March Blog

Ear For Music Moves Across The River

With the new year comes a new office; Ear For Music relocates to Mt. Pleasant, SC. It has been a fun and wild ride in the heart of Charleston, SC, but we are ready for a change in scenery. You will now be able to find us in the up and coming town of Mt. Pleasant at 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, suite 100. Out team is over the moon with this new modern office space. The building itself is shared among plenty of new and unique start-up companies that we can't wait to possibly team up with for some exciting new projects. Our new office space also gives us access to shared conference rooms and huddle rooms. We can't wait for you to visit us at our new location and continue to work with us here at Ear For Music. 

Little Bird Live at The Commodore

If you were one of the lucky ones who caught Little Bird at Woolfe Street Playhouse a few months ago, then you know just how amazingly talented they are and you know just how unique the venue is at Woolfe Street Playhouse. However, if you missed them then here is your second chance to see Little Bird, check out a hip venue, and kill two birds with one stone. The first bird is Little Bird, they will be live at The Commodore on April 6, 2017. Little Bird hails from Annapolis, MD and has called Charleston, SC home for the past two years. They blend surf rock, jazz, and Americana into a high energy killer live show. In 2015 and 2016, the band played and headlined festivals such as Bayfunk, Pink Moon, Silopanna, Doah, EastPortaRockin' and more. Little Bird has also shared the stage with G. Love & Special Sauce, Pressing Strings, Long Miles, Fortunate Youth, and many more. Little Bird will continue their bird call at The Commodore on April 6, 2017.

The second bird is The Commodore, a local vintage bar and music venue. This posh venue has hosted many jazz and soul bands over the years. The Commodore building, formerly known as A Touch of Class, has occupied its spot on Meeting Street since the 1950s. These walls have witnessed the greats from the jazz, soul, and funk era such as James Brown and Marvin Gaye. On April 6, 2017, The Commodore is excited to have Little Bird imprint their music into its walls, too. 

Greg Humphreys Electric Trio at The Commodore

Who's ready to have an electric time with Greg Humphreys Electric Trio at The Commodore on Thursday, May 11th. Fresh off their debut of "Lucky Guy", Greg Humphrey and his Electric Trio are ready to positively charge the dance floor and have their music resonate throughout the venue. "Lucky Guy" is their debut album that finds the critically acclaimed artist creatively invigorated. Within this album, you will find your ears tickled with sweetly soulful Americana and raucous roots rock that showcases Humphreys' elegant virtuosity and his heartfelt songwriting. Greg Humphreys Electric Trio and The Commodore is a match made in heaven, and it would be sinful to miss them on Thursday, May 11th. 

Diner En Blanc - Charleston, 4/27

We are absolutely charmed by this exquisite event better known as Diner En Blanc. This elegant large-scale picnic that originated in Paris will be gracing the lovely town of Charleston, SC in a top secret location that will be revealed at the very last minute. The eloquent Le Diner en Blanc recalls elegance and glamour of French Court Society. Draped in all white with the comportment of the greatest decorum and etiquette, patrons gather for a mass "chic picnic" in a public space that is kept secret until just minutes before their arrival. Over the course of the evening, guests from different backgrounds engage one another, experiencing the beauty and value of their city's public space by participating in the unexpected. Beyond the spectacle and refined elegance of the dinner itself, guests are brought together from diverse backgrounds by a love of beauty and good taste. Feel free to glance at their Facebook page and website for more information. 

We Love Our Clients

We absolutely love receiving reviews like this from our clients! We love music and what we do and here is the proof. Great job DJ R Dot! 

Blue Dogs 4th Annual Homecoming Show & 28th Anniversary Concert RECAP

We hope all of you had an amazing holiday season! We sure did. We had the pleasure of working with our good friends, Blue Dogs, again for their 4th Annual Homecoming Show and 28th Anniversary Concert. The two-night event began at an intimate affair at Music Farm Charleston on December 27, 2016 when talented artists and bands from Charleston, SC took to the stage and captivated their audience with their hauntingly beautiful voices, zealous playing, and all around compelling performances that kept half of their veiwers' eyes locked on them, unable to peel their eyes away, and the other half lost in the melody, dancing the night away. At the end of the first night, some of the Blue Dogs and their friends closed out the show on a howling note leaving their Dog People delightfully wagging their tails for the main event the following night. 

