Folly Beach has a long history of loving jazz music. As far back as the 30s and 40s, beach lovers danced on the pier to big band musicians that played favorites from Gershwin to Tommy Dorsey to Dizzy Gillespie. The jazz heritage has been preserved by the Folly Beach jazz ensemble that plays each Sunday at The Grill and Island Bar with the Jazz on the Edge series. Beginning this year, the group plans to host an annual Jazz Festival, beginning on November 1st and 2nd.
There will be a special ticketed event held at 8pm on November 1st with the first Big Band playing jazz on the pier since 1947 when Bing Crosbys brother Bob jammed with his orchestra! Don Edwards 16-piece band will resurrect the old days with a collection of favorites by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Food and cocktails will be for sale from Locklears, and people are invited to bring out lawn chairs and blankets to make themselves comfortable.
Two alternating stages will have free admission for the rest of the two day festival – The Grill and Island Bar and the Folly River Park Stage. The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Folly River Park Stage
11am – Joe Clarke and his 8 Piece Swing Band
1pm – The Dave Morgan Trio, Vibes and Vocals
3pm – Southern Fried Jazz Jam – Dixieland at its best!
5pm – The Furman University Jazz Ensemble
The Grill and Island Bar
12pm (noon) – The V-Tones
2pm – Eric Penrod Trio
4pm – Bobby Storm and Friends
6pm – Duda Lucena, Latin Jazz
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Folly River Park Stage
1pm – Charleton Singleton Quartet
3pm – The Charleston School of the Arts Big Band
5pm – 4 horns, Four generations of teachers and students playing together. Featuring Don Edwards, John Thornton, Ronnie Ward and David Carter.
The Grill and Island Bar
2pm – Jazz on the Edge All Stars
4pm – Oscar Rivers Jazz featuring Kat Keturah
6pm – Celebration Jam, open jam with all musicians. Featuring Follys own Starr Acheson and Patience Clements.
