Hootie & The Blowfish To Rock All Weekend Long On Daniel Island

Marking their ninth anniversary of the Homegrown benefit concert on Daniel Island, world-renowned Hootie & The Blowfish will come together for their only public appearances in 2011 during a two-night musical engagement at the Family Circle Tennis Center beginning Friday, August 12.  This year, it’s a weekend-long event, with evening concerts on Friday and Saturday and a daytime festival on Saturday, August 13 featuring live music from national and regional acts and activities for the entire family. The “Homegrown Weekend” is a benefit for Charleston area public schools.

As in past years, Hootie & The Blowfish ask audience members to bring a donation of school supplies with them to the events. All supplies collected will be donated to the local schools with the most need.

With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker and gleeful harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, Hootie & The Blowfish has sold over 25 million records worldwide with hits such as “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”

Weekend festival packages start at $47.50 and are available through www.ticketmaster.com and www.familycirclecup.com/concerts or by calling the Family Circle Tennis Center Box Office at (843) 856-7900.

O.A.R. to Rock the Family Circle Stadium this Weekend

The Family Circle Stadium will host the popular band, O.A.R., on Saturday night. The band’s music, a rock/reggae fusion, has sold over 1.2 million albums and is known to attract fans from across the country. Their latest album, “All Sides”, is expected out this week and critics say it is certain to be yet another milestone in O.A.R’s career.

The Family Circle Stadium Gates open at 6:00 pm and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $34 and can be purchased at www.livenation.com. For more information click on www.familycirclecup.com

Train and the Black Crowes Come To Daniel Island!

The Family Circle Tennis Center’s 2010 summer concert series is winding down for the season but it isn’t over yet!

Take a look below at the amazing line-up below and purchase your tickets today!

Train | August 26 | www.trainline.com

Grammy Award-winning rock band Train will make their Family Circle Stadium debut on Thursday, August 26th.

Train has made its mark on music history for more than 15 years. With wildly popular singles like “Drops of Jupiter”, “Meet Virginia” and “Calling All Angels”, they have earned legions of fans around the globe.

In 2009, Train released its most successful chart-topping single “Hey, Soul Sister” which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Digital Hot 100, their highest position on the chart to date, #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #1 in the U.S. iTunes music store.

Local South Carolina band NeedToBreathe will open the show.

The Black Crowes | September 10 | www.blackcrowes.com

The Black Crowes will appear in Charleston as part of their “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” 2010 Tour this summer. The shows are being billed as “Acoustic Hor D’oeuvres followed by an Electric Reception With The Black Crowes,” and will consist of a full hour and a half acoustic set followed by a full hour and a half electric set.

The Family Circle Tennis Center is Ready to Rock!

The Family Circle Tennis Center isn’t just a great place to watch tennis. It’s also an amazing venue for live music! And they’ve got plenty  on their calendar for the next several months.

My Morning Jacket | Wednesday, April 28, 2010
My Morning Jacket is ready to bring their electrifying live show back to Charleston! The guys will make their way around the Southeastern United States this Spring and stop at Family Circle Stadium on April 28. My Morning Jacket is also excited to both try something new with their choice for an opening act, the historic Preservation Hall jazz Band, and bring some of the spirit of New Orleans to Charleston. www.mymorningjacket.com

Zac Brown Band | Saturday, June 5, 2010
Since their last visit to the Charleston and Family Circle Stadium in 2009, the Zac Brown Band has toured the country and won a Grammy!
The band’s namesake, Zac Brown, was raised in Dahlonega, GA, where he was a chef, restaurant owner, husband and father, as well as lead singer of the band. Musically, his jaw-dropping, flat-picking skills help to create music that can’t be pigeonholed and easily fits into several genres of music ranging from country to folk to southern rock to jam band. www.zacbrownband.com

Funk Fest | Saturday, June 19, 2010
Funk Fest is designed to expose and entertain a diverse audience with a variety of Old-School music. The categories of music range from Old School R&B, Funk, Old School Hip-Hop, Blues, Jazz and Comedy.This year’s event will feature Charlie Wilson, Keith Sweat, Bell Biv Devoe, Heavy D, and more to be announced! www.funkfestconcerts.com

More concerts are anticipated to be announced soon, including O.A.R. and the annual “Homegrown Concert” featuring Darius Rucker!

Visit www.ticketmaster.com for ticket information.

Don't miss the fun at Park Day this Saturday, Oct. 10!

Park Day is back! For the ninth year, thousands of Daniel Island and Charleston residents and visitors will descend upon Children’s Park on Daniel Island for a day of family-filled fun including food, music, games and much, much more!

