The sweet sounds of summer seem to drift off of every porch on Hilton Head Island. For the legion of musicians who call this island home, there’s no better place to be than Hilton Head in the summer. Live music is a part of this resort paradise’s DNA, right up there with pluff mud and rum runners.
You can’t throw a drumstick without hitting three great live shows, but we’ve taken the liberty of pulling out a few highlights for your benefit. Check them out, then plan your toe-tapping Hilton Head Island vacation.
Summer Concert Series at Coligny Plaza
All summer long, the center stage at Coligny Plaza will rock with a different musical act every night of the week. OK, so Monday is magic with Gary Maurer, which isn’t a musical act but is still definitely worth checking out. Two Sons play on Tuesday, offering a funky, sax-flavored take on your favorites. La Bodega hits the stage Wednesday with their inimitable sound that jumps between hip-hop, soul, blues and reggae. Cranford and Friends is a Thursday night grab-bag of area musicians hosted by the island’s resident gravel-throated Rockstar John Cranford. On Fridays, Coligny goes Caribbean with the multi-talented Dean St. Hillaire playing island tunes. Statesboro songbird Juliet Muldrew plays every Saturday, covering a litany of favorites from Tom Petty to Edwin McCain. And finally, Sunday sees a doubleheader of La Bodega and Nicest Guys in the World, a duo consisting of Gary Pratt and Jevon Daly.
Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. nightly.
If You Go: Forest Beach, the area surrounding Coligny Plaza, is rife with outstanding vacation rentals. Check out some Forest Beach properties from Vacation Company, ranging from multi-story beachfront mansions to luxurious villas with breathtaking views.
Gregg Russell at Harbour Town
Generation after generation have come to the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town, drawn by the timeless music of singer-songwriter Gregg Russell.
His shows combine his signature style of acoustic music with a lively stage presence that children love (and makes children out of most adults). It’s toe-tapping, family-friendly fun that has been part of the Hilton Head Island experience for decades. When he’s not playing Harbour Town, Russell is an in-demand performer, with his songs appearing on network television and with the man himself sharing a stage with acts like Steve Martin, Tony Bennet, Chicago and The Beach Boys.
Gregg Russell performs from 7:30-9 p.m. Monday-Friday under the Liberty Oak all summer long. Visit the Sea Pines Resort website for details.
If You Go: Once again, Vacation Company has you covered with a slew of vacation rentals inside Sea Pines, some of them mere steps away from where Gregg Russell performs. Check out their full selection here.
Cocktails and Concerts
Of course, along with the large concert events, there is live music to be enjoyed at countless venues around Hilton Head Island. While nearly every bar and restaurant offers up live music nightly, a few have made it their specialty. Start with The Boardroom, located in the famed “Bar-Muda Triangle” which brings in a slew of local acts. Then there’s The Rooftop Bar at Poseidon, with their rotating lineup of regional touring acts, cover band and DJs. And it’s worth taking the trip off-island to check out The Roasting Room, an acoustically-tuned live music lounge and bourbon bar that hosts regional touring and up-and-coming national acts.
BY: BARRY KAUFMAN
