Music is an essential part of summer in the Golden Isles. Friends enjoy Sunday night concerts with wine and picnic treats on the lawn at the St. Simons Lighthouse or overlooking the ocean at Neptune Park. We watch children dancing at Mary Ross Waterfront Park as the sun goes down. Tunes fill the air for the people shopping and strolling in Beach Village on Jekyll Island. From Palm Coast Coffee to Tipsy McSway’s to The Wharf, local restaurants and bars are packed with music lovers catching their favorite bands.
Summer Music Art
A Little Light Music
The Little Light Music Summer Concert Series is presented by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and Elegant Island Living is proud to be one of the sponsors. Concertgoers fill the oceanfront lawn beneath the St. Simons Lighthouse on select Sunday evenings to enjoy what we like to think of as the best block party on the island. You’ll want to bring comfy lawn chairs and blankets to spread out, plus a picnic supper and your favorite cold beverages, to fully enjoy this St. Simons Island tradition. Music takes place from 7:00-9:00 p.m., but you should get there early to make sure you get your favorite spot. It’s fun for all ages and we can almost guarantee you’ll want to get up and dance! Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the evening of the concert or in advance in the Lighthouse Museum Store. Admission is $15 for adults; children under 12 and Keepers of the Light are admitted free of charge. Inclement weather may cause cancellations, so stay updated by checking the Historical Society’s Facebook page or website on concert day. EIL will always try to keep you informed of any changes too.
This year’s line-up for the concert series is filled with bands who will have you tapping your feet and singing along for sure!
The June 16 concert features Atlanta party band, Loose Chain. These veteran performers boast incredible talent, energizing stage presence, and a diverse repertoire of popular songs that appeal to all generations. They know how to get the party started and keep it going!
Loose Chain
On July 14, The Funk Brotherhood from Athens, GA, will bring their high-energy show that ranges from horn-driven hits by Kool & the Gang to Stevie Wonder’s chart-toppers. They’re sure to get you up on your feet!
After a break in August, the Sensational Sounds of Motown will return once again to close out the season on September 1. This band of six veteran musicians with their impressive list of touring and performance credits has been entertaining audiences through the Southeast for nearly 20 years. They’re popular here for their audience interaction (especially with the kids!) and always providing top-notch entertainment with hits by Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Sly Stone, and more.
Sounds by the Sea
Also on St. Simons Island, just a few blocks down from the lighthouse, on the ocean side of the St. Simons Casino at Neptune Park is the Sounds by the Sea concert series presented by Golden Isles Arts & Humanities. For 30 years, the arts organization has been bringing the community these great outdoor summer concerts as a fundraiser to support their programming. Executive Director Heather Heath, says, “Though we have fewer concerts this season, we are excited to bring these outstanding musicians to this great venue. These promise to be wonderful summer evenings with great music, cool breezes, and a wonderful sense of community.” The concerts take place from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and guests are encouraged to bring finger food to nibble, beverages to enjoy, and lawn chairs or blankets to provide comfortable seating. Season sponsors include Magic 105.9, 104.1 The Wave, and 92.7 SSI and Fairfield Inn and Suites. Admission to Sounds by the Sea is only $10 for adults, children ages 6 to 12 are $5, and children under 6 years old are admitted free of charge. Pay at the gate on the night of each concert.
On Sunday, June 23, sensational sax man and vocalist Michael Hulett will treat our Golden Isles
Michael Hulett
audience to a “farewell” performance before he travels north for summer tour that will take him out of the area until November. Don’t be surprised if he also brings out a special guest or two!
The Blues Factor band will bring their mojo on Saturday, August 31 with a high-energy performance that encompasses more than just blues. Get ready for classic rock, Motown, funk, R&B, and great hits from the past to the present.
Rhythm on the River
The Rhythm on the River concert series will be heating up Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick this summer, but the concerts will continue into October. These free community concerts presented by the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month at the beautiful waterfront park on Bay & Gloucester Streets. It’s a great place to bring the kids to play, set up your lawn chairs and spread out a blanket with a picnic and your favorite beverages.
