TGIF Concert Series: May through July
3-4 food vendors + novelty foods + beer + wine
Hundreds dancing under the sunset
Twelve Free Concerts on the Square
Bring a chair or blanket & enjoy free music!
Food and Beverage vendors opening at 6:00pm and music starts at 7:00pm.
2023 TGIF Summer Concert Series
It’s the time that you’ve all been waiting for, the TGIF Summer Concerts are back! Come join us under the summer stars on the newly designed courthouse square for the FREE 2023 concerts held every Friday evening in May, June and July (except Friday, July 7th) from 6:00-10:00pm. Food and Beverage vendors will open at 6:00pm and music begins at 7:00pm. Bring your chairs and or picnic blankets and make yourselves comfortable while you let this high energy band entertain you! Our events are rain or shine.
Blue Ridge Ukulele Festival presents The Dancing Fleas
The Dancing Fleas will kick of the TGIF Summer Concert Series in downtown Morganton on the historic courthouse square on Friday, May 5th. Food and beverage vendors open at 6pm and the performance starts at 7pm (goes until 10pm). The concert is FREE to attend and open to the public.
Tickets are on sale now! For the Blue Ridge Ukulele Festival
Chris Taylor & The Rumor
6 –string shredder lead man Chris Taylor & The Rumor is sure to rouse the crowd with their authentic variety band! The band blends 80’s influences with vivacity of modern pop, soul and rock. Taylor and his bandmates bring a party with your favorite songs for the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now! You don’t want to miss the perfect mix of authentic entertainment with playful humor that Chris Taylor brings to a stage!
Mood Ring
From sultry R&B to bossa bops, jazz lines to rap rhymes, MOOD RING captures, reflects and radiates a full spectrum of sounds and emotions. Providing fresh takes on old favorites is the driving ethos behind bandleader Cynthia McDermott’s development of this classy, sassy blend. Their diverse musical offerings include many radio hits from the 90s/2000s as well as classic R&B, soul, and vintage jazz, and an ever-increasing range of styles from Brazil, France, and most recently, Cuba.
Baby Black
Baby Black Band has been declared the area’s #1 Party Band for all ages! This professional group will keep crowds dancing and enjoying their great set list of a variety of music from Cee Loo to Al Green, and Prince to Outkast. Baby Black will entertain you with classics from the 70’s to current Top 10 hits ranging from Motown, Funk, Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop and Dance Music. The band is based out of Charlotte, they are highly versatile musicians from a wide range of backgrounds including jazz, gospel, reggae and much more!
Moose and Friends
Moose & Friends was formed in 2012 as a power trio of Andrew Moose, Kevin Plant and Marty White in Hickory, NC. The trio has exponentially expanded in recent years by adding a revolving group of players from all over North Carolina. Moose & Friends play a collection of original songs written by all members that have influences in jam, jazz, and newgrass. Moose & Friends over the course of its history has played iconic venues and festivals and has shared the stage with regional and national acts.
Mac Arnold
Mac Arnold’s first Band had James Brown playing the piano. When Mac moved to Chicago, Muddy Waters hired him on the spot. Mac toured and recorded LP’s with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. He moved to Los Angeles and produced the television show Soul Train with John Lee Hooker. Mac played bass on the Sanford and Son television show when he wasn’t playing bass for Otis Redding and B.B. King. To say the least, Mac lives a very exciting life! He now resides in Pelzer where at the age of 10, he got his first taste of the blues. He learned how to play on his brother Leroy’s homemade guitar and he has been jamming ever since. Mac will be serving up his blues to Downtown Morganton with his own band, “Mac Arnold & Plate Full of Blues.” The band consists of Austin Brashier on guitar and vocals, Max Hightower on harmonica and vocals, Rick Latham on drums, Mike Frost on bass and Mac Arnold on vocals and Gas Can Guitars!
