The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department presents the 49th Annual Hopelands Concert Series. Join us in beautiful Hopelands Gardens on Monday evenings for live shows by local performers. The series will kick off on April 3 at 6:30 PM and continue through June 26.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. Picnic dinners are welcome, but alcohol is strictly prohibited. The concert series is family friendly and there is no cost to attend. In the case of inclement weather, the performance for that evening will be moved to the Odell Weeks Center at 1700 Whiskey Rd. in Gym 2.

Event parking is located across the street from Hopelands Gardens at the Green Boundary Club, 780 Whiskey Road. Handicap parking is available at Rye Patch on Berrie Road and Hopelands Gardens on Dupree Place.

We are pleased to announce the 2023 Hopelands Concert Series performances (dates and performers are subject to change):
· April 3, 2023 at 6:30 PM: The Lady & The Gents, sponsored by Vikki & Brandi at Meybohm, The Aiken Homes Team
The Lady & The Gents is described as a classic and classy R&B and Smooth Jazz Band with the ability to collectively and creatively resurrect classic oldies (but goodies) and breathe new life into them by pairing them with yet another classic to create “musical masterpieces (mash-ups)” that leaves audiences wanting more. The community has voted them Augusta’s Best R&B and Jazz Band 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

· April 10, 2023 at 6:30 PM: The Aiken Brass, sponsored by Aiken County Farmers Market
The Aiken Brass is made up of six members and has been performing for over 20 years at church services, weddings, festivals, and parties. Members of the group often perform with many other organizations throughout the community.

· April 17, 2023 at 6:30 PM: Southern Elite Cloggers, sponsored by Daybreak Adult Care Services, Inc.
A national award-winning team is ready to take the stage. Come see the Southern Elite Cloggers perform a variety of routines from ages 3 and up through senior adults. They are under the direction of Kristle Golden, Rachel Blair, and Tori Solomon. These ladies and gentlemen have won thousands of awards and put on a spectacular show. So come out and enjoy Aiken's very own cloggers with their hand clapping and foot stomping routines.

· April 24, 2023 at 6:30 PM: Heart & Soul, sponsored by Security Federal
Heart & Soul is made up of seven local musicians who perform together each year for the Aiken Women’s Heart Board benefit at the USCA Etheredge Center. In addition, they often perform for local parties, festivals and weddings throughout the community.

· May 1, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Aiken Concert Band, sponsored by Aiken Performing Arts
The Aiken Concert Band is a non-profit organization created to promote musical entertainment and enjoyment to the citizens of Aiken and the Central Savannah River Area. The band is presently composed of over 70 talented musicians from the Aiken area. The band is currently under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor Mr. Todd Jenkins.

· May 8, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Preston and Weston, sponsored by Aiken Horse Realty, Suzy Haslup.
An Aiken favorite, Preston & Weston offer spirited renditions of R&B classics, shag, beach and pop music. Their mix also includes jazz standards, reggae, blues and even some country. Preston and Weston have lots of vocals, lots of laughs, and lots of fun.

· May 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Swingsation of Aiken, sponsored by Women of Woodside
Established in 1990, Swingsation, is an 15-piece big band with vocals performing music from the 30′s and 40′s up to today. Swingsation has performed throughout the CSRA at civic events and private parties.

· May 22, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Chris Ndeti & Co., sponsored by Overflow Foundation
Chris Ndeti is a dynamic and versatile female acoustic rock/soul performer. She currently performs local venues around the Aiken and Augusta area. This year’s ensemble includes fellow artists James Heath, Mike West and Dave Mercer. They have all played together in various combinations for the last ten years.

· May 29, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Aiken Civic Ballet Company, sponsored by Friends of Hopelands Gardens & Rye Patch, LLC
The Aiken Civic Ballet Company, South Carolina’s longest continuously-operating dance company. ACBC produces original ballets and contemporary dance works under the direction of Artistic Director, Diane Toole Miller.

· June 5, 2023 at 7:00 PM: The Wayne Hoey Big Band, sponsored by Cumberland Village
The Wayne Hoey Big Band is an ensemble of twenty musicians, all from the Central Savannah River Area, enjoy performing hits from the Big Band Era. We mix it up with arrangements of popular tunes. The band will be performing again at the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Opening Ceremonies in September.

· June 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM: The Surefires (Jaycie & Brooke, sponsored by The Willcox
The Surefires “Jaycie & Brooke” was formed after the two gals happily got hired together as back-up singers for the popular “Goin’ South” (A Tribute To Southern Music) who has headlined shows at notable places like The Miller Theater, The Riverfront Amphitheater & Lexington Icehouse to name a few. Once they saw the response to them joining forces as a harmonious female duo, they knew they had something special. They are thrilled to perform their own acoustic stylings of popular songs (& maybe a couple of originals in between)!

· June 19, 2023 at 7:00 PM: The Experiment & the I-20 Horn, sponsored by Hearing Associates of South Carolina
The Experiment and the I-20 Horns are a group of 7 Musicians from the Aiken, North Augusta and Augusta area. The group consists of 2 trumpets, tenor sax, trombone, guitar, bass guitar and drums. The diverse backgrounds of all the performers allow the group to play all genres of music for all occasions.

· June 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM: Parris Island Marine Band, sponsored by The Screenprint Factory and Friends of Hopelands Gardens & Rye Patch, LLC
The Parris Island Marine Band has been a part of the Hopelands Concert Series for over 30 years, performing patriotic staples like John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” This crowd favorite completes the series on a high note.

For more information, please call 803-642-7631.