & Ben Smith

5 – Abigail Hodges & Hunter Matthews

6 – Rebecca Hodges & Bennett Rusmisell

7 – Saddie Honeycutt & Jackson McLaughlin

8 – Ava Farlow & Billy West

NON PROFESSIONAL

1 – Susan Welch & Danny Scott

2 – Mitzi Sheeks & Jeff Harmston

3 – Crystal & Tripp Turner

4 – Cheryl & Clay Parker

5 – Dottie Dean & Lou Martino

6 – Lauren Cookman & Michael Bravo

7 – Vickey Van Frank & Henry Dowd

8 – Robin & Mark Casey

9 – Judy & Hampton Cobb

SENIORS

1 – Tobitha Stewart & Gene Pope

2 – Barbara Banks & Bruce Yates

3 – Jennifer & Joey Sogluizzo

4 – Elizabeth & Eric Horton

5 – Dale & Jim Hern

6 – Carmen Vaughn & Keith Smith

7 – Cameron & Marcus Thigpen

8 – Bonnie Rhodes & Allan Grider

MASTERS

1 – Sarah Kemp & Sam West

2 – Pat Folds & Gerald Medford

3 – Sydney Kale Rhame & Milton Nowell Jr.

4 – Jo Ann Hickman & James Parker

5 – Loretta McIntosh & Rodger Woodson

PROFESSIONAL

1 – Lani & William Greene

2 – Karsyn Folds & Mack West

3 – Erica Russell & Adam Holmes

4 – Ivy Claire Huiet & Johnathan Kemp

5 – Nikki Kontoulas & Jeff Hargett

Board of Directors

• Barry Thigpen
• Chuck Stokes
• Jenny Kelly
• Tommy Hamrick
• Debra Helton
• Casey Kelly
• Judy Duke
• Jason Cagle

On January 29, 2025, The Embers featuring Craig Woolard announced the retirement of longtime bassist Gerald Davis. So many people have wished him good luck along with expressions of sadness that he's retiring along with so many stories and most of them ending with..."and he's such a nice guy". If you know Gerald or have ever talked with him you would also agree. Always a smile while on stage and smooth as silk, he will certainly be missed by not only the Embers but so many fans, friends and colleagues.  Gerald started with the Embers in 1976 and he certainly leaves big shoes to fill. If you'd like to read his musical history, visit his bio page on the Embers website.

If you'd like to attend the retirement party for Gerald, it will be held February 8, 2025 at 7:00PM at Loafers Beach Club, 605 Creekside Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27609. You can call the club at: 919-743-5332. 

Congratulations Gerald and we hope that you'll certainly enjoy your well deserved retirement!

The Beach Music Blast at the Virginia Beach oceanfront has been set for May 10, 2025. The location of the event starting this year will be at the 17th Street Park. In addition to a weekend full of beach music you can enjoy the Beach Music Blast Car Show. The entertainment lineup will be announced soon and we'll be sure to update you on that once the schedule has been released. We've included information from their website below and be sure to visit their website for any changes to the following information.

FROM THEIR WEBSITE

• Festival is held outdoors rain or shine. Festival may be suspended or postponed due to severe weather or in case of severe weather forecast.
• Picnic baskets are welcome.
• No alcohol or glass may be brought into the festival.
• Persons must be at least 21 years of age with a valid photo ID to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages.
• For the safety of all, Event Security may screen persons entering the festival.
• No animals allowed inside Festival performance areas. Service Animals are permitted.
• Festival guests may be photographed and videotaped for future promotional use.
• These regulations do not alter or change State or City laws in any manner and guests are subject to all applicable State or City laws.
• For parking info, please visit

INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE, PLEASEE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR ANY CHANGES!

On Friday, January 1, 2025, Lake Life Live released their 2025 schedule on air with Andy Lucy during the Friday Night Beach Blast. Their summer concert series features five events beginning in May on their outdoor stage in downtown Clarksville, Virginia which is known as Virginia's only lakeside town. The series has been nominated every year since 2020 by the Carolina Beach Music Academy. Admission is $5.00 per person and for all details you can visit their website and see the video below.

2025 Band Schedule
May 3, 2025 - Konnection and The Catalinas
June 7, 2025 - Swingin' Medallions
July 5, 2025 - Jim Quick and Coastline
August 2, 2025 - Band of Oz
August 31, 2025 - JB & the Get Down Browns w/ The Embers feat. Craig Woolard

The 2025 ACSC Shagging ICON Awards were announced during the mid-winter workshop. Congratulations to each of those listed below and for details on how to nominate individuals, visit the SOS website.

Your 2025 Recipients
- Audrey Borja from Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Monica Powell from N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Phil Turner - Wilmington, North Carolina
- Tim Long from - Rutherfordton, North Carolina
- Margie McRae - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Here's more information from the SOS website regarding the ICON award. "The purpose of the Icon Award is to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions within their own (Full Member, A.C.S.C.) shag club. Nominees for this award have made significant efforts and contributions to their shag club & are clearly outstanding members of the shag community. Although some of these nominees may go on to be well known in the shag world (the A.C.S.C. or S.O.S., the C.S.A., the DJ Association, etc.) many of these individuals may not be known outside of their own club. This award has come to be one of the most highly prized awards that a shagger can attain."