On June 2, you don’t want to miss rising star Micahlan Boney. She may not be a Golden Isles local, but after seeing her perform here during the past year, we’d be proud to call Micahlan one of our own! This young singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist is nothing short of amazing. From her fiddle skills and her energetic performances to her heartfelt lyrics and soulful vocals, her talent shines through in every note.
Micahlan Boney
If you’re not a fan of rock-a-billy, Beau and the Burners just might make you change your mind! These fun musicians from Jacksonville will heat up the stage and put a smile on your face, and you’ll be dancing and singing along before you know it! Catch their show on July 7.
To try to pin The Vibe down with a single musical genre would be a complete disservice to these talented Golden Isles musicians. The group has an eclectic repertoire that covers Latin-fusion, jazz, funk, and so much more. And on August 4, it will be all good vibes through and through!
September 1 will see the return of Island Garage Band. Classic and Southern rock are the order of the day for these seasoned local performers. You want a party? They’re here to have a good time.
It’s a blast from the past with Tie Dyed Sunset to wrap up the season on October 6. Formerly known as Flood, and The Flood Brothers, these lifelong friends and rockers have been making music together since the 60s, playing the same stages as Hendrix and some up-and-comers called The Allman Brothers. They recently released an album of genre-defying new tunes, but they’re happy to please the crowd with oldies too.
Beach Village Music Series
On Jekyll Island, the Beach Village Music Series concerts are held the first Saturday of the month from June through September at 5:30-7:00 p.m. An eclectic mix of artists have been selected to bring the Village Green to life with music. You can simply enjoy the ambiance as you shop or dine in Beach Village, or bring your beach chairs and blankets and set up on the Village Green to get the best seat in the house for the show. Dancing and singing along aren’t just permitted, they are highly encouraged!
Everybody’s favorite ukulele and more troupe, the Golden Isles Strummers, will show off their repertoire of hits played by string on June 1. This group of amateur musicians is made up of both experienced performers and true novices who share a common goal of having fun and entertaining audiences.
Golden Isles Strummers
On July 6, Country-Americana duo from Savannah, Lyn Avenue, brings catchy, compelling stories with genuine Southern charm. Foot-stomping rhythms, electrifying leads, and rich vocals drive the tunes served up by these talented performers.
August 3 welcomes the Second Chance Band, the South’s premiere Beach and Soul Band. No strangers to Jekyll Island, this band features five lead vocals who blend their voices with six musicians playing bass and lead guitar, piano/organ, a horn section, and drums to create their own style of music.
One of the newer groups to make the local rounds to much acclaim, Free Spirits Orchestra, will perform on September 7. This trio made up twin violin-playing sisters and a percussionist is best described as electrifyingly eclectic! Their range spans Radiohead to Russian love songs and Led Zeppelin to Latin salsa and just about everything in between!
I’m With the Band
If you’re looking for live music beyond these summer concert series, the Elegant Island Living website is the home of the I’m With the Band blog. Every week we find out where our local
musicians are playing and who’s playing here at our local live music venues and share that information via listings that are updated frequently and also posted on social media. We have our thumb on the pulse of the live music scene and know who you can find performing standing weekly gigs, like Eddie Pickett and Backbeat Boulevard, and what popular artists and groups might be passing through town, like Royal Johnson, the Orange Constant, or maybe even Codey Bearden. We’ll let you know when there are special concerts or pop-up “fests” in the area and keep you updated about any galas and fundraisers that feature live music too. From The Blue Door to Mullet Bay to Village Creek Landing, from Complicated Pants to Pier Pressure to Wasabi Rush, from concerts to jazz vesper services to theatre musicals, we want you to know where to find the music you love.
I’m With the Band can always be found on the home page of the Elegant Island Living website. Follow us on Facebook as I’m With the Band and on Instagram @imwiththebandssi. To receive the EIL newsletter that includes a link to the updated blog in your email each week, find the “Subscribe” link on our website and follow the instructions there. We don’t want anyone to miss out on any of the fantastic music that can be found in the Golden Isles!
