With attendance expected to be back at full capacity at the Augusta National this year, the events outside the golf course are ramping back up as well.
Karen Gordon has always had great memories associated with Augusta’s music scene during golf week.
Some of the area’s best live music events have always occurred that week, said Gordon, who is bringing back an altered version of a golf week favorite – the ParTee on the Green.
The event once held in downtown Augusta has a new home for two nights of the week.
An advocate for south Augusta, Gordon said she didn’t know where she was going to put the event and is using the former Food Lion parking lot at the corner of Tobacco and Windsor Spring Roads from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.
“This reminds me of the first ParTee on the Green,” she said.
It will have a similar format. There will be food vendors, dance groups and a DJ. It will be a block party times two. On Friday, there will be a dance contest with $1,000 in prize money.
“Think of it as American Bandstand meets Soul Train meets Shag City meets Teen Town in an amazing celebration of community for all ages,” the Facebook event says.
Other favorites are back as well.
The Augusta Mayors’ Masters Reception will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Augusta Common. Performing live will be Grits and Jelly Butter.
Several events are planned for Tuesday.
Fan favorite Rock FORE! Dough will be Tuesday at the Lady A Pavilion at Evans Towne Center Park.
“Everybody that we’ve talked to, from normal ticket buyers to VIP ticket buyers, to sponsors to, you know, artists being able to do live shows, all are just happy to be back to close to normal here,” said Emily Stevenson of Gluestick Music.
Featuring Darius Rucker and Columbia County native Charles Kelley of Lady A, the event has a serious purpose. It is a fundraiser for the First Tee Augusta program. Since the concert began in 2005, it has raised more than $1.65 million. Artists who perform donate their time.
This will be the 18th annual show. Despite COVID-19, organizers were able to provide virtual concerts in 2020 and 2021.
“I think that music is healing, exciting, and find an emotional connection that live music, especially the people who get to go to together. And we were missing that, really missing that connection for people and artists were missing being in front of people,” Stevenson said.
The Aiken Art Walk will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in downtown Aiken.
The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department, the City of Aiken Arts Commission and Aiken Downtown Development Association present the 11th annual Aiken Art Walk featuring artists and performers in downtown Aiken. About 40 merchants will be open late for the event.
At the Morris Museum of Art, Irish fiddle player Martin Hayes will be in concert at 7:30 pm. April 5.
“Hayes is one of Ireland’s foremost artists, known worldwide for his innovative and soulful interpretations of traditional Irish music,” according to the Facebook event.
Admission is $20 for Morris Museum or Art members and $25 for non-members. Call (706) 267-5416 to make a reservation.
“Some Place Called Mayor’s Income, Tennessee” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 7, 8 and 9 at the Aiken Community Theatre. Tickets range from $7-$20 with discounts for students, children and seniors.
The show is a collection of playwright Jonathan Cook’s shorter works that are linked together with a narrator who is a bit like “Twilight Zone” narrator Rod Serling. It’s a blend of weird with some horror elements.
For tickets, call (803) 648-1438 or visit aikencommunitytheatre.org
Another well-known event ready to come back is The Major Rager. It will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater in North Augusta. Its Facebook page said the headliner will be Futurebirds. Friends with Benefits Production said it is donating a portion of ticket sales to The Hale House Foundation in honor of Frank Hull.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
