MIDDLE TOWNSHIP—A new musical attraction for the South Jersey area will open here on Friday night, Feb. 10, at 7 when a former West Coast musician produces his first Winter Country/Rock Fest at the Performing Arts Center of Middle Township.

Headlining the concert will be the Georgia Satellites, supported by the local Kenny Young Band and Philadelphia singer Sherry Lynn.

Producer Tom Smead, who came to the East Coast from California a decade ago and now lives in Upper Township, is bringing his first New Jersey concert to Cape May County as the curtain raiser of what he plans to be an annual event. He said he chose the1,000-seat Performing Arts Center because of its central location, its state of the art accommodations and free off street parking. In addition to being a producer, Smead, who has been in the music business for 30 years, is the owner and operator of Sound Strike Studios and Tommy Naples Music in Upper Township.

The Georgia Satellites have been a hot act in country/rock music since the band was founded in 1985. Kenny Young, also an Upper Township resident, is a veteran performer, having started in his younger days before taking a break to raise a family after which he resumed his career. He eventually collaborated with Smead in recording the independent full length label “Simple Things.” Lynn became a country music performer after her mother brought home a copy of the movie video of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and she “wanted to be just like Loretta Lynn.”

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door the night of performance. Call the box office at 609-463-1924. PAC is situated at 1 Penketham Way, Middle Township, just east of the Garden State Parkway in Cape May Court House.