Music for the community fills the air while artists ‘Walk and Talk’

Spring has more than sprung and there is definitely more wonderful music happening this weekend in the Polk County area than any one person could see and hear. The good news is that whatever your musical taste, there is sure to be something to please your ears. Don’t forget to check the calendar section for additional events happening this weekend.

I’ve already made the commitment to the Community Chorus on Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. The Spring Concert will be performed at the Polk County High School Auditorium and feature a variety of Traditional, Broadway, and Patriotic music under the direction of Crys Armbrust in addition to original gospel music from guest artist Jennifer Prince. Funds from the ticket sales for the concert benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund. Tickets are available in advance from Rotary of Tryon members, the Bookshelf, Vines and Stuff, and the Tryon Daily Bulletin.

Saturday I’m feeling the pulled too many different directions. Chris Tinkler, director of the Tryon Youth Center production “Cats” this summer, opens the production “Into the Woods” with his students at Oakbrook Preparatory School in Spartanburg. Friends are also calling me up to the Hendersonville High School Auditorium for the “Happy Days are Here Again” concert featuring former Tryon resident Reese Gray on Duke Ellington’s Black and Tan Fantasy. However, there is plenty of great music to choose from without leaving the county. In fact, in addition to your regularly scheduled venues there are two headline worthy concerts happening in Columbus and Saluda.

Frank and Amy Beeson invite you to help them kick off the second annual summer series at Veteran’s Park in Columbus. On Saturday May 3 at 8 p.m., the park will start rocking with the blues jam sweetness of Geoff Achison & The Soul Diggers. This concert series is sponsored by the Columbus Merchant’s Association and the Town of Columbus. Donations to help fund the series will be accepted.

Country music award winning artists, Shenandoah, will be appearing at Saluda Mountain Jamboree on Saturday, May 3 at 8 p.m. This CMA, ACM and Grammy award winning group has lead the charts with such hit singles as "Two Dozen Roses," "Church on Cumberland Road," "Next to You, Next to Me," "Ghost in This House," and "Sunday in the South." Local favorites Legacy of the Carolinas will open. Call 828-749-3676 or email lhwhitaker@charter.net to reserve your tickets now.

Sunday afternoon offers up a special free community concert Soulshine providing a “serving of music, thoughts, and verse to feed the soul.” This lively afternoon of music will be held at the Congregational Church at 210 Melrose Avenue Tryon at 2 p.m. The concert is funded by the Kirby Endowment Foundation and features the fine music of talented local musicians. Pat and Don McMahon bring acoustic music Straight From the Heart. The Gill sisters Lily Brown and Mary Morton will share favorite contemporary Christian and world music as The Willows. Ronnie Campbell, Frank Lee, and Josh Runion have carefully crafted a set of instrumental jazz/rock fusion entitled Fire in the Belly. The concert will finish with the bluegrass gospel “feel good” music of Crosscut. Childcare for the concert is provided and there will be a reception following the concert.

Too much music? Need some art for your eyes as well as your ears? The Upstairs Artspace offers the "Walk & Talk" tour of art on Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m. for the new exhibit "Generations." Participating artists Margaret Brown Davis, Cynthia Davis and Michael McCarthy will lead guests on a tour of the exhibit and discuss their work.

Perhaps after refreshing your eyes you’ll be ready to kick back at Harmon Field to the sweet and familiar music of Dana Bergman. The first Music in the Field, sponsored by Friends of Harmon Field, will be held Sunday, May 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harmon Field Open-air Gym.

Monday May 5 take an art adventure with your child to the Tryon Fine Arts Center. At 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. TFAC is proud to present Fish Face an ArtsPower musical. This lively production is based on the book of the same name and part of the popular Kids of the Polk Street School series by two-time Newbury Honor author Patricia Peilly Giff. Call 828-859-8322 for more information.