Folly Beach offers loads of great local and national talent from every genre
With a huge Memorial Day weekend turnout, the summer season has finally begun on Folly Beach. When the summer kicks in, music fills the Folly air day and night. From solo acoustic acts to full bands playing a multitude of genres, there’s always an opportunity to enjoy live music. Many venues showcase music on certain evenings, while several others provide entertainment every day of the week. Here’s a sneak peek at all that Folly Beach has to offer for the month of June.
The Folly Beach Crab Shack hosts local and regional acts each day of the week along with their popular Open Mic Mondays, hosted by Dave Grunstra. Jeff Houts, The Island Duo, and Calhoun’s Calling all return for their weekly residences.
Enjoy live music Thursday through Sunday at Planet Follywood, featuring solo acts or full bands each night. Sundays continue with local favorites Don’t Mess with The Tiger.
Drop-In Bar & Deli rocks Thursday nights with Stratton Moore and Friends. You can also catch Honky Tonk Tuesday with Lewis every Tuesday night.
Loggerhead’s Beach Grill hosts music seven days a week, featuring local favorites and touring acts. Late afternoon and early evenings the music is outside on their expansive deck. Sunflowers and Sin, Howard Dlugasch, Derek Cribb, and Jaykob Kendrick hold weekly residencies. After dinner, the music moves to the inside stage.
The Grill & Island Bar showcases two special musical events: every Thursday evening, The Folly Beach Bluegrass Society hosts an open jam for anyone to participate in. Sunday afternoons, Starr Acheson hosts Jazz on the Edge, with some of Charleston’s top jazz players making their way to the beach to entertain.
BLU Restaurant & Bar at Tides Hotel provides beachgoers a summer-style soundtrack from the Tiki Bar deck, with local and regional acts Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and evening shows Friday-Sunday.
Surf Bar hosts music Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, welcoming local and national touring musicians across multiple genres. New this season for Surf Bar is a Saturday, solo and original artist, series on the deck from 3-6 p.m.
The rooftop at Snapper Jack’s not only provides local music every evening, but also boasts one of the best views in Folly Beach, and a nice breeze to help combat the summer heat. Jess Strickland and Vini Youngblood are among the weekly residencies returning for another summer.
For a completely different vibe, Chico Feo provides a strong lineup of local and touring bluegrass and Americana acts in a unique, entirely outdoor, backyard style setting. Currently, you can catch Deadwin every Wednesday evening.
Interested in some live classic rock? Stop in to the Sand Dollar the day before the show and pick up your membership, then head out Friday and Saturday night to dance the night away. The Sand Dollar boasts the finest stage in Folly Beach.
Enjoy the acoustic sounds of local solo and duo acts Tuesday through Thursday at Rita’s Seaside Grill, and get in the action at Woody’s Pizza Monday evenings as they host and acoustic, often rotating lineup on their outdoor deck.
You will be able to enjoy music out back in the beer garden of Jack of Cups as soon as renovations are complete. They will be featuring local and regional acts throughout the summer .
As of press time, St. James Gate had yet to release its summer music plans, however if history holds true, they’ll be featuring local solo acts and bands throughout the week.
One thing every venue on Folly Beach agrees on is never charging money to enjoy their live music, so whether you’re interested in hearing your favorites, or enjoying new music from up and coming artists, you’re sure to find something on Folly Beach to get your feet moving and a smile on your face.
Eric Swartz is a local musician, music promoter, and all-around music lover. He’s also a freelance web designer, writer, and photographer. You can reach him at info@erikswartzmusic.com.
