department of public
information and events
Main Street Fridays: March 18 - Sept. 30
This weekly music series on Main Street at Hyatt Plaza continues for 28 weeks
from March 16 to Sept. 28, 2012; featuring jazz, blues, oldies, and soul music
with a series total of approximately 45,000 annually.
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2011 Main Street Fridays Schedule
March 18: Craig Sorrells Project
Funk/Jazz
Craig became known as the frontman for Greenville based jamband THE WORK. His talents have earned him spots on some of the industry's biggest stages with artists, and bands such as George Clinton, Warren Haynes, George Porter Jr., The Derek Trucks Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and many many more... Craig's band, The Craig Sorrells Project, is two year old 5-piece combo featuring a virtual who's who of upstate musicians. With Tez Sherard on drums, Shannon Hoover on bass, Troy House on guitar, Brad Jepson on trombone, and Craig leading the way, this funky band is sure to raise hairs on your arms and leave you wanting more!
March 25: Rickey Godfrey Band
Blues/R&B
Godfrey is considered to be one of Nashville's premier blues guitarists, although he has not yet achieved national renown. After performing at the Lowcountry Blues Bash in Charleston, S.C., festival organizer Gary Erwin said, "Revelation – Rickey Godfrey is the best blues guitarist you've never heard of!" In a recent interview, Don Wise, longtime saxophonist for Delbert McClinton , said, "Rickey Godfrey is the real deal. He's a wild man on guitar... and I was stunned the first time I heard him play piano. He does it all … an amazing musician."
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April 1: Little Big Band
Variety
Ken Wood and Kevin Hawkins have been playing together with various groups for 20 plus years. Hawkman is the panultimate tenor sax man and does some lead and background vocals as well. Ken sings lead and backup; plays guitar, trumpet, blues harp and keys - Not to mention dialing in the sound on the gig!!
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April 8: Sweet Mojo Rising
Blues/Jazz
You may be reading this and seeing the name Sweet Mojo Rising for the first time. But the fact of the matter is that the musicians that collectively make up Sweet Mojo Rising need no introduction. All are established musicians in the Greenville music scene and bring years of experience to the stage. Vocalist/guitarist Eric Weiler (member of The Eric Weiler Group, The Dirty Audibles, Smiley’s Acoustic Café’s Acoustic House Jam and Big Jar of Jamm) brings his rebel guitar antics and smooth blues vocals to the mix. Robert Dye (member of Encore, Big Time and After Hours) has jumped on board as a vocalist, keyboardist, and harmonic player. The rhythm section of Mike Phillips (member of Cold Shot) on bass and Kevin Mavis on drums (member of Cold Shot, Mountain Homes, and The Dirty Mix) brings a solid back beat and groove that they have attained from playing for many years together as members in Cold Shot. Sweet Mojo Rising’s horn section includes another Mountain Homes alumnus Brain Loos on trumpet as well as Paul Fitzgerald (member of Royal Scotsman and Bonafide) on the Saxophone. Pretty good resume for a band? We think so!
Sweet Mojo Rising with their mix of Memphis/Chicago blues and the best blues influenced rock are going to have you on your feet and begging for more. Their playlist includes some of the best songs by B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, with a mixture of soul such as Wilson Picket and Stevie Wonder. To really kick the party off they throw in a little bit of rock from legends like Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers and The Rolling Stones. You are definitely going love what you hear!
April 15: The Groovin' Company
Beach/Blues
One of the hottest bands in the area, The Groovin' Company generates energy and excitement everywhere they perform. This dynamic band is comprised of six very talented artists with over 150 years of
experience: four lead vocalists, a full rhythm section, guitar, keyboards and a sound and lighting engineer. Beach, Classic Rock, R&B, Funk, Reggae, Top 40, Swing, Soul, and even a little Country -- The Groovin' Company does it all! The Groovin' Company specializes in weddings and large corporate, civic, and social events. They will work with you well before your event date to understand your preferences and plan just the right music for your celebration.
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April 22: NuSound
Funk/Jazz
NuSound is a mature, sophisticated band ready to take the Upstate by storm. Offering a wide variety of music ranging from old school funk, reo-sou jazz, and rhythm and blues, NuSoundis ready to cater to your music needs. NuSound has had the opportunity to perform C!t§8veral premier nightdubs in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and has become a popular favorite at Motowne on Main located in Mauldin, SC. NuSound comes equipped with their own personal sound system to acoommodate almost any size venue inside or out. NuSound will be sure to keep you on your feet with popular tunes like "Cool" by Morris Day and the lime, "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside, and familiar tunes from the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. NuSound will help you relax with sultry tunes by Anita Baker and Jill Scott and soothe your soul with instrumentals by the late Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross. Whether you need smooth tunes for a dinner banquet or energetic tunes for a party, NuSound can and will acoommodate your every musical need.
