A Garden of Musical, Poetical Delights

This weekend offers up a bouquet of entertainment that is cause for the busiest of people to take time out to “stop and smell the flowers.” Even if you have been working hard all week, take a moment out of your day to have an “art break” and stop by Bravo Interior Designs. Give yourself a moment to wander through the delicate array of visual beauty in their current show A Way of Looking at Things featuring the work of Phillip Dusenbury, Susan Johann, Penny Kessler, and Terry MacMillan. Then wander into weekend with your senses open to a lovely blend of folk, country, and even a bit of rockin’ blues that marries poetic lyrics to the story of the music.

Start your weekend tonight with the lovely Little Country Giants from Georgia playing at the Purple Onion. Formed in 2004 as a product of years of song writing together and apart, their music is like the sweet perfume of honeysuckle with their tender lyrics and lovely harmonies. Their original sound is drawn from the American roots music of folk, bluegrass and country with a natural southern charm. If you’d rather have a little variety in your bouquet though, you can always stop by the Melrose Inn for Talent Night and enjoy the potpourri of music and poetry being shared and maybe even offer some blooms from your own creative garden.

Friday night Rogers Park will be finishing off the Summer Tracks series with spicy tiger lily and snap dragon mix of jazzy country from Bob Sinclair and the southern rock of Jackson Crossing. Pack a dinner, or enjoy the hot dogs and ice cream offered, as you relax in one last fresh and fragrant summer evening of sweet soulful words mixed with groovin’ tunes in the great outdoors.

Saturday night offers the greatest variety of delights. Perhaps you’ll choose to enjoy the wildflower simplicity of the acoustic folk duo Friction Farm at the Gallery Coffeehouse. Formed from a full rock band, they have paired down to the essential joy of well written lyrics mixed with sweet melodies. Looking for something to make you get up and dance? You may prefer the sassy daisy trio that makes up the “free-range trailblazing cowgirl” group The Buckerettes stirring up the evening at the Purple Onion. This honky-tonking, foot-stomping fun mixed with sultry harmonies should be enough to stir your blood to dancing. If you’re looking for more rockin’ blues with your country, head over to the Saluda Mountain Jamboree for the bright poppy garden of tunes provided by Southern Pointe. Their colorful collection of songs will have you dancing the night away.


Finally, take some time out Sunday afternoon to head over to the first FENCE Family Concert of the season and breathe in the sweet gardenia delight of Jhon Akers. His scholarly research on the friendship between poet Carl Sandburg and world-renowned guitarist Andrés Segovia provides his performance with a rich soil from which to bloom. This free concert is a lovely way to finish off a delightful weekend where poetry and music grow together.

Whatever you choose this weekend, take some time to refresh your senses in the garden of artistic delights available right here in your own backyard.