Thursdays at Maude Edenfield Park were quiet last summer as the pandemic silenced the annual Music in the Park series. An abbreviated series returns June 10.
“We’re going to start with four concerts,” said Ken Smith, executive director of the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council, one of the event sponsors.
MORE: Hopelands Schedules 47th Season
Usually, the series features 10 or 11 outdoor concerts, but the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 restrictions and limited time to plan for a full schedule led to a four-concert series this summer.
In most years, the schedule features a wide array of music.
“We’re rock n’ roll heavy,” said Smith. “That’s okay with me.”
Most of the groups taking the Maude Edenfield stage are familiar to North Augusta audiences, he said.
[adrotate banner=”22″]
Opening the season June 10 will be Swing Shift, a versatile band who plays multiple genres including rock and jazz.
“They play just about anything,” he said.
On June 24, it’s Fabio Mann and friends. Mann is a trumpeter who played with the Savannah River Brassworks for years.
The Savannah River Winds will take the stage July 8.
Savannah River Winds is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Comprised of band directors, professional musicians, college students and professionals from other walks of life who also happen to be accomplished musicians, the band performs a diverse repertoire for events such as its annual Veterans Day concert in North Augusta and the prism concert, according to its website.
And Double D, a crowd favorite, will wind down the season July 22, Smith said.
Usual performers, such as a military band near Independence Day, had to be omitted because of COVID-19. Smith said when planning for the series, military bands were not traveling or scheduling performances.
MORE: Concert Calendars Beginning to Fill
All concerts are free and begin at 7 p.m. The park is located at 495 Brookside Ave. In typical years, concerts are moved indoors to the nearby North Augusta Community Center; however, Smith was unsure if that would be an option this year because of the pandemic.
Concert-goers have plenty of room to social distance on the lawn at the park and are welcome to bring picnic baskets and blankets.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”49″]