Coming up February 28th and March 1st  you'll want to be in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the Anniversary Weekend for the Band of Oz. Spend the weekend at the Spanish Galleon and stay at the Ocean Drive Beach and Golf Resort.  Friday night will feature music by the Special Occasion Band and the Mighty Saints of Soul. Saturday afternoon enjoy the sounds of Chocolate Chip & Co. and Saturday night will feature the Band of Oz which will also include former members; Big John Thompson, Butch Barnes, David Franks and Chris Keaton.

Packages are available that includes accomodations, two t-shirts and tickets to all events. You can purchase your tickets online by visiting the Ticket Tailor website and for room packages, it's asked that you visit the Ocean Drive Resort website or call 800-438-9590. For all other information visit the Band of Oz website.

We send our condolences and prayers to the family of Terry and the many friends across the industry. Always a positive promoter of beach music and the industry she will certainly be missed by many. Please find her full obituary below along with a link to send your condolences to the family on the funeral home website.

OBITUARY    -     SEND YOUR CONDOLENCES

Terry Lynn Sossamon Gleason, 66, of Mt. Pleasant, NC passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 surrounded by her family and a few close friends. Terry was born to the late Leonard Brown Sossamon, Sr., and Jerline Aldridge Sossamon in Cabarrus County on December 30, 1958. A 1977 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, she was the youngest of 5 children and the only girl in a household of big brothers.

Well known for her love of beach music, Terry was loved in return by her beach music family. She was an administrator for the Facebook groups “Beach Music Café” and “Beach Music”. She helped “Beach Music Café” grow from less than 20,000 members to almost 50,000 in the years she spent as Administrator/Moderator. She wrote inspirational & motivational blogs for both groups; touching thousands of people as Terry wrote from her heart.

Terry was preceded in death by her beloved son Tyler Shane Poole and her parents. Surviving to cherish her memory is her son Joshua Brown Poole, granddaughters Caroline and Annabelle Poole, brothers Leonard (Esther), Joel (Delores), Randy (Pattie), Robin (Pam), and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her life will be remembered at Gordon Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 11 AM – 1 PM. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM which will be officiated by her cousin Pastor Frank Sossamon.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed in Terry’s name to CVAN, for donation information, call 704.788.1108 or VIA Health Partners P.O. Box 470408 Charlotte, NC 28247. 

The beach music industry is mourning the loss of John Lewis Hall, Jr. We were so saddened to hear this news as John has been an avid supporter of Flip Flop Live since we launched as well as a dear friend to us and so many others across the beach music industry. We send our love and prayers to his wife Phyllis and the entire family. We've included his obituary below and a link if you'd like to sign the online guestbook. 

Obituary  - Sign the Guest Book

John “Johnny” Lewis Hall, Jr., 77, of Colonial Heights, VA, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, January 13, 2025. Born in Suffolk, VA on May 5, 1947, he was the son of the late John Lewis Hall and Hazel Rosetta Jones Hall. 

Johnny grew up in Ivor, VA, and graduated from Southampton High School. He then earned his associate degree from Richard Bland College. He was a member of The Heights Baptist Church in Colonial Heights, VA and Butterwood Methodist Church in Blackstone, VA.

Johnny’s passion for music began in 1962 at just 14 years old, when he played his first dance aboard a ferry crossing Virginia’s historic James River. With an armful of records and a new stereo player, he sparked a lifelong love for entertaining. Over the decades, Johnny became a cherished figure in the Beach Music community, spinning tunes for shag and bop clubs from Virginia to Florida and serving as the house DJ for Petersburg’s iconic “Thursday in Old Town” event. He was an esteemed member of the SOS DJ team at Fat Harold’s Beach Club and a dedicated leader in the National Association of Rhythm & Blues Dee Jays, where he served as Treasurer and Vice President. The last thing he did in his radio career was his daily afternoon radio internet show, “Jukin’ Oldies” in which he was very passionate about.

Johnny’s life was equally marked by service and dedication. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the Virginia Army National Guard, he retired as a Major after 25 years, earning the Bronze Star for his distinguished service. Alongside his military career, Johnny worked 41 years in the tobacco industry – working for both Brown and Williamson and Philip Morris. In his 40s, he further exemplified his dedication to his community by working as an EMT and fireman. He first started as an EMT in Petersburg for many years. He decided he needed to do more, and went to fire school in Chesterfield County. Johnny then served in Colonial Heights as both an EMT and fireman. 

Johnny also found joy in fishing, racing motorcycles, and RVing to numerous places, including Florida where he and his wife lived in the wintertime. Despite his careers and hobbies, family was the most important thing to Johnny. He loved his wife, sons, and pets immensely. He was a good Christian man, a true friend always willing to help others, and a devoted provider to his family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Phyllis E. Hall; beloved sons, Sean C. Hall and Austin H. Hall; granddaughter, Ava Elizabeth Hall; sister, Pamela Joyner; nephew, Colton S. Pulley; and many other extended family members.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Butterwood United Methodist Church, Darvills Road, Blackstone, Virginia, 23824. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Johnny to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org

The Society of Stranders (SOS) announced their membership fee will increase $10.00 effective January 1, 2025. This would be the first increase in over thirty-five years as their last increase was in 1990. The announcement states; "The cost of an SOS membership of $45.00 equates to less than $2 per day for the 24 days of SOS events."  They also advised "The past three years of post-covid pandemic, sales are down 35%." The release goes on to say the change is necessary to continue the services rendered by the organization. To see everything included with your membership, visit their website which offers various links, photos, club information and so much more. Visit the SOS website - To read the full article, click on "SOS Carefree Times" towards the top of the website.