S.C. Botanical Garden announces 2018 Fall Concert Series

CLEMSON – Fall means music at the South Carolina Botanical Garden and the lineup for the 2018 Fall Season is sure to have something for everyone.

The Garden plays host to “Music in the Garden,” featuring free live music from some of the region’s top musical acts on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Upstate artist Jessica Ticko kicks off Tuesday’s Tunes & Tastings at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18. Tunes & Tastings will be held every Tuesday through October 23 on the Lower Lawn behind the Visitor’s Center at the Botanical Garden. Music will be played by some of the Upstate’s best musicians. The events are free and concessions will be sol

“Carolina Bauernhaus will be on hand serving up craft brews, ales and meads with proceeds going to support the SCBG,” Garden business manager Angel Perkins said. “Bring a picnic dinner if you’d like and enjoy brews and bands under the stars.”

Friday evening concerts begin with the Haitian Orphan Children’s Choir on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Botanical Garden’s Amphitheater. Additional concerts will be held each Friday, also beginning at 7 p.m. in the Amphitheater, through October 26.

“Palmetto’s Smokehouse & Oyster Bar will be on hand providing concessions or you can pack a picnic dinner to listen to some of the Upstate’s finest musical talent,” Perkins said. “Concession sales begin at 6:30 p.m.”

For information, contact Perkins at 864-656-3679 or perkin8@clemson.edu, or go to https://www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/events/events-calendar.html

The South Carolina Botanical Garden is located at 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, S.C. 29634.

The 2018 Fall Season lineup includes:

TUESDAYS TUNES & TASTINGS

Sept. 18 – Jessica Ticko

Jessica Ticko is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter in upstate South Carolina. Her debut album, “Young Mind, Old Soul” was released in January 2017. Her song, “Box of Matches” was made into a music video by Look Alive Productions and gained some attention from the local music scene of the upstate. Learning piano at a young age and teaching herself how to play the guitar, Ticko performs a diverse selection of musical pieces during her live shows – self-accompanied by piano, guitar and harmonica. Those who hear her vocals claim that she has a voice far beyond her years.

 

Sept. 25 – The Wild Pines

 The Wild Pines Duo takes you on a warm, folksy journey filled with a chorus of strings and harmonious vocals. Matt McClellan and Rebecca Samples Smith are both songwriters and multi-instrumentalists with a delightful trade of instruments and song sharing with a mix of original and cover songs rooted in folk, blues, and bluegrass. Their show is always relaxed and intimate, filled with personality and songs about trains, death and pickled okra.

 

Oct. 2 – The Parkertown Pickers

The Parkertown Pickers perform a seasoned repertoire of mountain music with a healthy helping of bluegrass and classic country reminiscent of high times and heartbreak. Crooning downstream off the mighty Shoal Creek in Parkertown, Georgia, the duo consists of Nathan Buffington (guitar) and Zeke Sayer (bull fiddle) rendering a concoction some have said to be “a toe-tapping good time!”

 

 

Oct. 9 – Amongst the Trees

Amongst the Trees is a trio born out of the red clay of Upstate South Carolina and filtered through three collective lifetimes of musical joy and experience. Josh Gibson and BJ Callahan met at a beer festival in 2016, and discovered a mutual love of The Allman Brothers Band, Led Zeppelin and craft beer. They brought on BJ’s longtime friend and drummer, Larry Williams, shortly after. The rest is funky, jammy, grassy history. Original compositions, old traditional tunes, tight harmonies and a healthy dose of improvisation are at the core of what makes Amongst the Trees a unique voice in the modern music landscape.

Oct. 16 – Jessica Ticko

Ticko returns on Oct. 16 for a second act. She is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from upstate South Carolina. Come to the Garden to hear her play diverse selection of musical pieces – self-accompanied by piano, guitar and harmonica.

 

 

 

 

Oct. 23 – L.C. Branch

L.C. Branch is a singer/songwriter from Anderson. He has been performing and traveling around the Eastern US for nearly 20 years. His style has been described as “soul-infused acoustic sounds with a nod to his southern roots.” Branch has released several albums of original music and is currently in the studio, working on a new Extended Play (EP), which will be released in this fall.

 

 

 

Fall Concert Series

 Sept. 21 – Haitian Orphan Children’s Choir

 The Haitian Children’s Choir was born from tragedy. All but five of these children lost everything in the earthquake of 2010. Most of them lost their complete families that day. These talented children range in age from 5 to 16 and will be singing some of your favorite songs in five different languages, including English, Creole and Spanish. Filled with dancing and interaction with the audience, there will be something for every member of the family.

 

 

 

 Sept. 28 – Rhythm Muscle

 Etta James inspired everyone from The Rolling Stones to Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse. Therefore, it should be no surprise that she also influenced Rhythm Muscle. Late in her career, James’ voice deepened moving her style from the doo-wop girls of the 1950s to a renowned soul and R&B artist. Those who have listened to songs belted by lead singer, Dana Bradley, know she bridges the gap between R&B and Rock ‘N Roll—making this tribute album an ideal match. These songs—a compilation of James’ greatest hits and a few of her underappreciated singles—will make you smile, sing and sway.

Oct. 6 – Mother’s Dream

 Mother’s Dream is what happens when you put The Gypsy Sallies, Probable Cause and The Rhythm City Band in the same room. This band is made up of six musicians from other local working bands in the Upstate and North Georgia. From the Eagles, Tom Petty and the Allman and Isley Brothers to Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, Mother’s Dream puts their own take on these classics.

 

 

Oct. 12 – David Donar

David Donar plays the guitar within the Piedmont Blues style that originated in the Southeastern region of the United States.  Donar learned from some of the greatest old time folk and blues players located in the foothill of Appalachia, South Carolina. He continues to learn and perform with a group of talented folks in the Greater Toronto area, York Region and the Upstate Region of South Carolina.  Donar considers himself a finger style player and inspired by the style of country blues artists like Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Brownie McGhee, and old-time country folk style of Doc Watson, Hank Williams Sr and Jimmie Rogers.  Donar strives to embrace the tradition of these old-time songsters and to continue this great tradition of music to a new generation of audiences.

 

Oct. 19 – Donna Kay and the Carousers

 The Carousers blend Western Swing, Gypsy Jazz and Boogie Blues into timeless classics and original songs written in the 1920s and ‘30s style. They play as a four- to six-piece ensemble. The pace is quick and The Carousers’ shows are always high-spirited. Donna Kay leads the caravan on vocals and composition. Monty Craig, a jazz educator and bandleader in his own right, plays lead guitar and is the primary song arranger. Hans Wolf, classically trained in his native Germany, plays violin. Veteran bassist Robert Nance is a fan favorite, while Kevin Korschgen, a former Chicago-area educator and composer, brings the beats.

 

 

Oct. 26 – The Wild Pines

The Wild Pines group returns on Oct. 26 with their warm, folksy sound filled with a chorus of strings and soul-shining vocal harmonies. Come back to the Garden and listen to this band of songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who share their delightful trade of instruments and song to perform a mix of original and cover songs rooted in folk, blues and bluegrass.

 

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