April 29: Itchy and the Chiggers
Rock
How do you define Itchy & the Chiggers? It’s Rock and Roll from a time when Rock and Roll was fun... but not silly. Rhythm and Blues from a time when “R & B” was cool... but not cold. It’s a healthy dose of the Blues from a time when Blues came from the heart...not from a synthesizer and a drum machine. We’re not about MIDI sounds and computer programmed horns and digitized tracks. We’re about real musicians playing real music on real instruments. Nothing wrong with that other stuff if that’s what you like, it’s just not what we do.
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May 6: Moxie
Rock
A supertight trio of guitar (Mike Merck), bass (Chris Garrett) and drums (Freddie Wooten), two versatile and truly entertaining front-women (Jessie Brickhouse and Andrea Christopher Snipes), and a set list that goes from Johnny Cash to Garbage to Jefferson Airplane and back again. They’ll breathe life into your favorite old songs, and they’ll make you a fan of new stuff. They’ll bring people to the show (and the bar), and they’re pretty nice folks, to boot, so if you have a venue, book’em, and if you have ears, come listen to 'em!
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May 13: True Blues
Blues
True Blues has come to be known as "Greenville's House Band." In addition to being regulars at Greenville's
music showcase, The Handlebar, the band plays at Upstate festivals and concert venues including Greenville's
River Place Festival, Fall for Greenville, Downtown Alive, Main Street Fridays, the Red, White, and Blue
Festival, the Reedy River Nighttime Concert Series, Clemson, SC's Spittoono, and Anderson, SC's Soiree.
They have opened for such national acts as Dickey Betts, Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor, The Guess Who, The
Atlanta Rhythm Section, Delbert McClinton, Mother’s Finest, John Hammond, The Marshall Tucker Band, Three
Dog Night, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Savoy Brown, Junior Brown, Chris Duarte, Tinsley Ellis, The Nighthawks,
Chris Duarte, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers. True Blues has released two CDs,
"One Night Only – Live at The Handlebar," and "Past Due."
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May 20: The Flashbacks
Beach/Variety
The Flashbacks are a 50's, 60's and Beach Music band from Easley, South
Carolina. The group consists of eight professionals from the upstate who
specializes in playing 50's, 60's and Beach Music. The group’s unique and
versatile musical style covers Rock ‘N’ Roll…Beach and Soul. Their range
includes Motown, shaggin’ beach classics and female vocal artists from the
wonderful 60’s. Music in The Flashbacks playlist includes such artists as The
Spinners, The Tams, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, Barbara Lewis, Fats Domino and The
Temptations.
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May 27: Chocolate Thunder
Variety
Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Etta James, Linda Rodney! Linda, who performs under the name of Chocolate Thunder*, is determined to reach the success levels of these blues, rock and R&B divas, and with her amazing voice and dynamic stage presence.
Born and living in Greenville, South Carolina, Linda traveled the paths in her music career through the "College of Hard Knocks". "That is why I sing the blues," she affirms. At a very young age, Linda was immersed in music listening to her grandparents and aunts with vocal styling ranging from Patti LaBelle and Shirley Cesar to Muddy Waters and the Grand Dame of rockin' soul Aretha Franklin. The church mentored the young Linda while she polished her vocal prowess singing with the children's choir, and wowed church goers with her powerful and mature vocal capabilities.
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June 3: The Note Ropers
Country
The Note Ropers are a Honky Tonk/Rockabilly band from Greenville, SC. We play authentic Honky Tonk Country fused with traditional Rockabilly for a sound that we call "Honkabilly." The Note Ropers came together in April 2009 by good friends who wanted to play our favorite style of music. The Note Ropers present with a Hank William’s style Crooner strummin’ backed by Upright Dawghouse bassist, Hollowbody guitar picker, Standup Non Pedal Steel guitarist, and Stand up drummer. The Note Ropers are influenced by Webb Pierce, Hank Williams, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Elvis, Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins, Fats Domino, Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, George Jones, Carl Perkins, Buck Owens, and many other artists. However, we put our own spin on our original music and covers with a respectful nod to our mentors. The Note Ropers come to entertain the crowd in the style of the entertainers of the 1930’s –60’s. From our custom stage attire, instruments, comic relief, and professional delivery we enjoy what we do and make sure that our audience is entertained. If you don’t have fun at our show, then you had better check your pulse. We will have you tappin’ your foot and dancing in no time!