Festivities at this year’s Park Day will include live entertainment by the Islanders and the Electric Company. Activities and events include everything from pumpkin painting and children’s crafts, dance contests and gardening exhibits to a “Wild Kingdom” showcasing a petting zoo, exotic and native birds, reptiles and more. There will also be jump castles, pony rides, bungee trampolines, a climbing wall and tons of activities for all ages! And it’s all in the name of giving back to the community: Proceeds from Park Day events benefit more than 30 area non-profit organizations.

A variety of restaurants and vendors will be offering Lowcountry treats and other favorites, including barbecue, oysters, fresh shrimp, ice cream, pizza, boiled peanuts and more. Football fans can catch the day’s games on the big screens at the Island House Sports Pub. Beer and other beverages will be available for sale throughout the day.

And don’t forget to bring your four-legged family member to the Dog Showcase, which will feature a Dog Spa with wonderful spa services for your dog, outdoor café with dog treats, pet training advice, and other dog related activities. Representatives from seven animal rescue groups will also be on hand with dogs available for adoption!

Visit www.danielislandparkday.com for a complete list of activities and events!

And take a look at the photo gallery below for pictures from previous years at Park Day!

A Musical Evening on Daniel Island

By Sheridan Long, Daniel Island Resident

I was fortunate to have recently participated in a magical event held on Daniel Island. The Chamber Music Charleston opened their new season with its House Concert Series, which on Tuesday, September 29 was held at the home of Tara and Steven King on beautiful Ralston Creek on Daniel Island. Approximately 45 people attended this intimate wind quintet performance, which featured works by Beethoven.

“The houses on Daniel Island are phenomenal…they are large with open floor plans – very well suited for chamber music with high ceilings, beautiful architecture,” said Sandra Nikolajevs, director of Chamber Music Charleston. “When we think about doing a house concert, the important elements are of course the music and the musicians but also the architecture of the home and the friendliness of the community.” And based on these elements, the concert and socializing were indeed a huge success!

The concert lasted close to an hour, followed by drinks and appetizers on the back patio of the King home, which overlooks Ralston Creek and the surrounding marsh. Both new and old friends enjoyed a perfect evening of amazing weather, stars and moon overhead, and ethereal music.

Following the event, I headed to Wasabi, a new restaurant in downtown Daniel Island, for a glass of wine and some fabulous sushi with some friends. All in all, this was an evening that I won’t forget anytime soon!

Make sure you don’t miss the next performance in the Daniel Island series!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7pm – The Quantz Home, 401 Ralston Creek Street
Schubert String Quintet in C Major, D. 956
Weill Suite from the Threepenny Opera

Hope to see you there! Visit www.chambermusiccharleston.org for more information.

Zac Brown Band Comes To Family Circle Stadium

Throughout the summer, the Family Circle Tennis Center has welcomed numerous bands to their many stages. The streak continues into October as the Zac Brown Band brings its awe-inspiring musicianship, skillful songwriting and dynamic live show to Family Circle Stadium on Saturday, October 10.

The band’s namesake, Zac Brown, was raised in Dahlonega, GA, where he was a chef, restaurant owner, husband and father, as well as lead singer of the band. His specialties include his homemade special sauces, savory Southern cooking and commitment to his children’s charitable foundation he helped found. Musically, his jaw-dropping, flat-picking skills help to create music that can’t be pigeonholed and easily fits into several genres of music ranging from country to folk to southern rock to jam band.

Zac Brown has been a solo act for years until 4 years ago he put together the ensemble that now calls itself the Zac Brown Band. And up until recently, the band has led a somewhat obscure climb to success. “It’s kind of crazy how we can go to a place where no one’s heard of us before and by the time we leave people are singing the songs, “ bandleader Zac Brown says. “We’ve got a great following.”

And their following is continuing to grow as their single “Chicken Fried”, which was originally released in 2003 and re-recorded in 2008, caught the attention of country music radio audiences and became the band’s first number-one hit on the Billboard country music charts.

Now that their hard work is starting to pay off, the band continues to tour and have a good time while doing it. “We laugh all the time, “ Zac observes. “You’re either sleeping or up laughing and having a good time. Or we’re playing music. It’s better than I could have dreamed of.”

CONCERT INFORMATION: Zac Brown Band with supporting acts Gary Muldear, Nic Cowan, Levi Lowery and Sonia Leigh Family Circle Stadium | Gates Open 6:00 pm | Show Starts 7:00 pm

Tickets are on-sale now at Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at (800) 745-3000, local Publix outlets, and at the Family Circle Tennis Center ticket office weekdays from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Advance: Reserved: $26.00 | General Admission: $21.00 Day of Show: Reserved: $30.50 | General Admission: $25.50

The Wallflowers come to the Veranda Stage Tuesday, 9/1!

Summer is winding down but it’s still hot on Daniel Island and is about to get even hotter as the Family Circle Tennis Center welcomes a couple of high-energy, rock-n-rolling, Grammy-winning musical acts to the stage!

On Tuesday, September 1st, Daniel Island will come alive with the multiple Grammy-winning rock sound of The Wallflowers as they perform on the Family Circle Tennis Center’s Veranda stage.

