CALENDAR: Lowcountry Jazz Festival returns Labor Day weekend

Staff reports  |  The Lowcountry Jazz Festival returns Labor Day weekend  at Gailliard Center for its 12th year with Nick Collionne and DJ Nyce on Sept. 3 for the All White Party Affair and Willie Bradley, Najee and Peabo Bryson on Sept. 4.  The following day features Lindsey Webster, Adam Hawley, Kindred Family Soul, and Richard Eliott and Rick Braun. 

“Each year we do something totally different with our lineup,” said festival producer Tony Clarke. “We sell more than just the music, we sell the overall experience. It’s not just your same old smooth jazz festival.”

Clark added that masks will be required for all guests.  

“With COVID, we have our protocol in place. Each attendee will have to wear a mask the entire time. We are hoping that attendees take getting the vaccine seriously.”

The festival was founded by Dr. Thaddeus John Bell and his late daughter, Tonisha Bell-Alston, Clarke added. Looking for a way to raise funds for scholarships for African-American students at the medical university, they created Closing the Gap in Health Care, Inc. The nonprofit organization now works toward decreasing health disparities and increasing health literacy, especially for African Americans and underserved communities.

Friday night, Chicago-based smooth jazz guitarist Nick Collionne will share the bill with DJ Nyce, the jazz fest’s go-to local. Saturday will see S.C.-native, Grammy awarded vocalist Peabo Bryson, who sang “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion in 1991, and “A Whole New World” for Aladdin in 1992. Bryson will be joined by saxophonist Najee and trumpeter Willie Bradley. 

Sunday’s lineup includes Grammy nominated vocalist Lindsey Webster teaming up with guitarist Adam Hawley, who has had tracks on Billboard’s Top 100. 

“We want to mix in some R&B into the festival so that we can provide talent for our attendees who like straight ahead jazz, smooth jazz and R&B,” Clarke said. That’s where Kindred Family Soul comes in. 

The festival headliners are chart topping smooth jazz musicians Richard Eliott and Rick Braun, known as R&R. Friday tickets are $113 and tickets Saturday and Sunday are $63, available through Gaillard Center.

Also on the calendar:

Party at the Point continues.  Gates open Fridays at 5 p.m. through Sept. 10, Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, 20 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant.  Party at the Point, a Charleston-area happy hour Friday concert series that sold out five July shows, will continue with tickets for $10 each:

• • Aug: 27: The Yacht Club
  • Sept. 3: Labor Day Bash with The Midnight City
  • Sept. 10: Rattle & Hum, a tribute to U2

Art of Jazz Series: 6 p.m., Aug. 25, Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., Charleston.  The 2021 Art of Jazz Series of original music inspired by art at the museum will feature the Geoffrey Dean Trio on Aug. 25. Tickets are $40.

Grape Stomping Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 28, Deep Water Vineyard, 6775 Bears Bluff Road, Wadmalaw Island.  The business will celebrate its 17th annual Grape Stomping Festival to give you a taste of locally-grown and imported wine varietal at its Wadmalaw Island location.  Stomping competitions will kick off at noon with a kid stomp followed by adult stomps at 1:30 p.m., 2:50 p.m. and 4:10 p.m.  Tickets are available for $10 via www.deepwatervineyard.com or on Facebook @deepwatervines/events. 

Wine Down Wednesday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 1 and Sept. 15, Old Towne Creek Park, WeSt Ashley.  Come Wine Down your Wednesday and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, one of West Ashley’s hidden gems. Guests will enjoy wine and live music from a local Charleston performer, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. A commemorative wine glass is included with your admission. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Fee: $20.

“Bright Star” opens at Dock Street: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 1 to 26 with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m., Dock Street Theatre, Charleston.  Charleston Stage will offer this bluegrass Broadway musical from the comic mind of Steve Martin and musical prowess of Edie Brickell in a month of exciting shows.  Tickets are $36 to $75 for adults with other pricing also available.  More.

Toast Under the Oaks: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, Johns Island County Park, Johns Island. Enjoy Toast Under the Oaks while exploring Johns Island County Park. Guests will enjoy wine, beer, and live music, while experiencing the beauty of this 738-acre park. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Tickets: $20. 

Ongoing

North Charleston exhibition: Through Aug. 28, Park Circle Gallery, North Charleston.  The space will offer concurrent solo exhibitions of drawings and mixed-media works by artists Christopher Kye of Goose Creek and Christine D. Johnson of Summerville with a free reception at 5 p.m. Aug. 6.  More info.  The gallery is located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue.

“Tidal Futures” exhibition: Through Sept. 11, Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., Charleston. Tidal Futures: Friends of Gadsden Creek is an exhibition that aims to highlight the organization’s outreach program to challenge viewers’ preconceived notions of what contemporary art is.  It also seeks to guide them to discover and investigate how social justice work is conceptualized and executed, and to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about the intersection of creative practice and cultural impact. 

The Lawn Party exhibition: Through Sept. 19, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street, Charleston.  The Charleston Museum is pleased to present The Lawn Party: From Satin to Seersucker, the latest offering in its Historic Textiles Gallery. In an “unprecedented” era when large gatherings have been discouraged and fashion has trended towards leisurewear, this exhibition is a celebration of getting dressed up for an outdoor party. Bringing a hint of glamour to a trying time, the garments on display were selected with the grand idea of “after” in mind. This is a perfect opportunity to come see what to wear for your next outdoor event as we head toward the new “normal.” 

Reviving photos.  Through Oct. 31, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street.  The museum is exhibiting The Lowcountry in Living Color: Making Historical Photographs Come to Life as the latest offering in its Lowcountry Image Gallery. Colorizing black and white pictures allows viewers to see components that otherwise might be overlooked.  Buy tickets. 

Birds of Prey flight demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, Center for Birds of Prey, 4719 Highway 17. Awendaw.  The center has reopened its doors to visitors after closing due to the COvID-19 pandemic, inviting people to once again come and explore the world of raptors through an outdoor program and flight demonstration. Tickets: . $20/adult; $15/children age 3-17. 

Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry.  The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars.  A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants.   Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders.  Open to all ages.  More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center. 

Farmers markets

Here’s a look at a bunch of local farmers markets where you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, crafts and more.  If you know of others, send us a note at: feedback@charlestoncurrents.com.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market: 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Tuesday, Market Pavilion at Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant.  Check here for more.

Holy City Farmers Market:  4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Holy City Brewing, North Charleston. vendors rotate weekly to provide shoppers with a tiny but mighty shopping experience. vendors will be selling a range of products from specialty foods, home and body care to arts and crafts. More info.

West Ashley Farmers Market: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Ackerman Park, 55 Sycamore Avenue, Charleston.  More.

North Charleston Farmers Market: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Thursday, Felix Davis Community Circle in Park Circle.  The market offers fresh, locally grown produce as well as arts-and-craft vendors, specialty foods and live music.  More.

Charleston Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., Charleston.  More.

Summerville Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Saturday, First Citizens Bank parking lot near Town Hall, 200 S. Main Street, Summerville.

Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors. More info.

• If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line.  Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.

CHARLESTON HISTORY

• ORDER NOW:  Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.