NEWS BRIEFS: Safe Sounds returns with 15 shows starting March 19

Firefly Distillery in North Charleston again will host the Safe Sounds series. Photo via Charleston City Paper.

Staff reports  |  Firefly Distillery last week announced the third installment of its social-distanced Safe Sounds series. The 15 spring and summer concerts will begin March 19 with a performance by Sam Bush.

The season of Safe Sounds will feature cover bands and original artists from the local and national circuits. Here’s the full schedule:

• Friday, March 19 – Sam Bush
• Saturday, April 17 – 20 Ride: “America’s No. 1 Zac Brown tribute band”
• Saturday, April 24 – Randall Fowler with special guest
• Sunday, April 25 – The Allman Betts Band
• Saturday, May 1 – On the Border – “The ultimate Eagles tribute Band”
• Saturday, May 8 – Runaway Gin
• Thursday, May 13 – TBD
• Saturday, May 15 – The High Divers with She Returns from War
• Thursday, May 20 – Jimmie Allen 
• Saturday, May 22 – The Reckoning
• Saturday, May 29 – Idlewild Revival – A tribute to The Allman Brothers
• Saturday, June 5 – Motown Throwdown
• Saturday, June 12 – Night Moves with Taylor Hicks, A tribute to Bob Seger
• Saturday, June 19 – Elise Testone & BlackNoyze and special guest Brandon “Taz” Niederauer
• Saturday, June 26 – The Midnight City Band

Capacity for Safe Sounds is limited due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. The concert series, sponsored by REV Federal Credit Union, takes place in the open field next to Firefly’s Park Circle-area distillery.

• Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now.  (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.)

In other recent news:

Literacy awards.  The Trident Literacy Association on Friday announced eight honorees of its 2021 Founder’s Award Honorees. In lieu of the traditional celebratory luncheon, it  will host a series of Founder’s Award virtual events on Thursdays in March where honorees will receive their awards and discuss women’s roles in our community.  This year’s honorees are Julie Armstrong, Charleston County Clerk of Court; LaVanda Brown, executive director, YWCA Charleston; Susan Dunn, legal director, ACLU SC; Sue Hanshaw, CEO and chairman emeritus Tricounty Family Ministries; Linda Ketner, organizational consultant and donor activist; Harriet P. McDougal, editor, philanthropist, and author; Nilsy Rapalo, life coach and author; and Nina Cano Richards, attorney and immigration rights advocate. More info: www.tridentlit.org/events. 

Nation’s leader in new cases. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week reported that South Carolina’s average of 62 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 tests over the last seven days was the highest of any state in the nation. As of Friday, Arkansas reported the second highest with 45 new cases per 100,000 tests, followed by Kentucky with 43.2.

State Senate may be last hurdle to open carry gun bill.  Opponents of a measure that would allow handgun owners to carry their weapons in the open are relying on the state Senate to stop it in its tracks, according to Statehouse Report.  But the bill’s sponsor says an enlarged Republican majority in the state Senate may push the proposal toward ultimate passage after it gets through the S.C. House.  Critics say the bill isn’t needed and has no general public benefit because there’s already a state process for citizens to carry concealed guns if they have required training. 

Abortion bill on track.  It looks like the so-called “heartbeat bill” that would essentially ban all abortions is on track to pass the S.C.  Earlier in the legislative session, it passed the state Senate, which has been its stumbling block in past years.

Searching for a new poet laureate.  The South Carolina Arts Commission is accepting applications through March 19 to assist in the search for a new poet laureate. More: Charleston City Paper

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