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June 10: The Flying Saucers
Oldies/Rockabilly
The Flying Saucers are a five piece Rockabilly and Oldies variety band located in Western North Carolina that entertains crowds with popular favorites from the years 1955-1965 (the golden years of Rock-n-Roll). You will usually find the band at festivals, fairs, and other events where people want great music and family fun entertainment. With almost 100 years of combined experience as entertainers, the members of The Flying Saucers are sure to be a hit wherever they are sighted.
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June 17: Calvin Edwards Trio
Jazz
Born in Kings Mountain N.C., Calvin is also a well-know international artist who has performed in Okinawa, Tokyo, and China as well as performing for the G8 Summit for President Clinton in Okinawa. Calvin is now performing in the USA and has played in San Francisco, New York, Charleston, including the The 2005 NAMM SHOW in Anaheim, CA, the Romare Bearden 99th Birthday Bash, the grand-opening of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC, the Fall for Greenville event in SC, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC and the Guilford College Homecoming in Greensboro, NC.
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June 24: Matt Walsh
Blues
Matt Walsh is a Blues vocalist / guitarist / song writer from North Carolina. His primary sound is rooted in the old school south-side Chicago Blues style of the 1950's with musical detours that venture into Rockabilly, Jump Blues, and 50's Rock genres as well.
Influenced by Bluesmen like Robert Nighthawk, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters, Robert Lockwood Jr., Eddie Taylor, Elmore James and Johnny Guitar Watson, Matt has dedicated himself to playing the blues. His wailing, singing, raw distorted guitar tone, coupled with his soulful vocals have stunned music critics and fans everywhere, who all agree that his stripped down Blues approach is authentic and real.
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July 1: Wanda Johnson
Soul
Originally from Belton, South Carolina, Wanda Johnson hails from a large family.
Born in 1963 to Jake (deceased) and Hattie Johnson, Wanda is the seventh of nine children...
all girls. Performing semi-pro since the early 1990s and with her Charleston-based band "Shrimp City Slim"
since 1999, Wanda sings with great conviction and emotion, writes some of her own music, and has become
known for her ability to really connect with her audiences. With multiple European tours under her belt,
numerous USA festival appearances (including the Chicago and Poconos Blues Festivals), and three CDs
in worldwide distribution, Wanda has earned notoriety on both the national and international scenes.
In 2009 and with the blessing of her musical mentor, Gary 'Shrimp City Slim' Erwin, Johnson branched
out and formed her own "Upstate Rhythm Section" (Conger Purcell - guitar, Jeff Hook - drums,
and Tim Robinson - bass). The music just keeps on coming and Wanda's story continues to unfold.
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July 8: Southern Crescent
Variety
Southern Crescent, based out of Greenville, SC, was formed in 1980 by drummer
and manager, Jim Ball. Known for its versatility and high energy, the band
performs a mixture of oldies, classic rock, rhythm & blues and beach, always
adjusting the music to the audience's particular tastes. After playing clubs,
festivals and concerts throughout the country, releasing two albums, one of
which resulted in a single being recommended by Billboard magazine, Southern
Crescent came off the road in 1988. Establishing itself as a private party band,
the group began performing for the general public again in 2007, due to numerous
requests from long time fans.
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July 15: The Swingin' Richards
Rock/Covers
The Swingin’ Richards! (TSWR) are diamonds in the rough, sailing in the vast ocean of acoustic bar bands. They have a surprisingly BIG sound; despite the fact that their only tools are Hans Wenzel & Rodney Ervin’s thundering acoustics, Hans’ dirty soul vocals, and Don Gillmer’s unique percussion style. TSWR have a large catalog of music that encompass’ a wide range of styles & genre’s, so there is LITERALLY something for everyone. Not your run-of-the-mill cover band, The Richard’s try to put their own, stylistic spin on each song, so the audience gets the tunes they know & love, done in a way they never thought possible, with an energy that resonates through every crowd they perform for. All of this makes TSWR one of the most talented, creative, dynamic, & entertaining bands, not only in Greenville, but the Upstate of South Carolina as well!
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July 22: Fifth and York
Jazz/Soul
5th and York has emerged as one of the premier smooth jazz bands to come out of the South east. With influences ranging from the Yellow Jackets and Fourplay to the great funk bands of the 70s and 80s, 5th and York looks to offer its audience a valuable experience they won’t soon forget.
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July 29: Katie and the Bang
Rock and Roll
Katie and the Bang are a rock band out of upstate South Carolina. We focus on more obscure songs seldom if ever heard on the radio, but will be recognized and captivate our listeners. We use for the most part vintage gear to insure what we do sounds like it should. We never go out without the Hammond B3 Organ and Leslie, we only settle for the real thing. We try to choose many complex songs that require a lot of rehearsal to perform and believe us WE REHEARSE A LOT. We never stop adding new things to make sure monotony is not found at our shows, even back to back nights in the same place.
