According to the brochure for the Lake Region Community Concert Series for 2024-25 the final concert was “To be announced.”
Here’s the announcement: Meet Becca and Coty, Admiral Radio.
Becca and Coty are “old souls.” Just about everything in their house comes with a story. In 2018 they were on the hunt for a vintage radio. After a little digging, they found one tucked away in the back of a dusty antique store in Columbia, S.C. As Becca’s dad helped load it up into the back of his truck, he noticed something. It was an Admiral Radio.
It didn’t mean much at the time, but it turns out that there was a family connection.
“My dad used to work for Admiral,” Becca’s dad told her. They immediately felt an unlikely connection to the radio and began doing some research on it. Little did they know, it would become their band name about a year later when they began playing music.
It turns out that Becca’s late grandfather, Charlie Smith, Sr., was actually a salesman for Admiral. He was awarded the “Top Salesman of the Year” for the state of South Carolina many years in a row.
The radio
Not so very long ago at the center of each American home was the radio.
It was a central piece of furniture in the home where the family gathered to listen to political speeches; evening musical, theatrical or comedic performances with live performers; or favorite dramatic programs like The Lone Ranger or The Shadow or The War of the Worlds.
Founded in 1934, Admiral Corporation was one of America’s top producers of radios, TVs and phonographs. At the height of World War II Admiral was the weekly sponsor for CBS Radio Network’s Sunday evening program, World News Today.
As cheaper, foreign imports made their way into the American Economy, Admiral began to crumble. What was once as recognizable as saying “Apple” or “Amazon” is today, Admiral would be bought and sold to a long list of buyers, eventually fading from the U.S. market altogether.
The band
As a band this duo redefines what it’s like to gather around the radio in more modern times. Admiral Radio weaves a sonic tapestry of timeless folk roots and powerful harmonies by getting back to the basics of good songwriting and honest music that paints a picture of life as we know it. Their hope is to allow listeners to steal away in a modern era and get lost in the music, and to help make sense of the world through timeless sound.
Performing for the Lake Region Community Concert Association’s final 2024-25 concert this concert is free to everyone who purchases a 2025-26 Concert Ticket for $50. It takes place in the LRSC Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow evening, April 2.
Subscription
Your 2025-26 Community concert subscription will get you this concert for free and three – yes, I said three – delightful concerts in the year ahead on September 11, November 21 and May 4, 2026.
Those concerts will be featuring Minot native Nate Hance, the dynamic pops pianist bringing “Piano Potpourri.” His program highlights include favorites from Broadway, Disney classics and the Greatest Hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s, and 20’s.
Also featured will be “The Suits” advertised as the best of pop, rock, Doo Wap and Motown music! Think Jersey Boys?
Promotional material for this group states “four gentlemen, four genres and four decades!” Program highlights include The Four Seasons, the Beatles, Steview Wonder and Journey – among others.
Finally your subscription will also include “The Sidekicks” – a high-energy 80’s tribute band with numbers from Billy Joel, Blondie, Huey Lewis & the News and Kenny Loggins.
See the promotional material available at Wednesday’s Admiral Radio concert for which concert will be held on what date.
For more information on these artists go to www.AlliedConcertServices.com or ask at the ticket desk in the LRSC lobby of today’s concert with the Admiral Radio! Remember the $50 subscription gives you access to nine different concerts.
Much of the content for this story comes from the website for Admiral Radio and promotional materials for Allied Concert Services. Content also supplied for print by Peter Foss, Devils Lake, ND.