“The Wallflowers are the most prominent act to perform at The Veranda to date. Music fans of all ages are sure to enjoy the hits these superstars will crank out all night,” commented Carter McMillan, Concert Coordinator at the Family Circle Tennis Center. “This is a great opportunity to see a major act in a small venue, and there’s no better time to enjoy an outdoor concert than early fall.”

Another Grammy-winning act will also make their way to Daniel Island this fall as the Indigo Girls take the stage on Saturday, September 26! The Indigo Girls, an American folk rock duo, consist of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. These true folk icons have cultivated legions of faithful fans since releasing their debut album Strange Fire in 1987, winning a Grammy Award for “Best Contemporary Folk Recording” in 1990, and notching multi-platinum records throughout their career.

Constant touring, as well as an unwavering commitment to social, political, and environmental issues has cemented the Girls’ bond with their audience. Touring in support of their tenth studio album, “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug“, this will be the Indigo Girls’ first appearance at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

All tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone (800) 745-3000, local Publix grocery stores and at the Family Circle Tennis Center ticket office from Monday through Thursday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, and on Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm.

We’ll see you at the shows!

Live Music Rocks Daniel Island!

Coming Soon to the Family Circle Stadium!
Darius Rucker, lead singer of the popular band Hootie & The Blowfish, will join some of his favorite friends onstage this summer as he returns to host the “Homegrown Concert” series at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island. Now in its sixth year, the “Homegrown Tour” was originally conceived by Hootie & The Blowfish to help provide school supplies and other needed materials to disadvantaged children in the lowcountry. Since the band is currently on break, Rucker has decided to perform the show solo but joined onstage with some friends, including country music sensation Deirks Bentley.

Also returning to the Family Circle Stadium is fan favorite O.A.R. (of a revolution) for their fourth consecutive summer show on Daniel Island. With a very loyal fan base, O.A.R. attracts an amazing crowd and a well deserved reputation as a must-see band when they come to town.

Tickets for both Darius Rucker and O.A.R. can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com.

In Other News
The Family Circle Tennis Center has already hosted some of the music industry’s top performers this summer, like country music’s super duo team Sugarland, who were fresh off 5 nominations at the 2009 Country Music Television Awards. More than 6,000 island residents, Charleston locals and others filled the Family Circle Magazine Stadium on Thursday, May 21 for the Sugarland show. Opening was newcomer to the country music scene, Billy Currington, who had fans screaming and singing along.

Reggae greats, The Wailers, performed on the Veranda stage at the Family Circle Tennis Center the following night. Since 1967, The Wailers, then with Bob Marley, have been touring the world, performing such reggae classics as “Three Little Birds”, “Get Up, Stand Up”, “No Woman, No Cry” and many, many more. And, on Saturday night, newcomer Corey Smith made his Charleston debut on the Veranda stage, bringing his well-crafted lyrics and soulful Southern voice to life in front of the crowd.

Ending the musical weekend, the 208th Army Band of Concord, NC performed a free concert at Etiwan Park as part of the Piccolo Spoleto festival. Island residents and others brought out their picnic blankets, snacks and drinks, and listened to the patriotic tunes of the band while also remembering and honoring our armed forces - near and far.

"Concert in the Park" returns to Smythe Lake this Saturday!

This Saturday, May 16, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra will return for its annual free concert in Smythe Park, and island residents are getting ready! Some eager residents will stake out their spots as early as Friday night, and the picnic set-up will continue throughougt the day on Saturday. Prizes will be awarded for the most elaborate and creative picnic spreads, with judging beginning at 6:30 pm. This year’s winner will receive $500 to give to their charity of choice.

For those who aren’t interested in bringing a picnic, Ted’s Butcherblock will be on hand again this year with a special menu of “gourmet-to-go” options. Items like grilled Keilbasa, Shrimp Salad, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches and more will be available for purchase, along with bottled water, cold draft beer and white and red wine by the glass and bottle. Ted’s is also offering custom picnics, featuring items from their regular menu, that can be picked up at Smythe Park on the day of the event. (Orders must be placed by noon on Friday by calling 843-577-0094).

Also available during the event will be frozen treats from Mr. Koolie, an old-fashioned ice cream truck.

This weekend’s event marks the fifth consecutive year that Daniel Island residents have enjoyed this annual free event. For most residents, the concert has become an annual tradition – an evening where they can get together with friends, enjoy great food and beverages on the banks of Smythe Lake, and take in the cool breezes and classic music of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

The concert, which is presented by the Daniel Island Community Fund, will begin at 7:30 pm. Admission is free and parking will be available at the Daniel Island School parking lot on Daniel Island Drive. And, just in case it rains, the concert will be postponed until Sunday, May 17.

Visit the gallery below to view pictures from previous years!