Recently we were very privileged to add Ms. Katie Rockwell as lead vocalist. Katie is the icing on the cake for us. Katie has never done anything but entertains in music and theatre and is 100% a NATURAL.
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August 5: The Groovin' Company
Beach/Blues
One of the hottest bands in the area, The Groovin' Company generates energy and excitement everywhere they perform. This dynamic band is comprised of six very talented artists with over 150 years of
experience: four lead vocalists, a full rhythm section, guitar, keyboards and a sound and lighting engineer. Beach, Classic Rock, R&B, Funk, Reggae, Top 40, Swing, Soul, and even a little Country -- The Groovin' Company does it all! The Groovin' Company specializes in weddings and large corporate, civic, and social events. They will work with you well before your event date to understand your preferences and plan just the right music for your celebration.
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August 12: Dockside Band
Southern Beach
The Dockside Band is an Upstate SC band playing the best in fun beach, rock, country and anything with heart and soul!
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August 19: Palmetto Swamp Congregation
Blues/Rock
Take off your shoes, kick up your heels and be ready to let your hair down and feel just what the power of the music of The Palmetto Swamp Congregation can do for you. We bring the swamp to you. It is up to you whether you jump in or sit back and dangle your feet. either way we going to make sure you have a good time. We like to take you to the place where your heart yearns to go. Where music from the swamp cools you and heats you up at the same time.
August 26: Steve Kane Project
Rock
Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., Stephen Kane started playing guitar professionally at the age of 14. He got his inspiration from such bands as the Allman Brothers, Cream, Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin and the Marshall Tucker Band. He preformed in well known clubs in around St. Louis during the '80s and '90s before moving to Mountain Home, Ark., where he established the Stephen Kane Band. With a short stop in Nashville, he now resides in Greenville and continues to play the blues focusing primarily on the music of Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Steve Kane Project is a power trio delivering great rock and blues to audiences of all ages.
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September 2: The Wiredogs
Classic Rock
If you like music from the 50s, 60s and 70s then you've come to the right place. The Wiredogs believe that the best music ever came from the 50s and 60s and we enjoy playing this music for people to dance and reminisce.
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September 9: Encore
Beach/Variety
Since 1998, ENCORE, an eight-piece party band based in Greenville,SC, has specialized in playing for
wedding receptions, corporate functions, outdoor festivals, and private affairs.
Their energetic showmanship gets the crowd involved and fills the dance floor! From Dinner music to Beach Music, Disco, Dance, and Pop, Encore will provide musical entertainment that will guarantee your event or party will always be remembered.
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September 16: Gypsy Souls
Funk
September 23: Rock and Roll Reunion
Beach/Classic Rock
Rock and Roll Reunion of Spartanburg, SC celebrates its 17th year of bringing the best in classic rock, beach and blues to the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. The band returns to Greenville after a number of downtown appearances in the late 1990s including First Night Greenville, Red White and Blue, Shaggin’ on Augusta, and Fall for Greenville. The band’s founder and leader is one of the Carolinas’ best known television personalities, News Channel 7 anchor Tom Crabtree. Also performing with R&RR is keyboardist/saxophonist Andre` Kerr, who was featured in the book “Hub City Musicmakers” documenting Spartanburg’s musical history. The band’s set list has a definite 60s/70’s feel, including hits by Santana, the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Joe Cocker, Delbert McClinton and many others. Check out the band on YouTube and Facebook (search rock and roll reunion). In 2010 the band performed in Docs Who Rock (USC Upstate), Mobile Meals of Spartanburg Land Cruise, Spartanburg County Relay for Life, Chesnee Summer Festival, Blue Ridge BBQ Festival, Fabulous Fourth in Columbus NC, Woodruff Heritage Festival and other events.
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September 30: Jumpstreet
Variety
From the Southeast United States, a region long known for producing energetic and fresh musical talent, blazes the South Carolina Upstate's own Jumpstreet Band. Jumpstreet has set the standard for new soul music in the Southeast, echoing the legendary passion of famed horn band Tower of Power.
One of the most exciting, high energy party bands anywhere, Jumpstreet players are seven of the best reasons to get up and move on the dance floor. Jumpstreet's dynamic horn section crackles with its' tight arrangements and the rhythm section grinds out funky grooves that make you "jump" to your feet. Jumpstreet's powerful vocal section produces unbelievable harmonies and exceptional leads.
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