From Rock To Jazz — Folly’s Music Scene Has Something for Everybody 

folly beach fixAs the summer heats up heading into August, so does the entertainment and nightlife on The Edge of America.

The Grill & Island Bar is host to two of the more popular music series on Folly Beach. Each Thursday evening, the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society gets together for an open jam, welcoming bluegrass and folk players of all ages, on all instruments. After Jamie Wilson formed the society in 2002, the FBBS has gathered at the Folly Beach Crab Shack, Locklear’s Beach City Grill on the Folly Beach pier, and has now found a permanent home at The Grill.

Sunday afternoons, Starr Acheson hosts Jazz at the Grill. From singing in church at just four years old, Starr has become an award winning opera singer, touring with Broadway, Big-Band, and Dixieland shows for many years. Award-winning songwriter and Grand Ole Opry alum Patience Clements joins Jazz at the Grill frequently, and a rotation of top players like Charlton Singleton, Oscar Rivers, Delbert Felix, and Jon Thornton keep the series fresh and top notch.

The Rooftop at Snapper Jack’s boasts one of the best views in Folly Beach and a lineup of some of Folly Beach’s favorite solo and duo acts. Get high above Folly for a cool breeze and great music from Dave Grunstra, Jess Strickland, Danny Clamp, Jeff Houts, Vini Youngblood, and Sarah Cole. Snapper Jack’s music runs Wednesday through Sundays in the early evenings, with full dinner service available.

The most unique music experience on Folly Beach can be found at Chico Feo, at the corner of East Ashley Avenue and 2nd Street, across from Bert’s Market. Enjoy the laid-back, comfortable backyard setting and amazing food options, with the soundtrack provided by both local and regional acts. Wednesdays feature Deadwin, Thursdays Zach Quillen plays some deep and soulful blues, and over the weekend, you’re sure to see wonderful bands from Charleston and the Southeast like Augusta, Georgia’s Delta Cane, and Asheville, North Carolina’s Red Honey, and The Screaming J’s. The setting is complete with the back porch area of the cottage on East Cooper that shares the backyard serving as the “stage.” Music at Chico Feo can run anytime of the day, until 11 p.m..

BLU at the Tides Hotel delivers a strong beachside music scene Friday through Sunday evenings, with afternoon music Saturday and Sunday at the Tiki Bar as well. Solo acts such as JamiSun, Rotie Salley, Jaykob Kendrick, and Henri Gates join full band favorites Soulfish, Ben Fagan and the Holy City Hooligans, Unkle Funkle, The Louie D. Project, and Masker Band to keep the weekends jumping.

Each Wednesday evening, Tides Hotel and BLU host the island’s largest entertainment event, Beach Movie Night. Showcasing classic and popular films like The Goonies, Frozen, The Notebook, Jaws, and Back to the Future on an inflatable 16 foot screen, the event has grown from a small gathering to several hundred people relaxing on the beach each week.

From acoustic Americana to Bluegrass and Jazz, it’s always a good bet you’ll find something to get you on the good foot on Folly Beach.

Erik Swartz is a local musician, promoter, and web designer. He can be reached at info@erikswartzmusic.com.

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