Music in the park offers new talent
By MIM WOODRING
The annual Music in the Park series of concerts begins May 15 and includes a number of musical groups performing in North Augusta for the first time. The series of 11 free, outdoor concerts is presented by North Augusta Cultural Arts Council with the title sponsors being University Health Care System and Georgialina Physical Therapy Associates.
Other sponsors for the series are City of North Augusta and the South Carolina Arts Commission. The concerts will be held in Maude Edenfield Park. In event of rain, the concerts will be held in the North Augusta Community Center, adjacent to the concert stage.
As has been the case for several years, North Augusta High School Band kicks off the series under the direction of Chuck Deen on May 15, followed May 22 by the Savannah River Winds, directed by Richard Brasco.
This group of talented professionals has presented the Veterans Concert in November for a number of years. The third concert is May 29 by Solstice, led by Lily Morris. She has performed in North Augusta before but this year will bring some Irish dancers to the stage.
Each Thursday evening in June a variety of music will be performed, beginning with the powerful voice of Ryan Abel, who sings at First Baptist Church. The winners from North Augusta Idol, Lindsay Ford, Stephen Farrar, Allie Dyches and Sawyer Branhan will perform June 5.
On June 12 Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips will present a program of "blues rock and roots music" according to Dave.
See MUSIC, page 8A
Music, from page 1A
An evening of blue grass tunes by Keith Perissi and "Packway Handle" will be held June 19. Both of these groups are new to the North Augusta venue. "Flashback"comes back by popular demand bringing the ever popular beach music program on June 26.
There will be no concert July 4th week but will resume July 10 with Eric Hillman's group, "A Step Up," playing jazz, blues and rock. Carey Murdock, whose band won the first North Augusta Idol competition, will bring a group together playing contemporary music on July 17. On July 24 the "Savannah River String Band" will be another musical group making a debut in North Augusta. This musical ensemble is from Aiken.
The final concert in the summer series will be musicians from Fort Gordon. This event will be held in the Wesley Center at Grace United Methodist Church and will include an art exhibit by North Augusta artists.
