Brett Barest
The other day I was listening to a podcast that had been recorded in the spring of this year and could not help but laugh when the host said something along the lines of “this COVID thing could have us shut down until June or even July”. I listened to that on a balmy August morning when, while a lot of things are open in some capacity, a whole lot of things are still suspended – so much so, in fact, that I have actually forgotten about some of things that we might normally be taking for granted right now.
I say this because as I was scrolling through the iOnGreenville music calendar this week, I noticed that Jacob Johnson is playing at the San Souci Community Garden this Sunday. In normal times this monthly concert series would have begun in April, bringing the Upstate community together for lovely evenings of food, drink, and music in the peaceful setting of a neighborhood garden. Because this is 2020, however, the first concert of the season is August 30, so long delayed that, admittedly, I had forgotten it was ever a thing.
Thankfully, the San Souci Community Garden Concert Series is back and offering a great way to spend a relaxing Sunday evening with friends and family. The basic format is the same – bring chairs or blankets, a picnic basket, and your beverage of choice as you kick back and enjoy the music – but guests will be asked to spread out in the interest of social distancing and to wear masks should they move about the crowd. These are minor inconveniences in these strange times and are but a small price to pay for live music in the garden.
As for the music itself, the show will be headlined by guitar virtuoso Jacob Johnson. If you have been keeping up with our “Artists Picking Artists” series, you have seen his name pop up on more than a few lists of who we should all be listening to. Johnson is a master of his craft and an incredibly entertaining performer who amazes every audience he ever steps in front of. Seeing him live is long overdue and the San Souci Community Garden is the perfect place to do just that. He will be joined by another local artist, Katie D., who will kick off the evening.
Artist Picking Artists Series
[catlist name=”apa”]
As with all of the San Souci garden shows, Sundays concert will be free of charge but that does not mean you should leave your wallet at home. Tips for the artists are encouraged and appreciated and, given that a working musician’s income has taken a hit over the course of the pandemic, I cannot help encouraging attendees to tip somewhere in the range of “generous” to “excessive” if they have the desire and ability to do so.
How to Get There
Check out the iOnGreenville concert calendar for more safe and socially distanced shows going down around the Upstate this weekend. They are slowly but surely making their way back to the scene and, after such a long hiatus, our local musicians need our love as much as we need their talent. Check it out and get out and a show in the most responsible manner possible. Stay safe out there, friends.
Jacob Johnson on Spotify
Upstate Live Music Calendar
[wbcr_php_snippet id=”150934″]
