It’s a night Mike Deas has been looking forward to for several weeks — the sneak peek event highlighting the 2022-2023 Augusta Amusements season.
“We haven’t done this since we announced the Bee Gees tribute,” said Deas.
The Bee Gees tribute was originally supposed to be in 2020 so that announcement would’ve come in 2019. Because of the pandemic, that show was postponed until March 2022 with two packed shows when it finally happened, he said.
Augusta Amusements brings in a variety of acts to the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center throughout the year, and on May 7 at that location, Deas presented the season schedule.
“We have a lot of new stuff coming this season,” he said.
The season will begin Oct. 1 with the Texas Gypsies, a blend of “vintage jazz from the Great Gatsby era plus big band sounds of the 1930s and 1950s,” he said.
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Tribute bands are popular in the season line-up.
Private Eyes, a duo that highlights Hall and Oates, will perform two shows Oct. 20 and 21.
That Motown Band, a group playing the songs its name suggests, will perform Nov. 13.
One Christmas Night in Memphis, a holiday offering bringing together the music of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, will be Dec. 3.
Another Christmas event is the Celtic Angels Christmas Dec. 20. This is one show that will be making a return. The group was at the Hardin in December 2021 but performed earlier in the month.
Deas said the show will get patrons into the Christmas spirit for sure.
In 2023, the year kicks off with a Neil Diamond tribute Jan. 27.
The Highwaymen brings together a tribute of country music legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson for a matinee and evening performance Feb. 2
Good Shot Judy, a jazz band, will play March 4; Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Bluegrass Band will perform, March 11, and a tribute to Glen Campbell will end the season March 25.
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One added concert that isn’t part of the regular season lineup is something called the Evans Opry, which will feature performers who have been on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. The first Evans Opry performance will be The Malpass Brothers Feb. 3.
Deas said that the lineup wasn’t necessarily finished. Should other acts come through the area and have open dates, there’s a chance that new performances would be added.
Season tickets start at $443.07, which is a 15% discount off the regular rate. Season ticket holders would get the discount should any additional performances be scheduled, he said.
To learn more, call (706) 726-0366.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
