When the Aiken Bluegrass Festival opted for a new venue, Richard Cram knew he wanted to continue having music at his equestrian facility. He created his own music event.
The Aiken Music Fest opens May 8.
“We went from one night and one show to six shows from May to October,” said Cram, the owner of Highfields Event Center, a 60-acre event facility and RV park near downtown Aiken. The site has several equestrian fields for hunter/jumper competitions as well as the Mary Ann Parmalee Pavilion, an open-air space.
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Cram and his committee book up-and-coming regional performers as well as local acts for the festival.
“It’s mostly rock ‘n’ roll, Americana,” said Katy Lipscomb, a member of the Aiken Music Fest committee. “Any good band.”
The festival began several years ago, and Lipscomb said it’s become known to Aiken residents as a place for good music even if people have never heard of the performers before.
“We want to keep Aiken known for putting on good music events,” she said.
One concert is scheduled per month with Asheville, N.C.’s Abby Bryant and the Echoes serving as the headliner for the opener. According to the band’s website, the group is “built around a powerful voice and hard-driving rock ‘n’ soul rhythm section.”
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Dave “Muz” Mercer, a local singer/songwriter, will also be featured.
In addition to the music, craft vendors will be on site as well as food trucks.
Other performers include Dave Jordan and the NIA on June 5, Flow Tribe on July 3, Travers Brothership on Aug. 14, Deltaphonics on Sept. 4 and Gaslight Street on Oct. 2.
Tickets are $15. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.
Proceeds from last year’s series benefitted Aiken’s Gaston Livery Stables, which was designated as an Aiken historic landmark in 2012 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.
“Plans for the use of the property are as a living history venue, event rental space and an educational facility,” according to the stables’ website.
To purchase festival tickets, visit aikenmusicfest.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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