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Weekend Concerts
Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: April 2023
Lace up your dancing shoes – Highlands’ free weekend concerts return next month – Friday nights at Town Square and Saturday evenings at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
If you’re a fan of live music, you can’t help but be energized by the return of Highlands Weekend Concert Series, the evening soundtrack that’ll be part of Highlands life through the end of October.
Friday Night Live is provided by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, celebrating traditional mountain music, and offering local and regional artists the chance to share their love of traditional and contemporary Appalachian sounds. Shows are every Friday night in Town Square from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M.
Saturdays on Pine, held at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park every Saturday night from 6:00 until 8:30 P.M., shakes things up a bit with music of every kind.
The fun starts on Friday, May 19, with a performance by Cashiers resident Jay Drummonds. Locals might think of Drummonds as a primo family man or the concrete guy (he operates a thriving concrete business, Highlands Foundations Inc.) or a church musician (one of his treasured pastimes) or performer at The Ugly Dog Pub and other local venues. But did you know he’s one of Nashville’s best yarn-spinning, story-tellin’ singer/songwriters?
On Saturday, May 20, it’s The Boomers’ triumphant return to the Plateau. Their performances have ranged from the ’97 President Clinton Inaugural Ball to the 2012 NFL Owners Meeting with hundreds of wedding receptions in between. The song selections and consistent quality of their live performances ensure that they’ll always draw an electric Highlands crowd.
Speaking of drawing an enthusiastic audience, save room on your dance card for Silly Ridge, slated for Friday, May 26. They’re a Highlands-based troupe offering an eclectic blend of americana, bluegrass, and folk music. The band showcases the talents of Knight Martorell (banjo, harmonica, harmony vocals), Dave Mueller (mandolin and lead vocals) and David Crisp (guitar and lead vocals).
They’ll be followed the next evening by The Swingin’ Richards. Their mission statement is a simple one: Rock the House! The Swingin’ Richards came into fruition in 2001, opening for James Brown. Now you may say that’s pretty good for a debut, yet there’s good reason the guys were able to float their boat on something like this – Dues and Persistence. You can hear it pay off with their return to the Plateau.
For more information, call the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center at (828) 526-5841 or visit highlandschamber.org.