Brandon Bethel
Brandon Bethel, a Red Dirt artist, was born and raised in Morganton! He sang in church, school functions and to those closest to him considered knee deep in music. Brandon lives to perform as a singer and with the encouragement of his peers, decided to make this his career. Starting with karaoke, he then auditioned for American Idol and The Voice. Brandon learned to play the guitar in 2015 and since has been playing in local bars, venues and casinos all over the state of Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. Bands influences are Charlie Pride, Darius Rucker & Chris Stapleton, to name a few. Brandon is currently releasing new unique country music, traveling and playing venues in several states, making his way onto the Texas music scene. Brandon is excited to return home to play for his home town!
Radio Ready
Radio Ready (Formerly New Sensations) is Southern California’s premiere, popular dance-band, stacked with some of the most talented, professional musicians from the Los Angeles, Palm Springs & Orange County area! They embrace and perform everything from the 1940s jazz standards to Today’s hottest dance music, while bringing a unique sound of our own. With lead vocalists featured on Fox’s American Idol and the renowned, family-friendly Disney Channel, you can count on a professionalism that commands the stage! In addition to our stellar singers, our crowd-pleasing and widely-sought after instrumentalists are just as impressive. This super-group of young professionals are here to take the country – and your event – by storm! If you’re looking for a fun, energetic and interactive TGIF show to attend, get up on your feet and get READY for Radio Ready!
Thomas Anthony & the Livehouse Band
Thomas Anthony is a multi-instrumentalist/ singer-songwriter originally from Birmingham Alabama now residing in Charlotte, North Carolina. His love for music began at the age of eight while listening to his mother play and sing for their church. Some of Thomas’s biggest influences were Brain McKnight, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Thomas joined up with the live house band back in 2017 and they have been an unstoppable force ever since, performing at various events the largest being the Salisbury Cheerwine Festival in front of an audience of 50,000 people where they opened up for the band Smash Mouth. Both Thomas Anthony and The Live House Band specialize in high energy performances so kids and adults alike are sure to have a great time!
Scott Moss and the 100 Dollar Handshakes
Scott is a singer/songwriter from the iconic town of Shelby, NC – a town known for championship high school football and as the birthplace of Earl Scruggs. Scott’s music tells the story of growing up in this all-American town with a striking, and sometimes gritty honesty. Throughout the 2000’s, Scott played the Western North Carolina favorites Moonshine Jenny and Evergreen before joining Big Daddy Love in 2012. With BDL, Scott traveled most of the country with their blend od bluegrass, blues, and southern rock. From acoustic coffee houses to opening for Bob Seger in front of 10,000 people, Scott’s dynamic stage presence and easy going nature create an engaging and genuine experience for the crowd.
Throwback Collaboration Band
Throwback Collaboration Band has been performing together since 2016. The group shares a passion for smooth jazz and R&B. Several members of TBC have played with national recording artist. While they appreciate the new generation of hip hop, the group’s mission is to keep the old-school funk alive! The band can’t wait to bring their dynamic sound and energy to the Historic Burke County Courthouse Amphitheater Stage, so get ready to collaborate with them on making a spectacular Friday evening
IMY2
IMY2 is a trio from Nashville, Tennessee who have received incredible feedback from their fans on YouTube for their cover videos! In concert they deliver powerful covers with their own twist and throw in some of their own original songs. They must be on to something because the band has raked up 35 million views across all their video streaming platforms to date. The musicians in this talented trio are Cal Tucker on piano and bass guitar, Michael Monahan on the guitar and colourful haired vocalist, Annalise Mahanes who is the singer and songwriter. The mission of the band is to spread a message of self- acceptance and they aim to convey a message of self-confidence to their listeners and fans. Let’s show them how confident we are here in Downtown Morganton and come out to support them at our final TGIF show of the series!
Rules for having fun at HMF, Inc. Events!
- No personal coolers
- No pets
- No smoking
- No solicitation
- No weapons of any kind
- No amplification
- No oversized signs [considered larger than letter sized (8.5″ x 11″) paper]
- No distribution of literature of any kind (such as flyers, letters, business cards, petitions, raffles tickets, etc.)
ZERO TOLERANCE for non-compliance with these rules
TGIF Summer Concert Series is a production of Historic Morganton Festival, Inc. a 501c (4) organization managed by a Board of Directors.