Blue Dogs 4th Annual Homecoming Show & 28th Anniversary Concert took place on December 28th at Charleston Music Hall. As the crowd shuffled into The Hall, all of the bands prepared themselves backstage for the event of the year; all while remembering the great reason for this event in the first place. Every year about 16,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone and cancer is the leading cause of death for kids in the United States. Many of these kids end up at MUSC for treatment. Although, these kids are always welcomed at MUSC for treatment, unfortunately, some are turned away due to not enough rooms or inadequate means to treat them. For this reason, Blue Dogs and friends, along with all of the sponsors who contributed, Press On Fund, and Ear For Music created this event to raise money to build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital equipped with more rooms and better technology to give the children who come through the doors a better chance at winning their fight with cancer, and to help fund pediatric cancer research. As the audience members anxiously sat in their seats awaiting for the show to begin, the house lights shut off and the stage lights flashed on as a huge cheer rang across the venue. The main event had officially begun. Throughout the night, bands scurried on and off the stage and the crowd cheered, danced, donated, and drank merrily. Towards the end of the night, backstage in a secret room, we received some amazing and shocking news from an anonymous donor that gave chills to many and even brought tears to a few. Following the jaw-dropping news, Press On Fund agreed to match what was donated, and at approximately 11pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, the official check was signed and given to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital for pediatric cancer research for a grand total of $151k plus the other donations that had yet to be counted. Everyone cheered, hugged, and cried! We officially raised 3x more than what we raised last year and we couldn't have done it without the help of all of the bands who performed, all of the sponsors who contributed, all of the donors who donated, Music Farm Charleston, Charleston Music Hall, Press On Fund, MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, 4 Good, Tito's, JEM Marketing/Taco Bell, Blue Dogs, and all of you who have supported us and the Blue Dogs over the years. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

November Newsletter

Woolfe Street Playhouse (DT) Gets A New Act

As you were scarfing down your children's Halloween candy or telling your friend you're only having one more drink, it probably hit you that there are only 2 months left in this year. Now, you are probably frantically trying to figure out how to savor these last two months. Luckily for you, we saved the best shows for last. 
 

First, we have Moose Kick, See Water, and Little Bird at a swanky venue known as Woolfe Street Playhouse in Downtown Charleston. Woolfe Street Playhouse was originally built in 1914 and spent half a century as The Meddin Bros Meat Packing Company. By the 1980s, The Meddin Bros Company closed and the building was left empty for a while. However,  The Village Repertory Company came to the building's rescue, and with the help of Mrs. Meddin the old meat packing building transformed into the beloved Woolfe Street Playhouse we all know and love today. The Playhouse officially opened in December of 2012, and at 17,000 square feet it caters to multiple events including the one on November 11th featuring Moose Kick, See Water, and Little Bird. 
 

Moose Kick is a five piece southern rock / funk band out of South Carolina. The band began during the winter of 2013 and since they spend their days touring, writing & practicing to effectively share their music with the world. Since releasing their album 'Blue Room Revival' in October of 2014 with producer Trevor Maron, the band has taken their talent to the road touring the eastern half of the country routinely. 

See Water is the love child of reggae and punk rock. This up-and-coming band from Charleston, SC will take your ears on a roller-coaster ride through laid-back jams and hard-hitting rock riffs. Their style is similar to that of a mosh-pit on the beach at sunset. If their music was a cocktail, it would be a long island iced tea; at first you think, “There’s no way you can mix all of that together,” but sure enough, you take a sip only to find that it’s delicious and intoxicating.

See Water has been proving themselves in all their unorthodox glory at The Music Farm and Charleston Pour House, and venues throughout the east coast and the USVI, while performing alongside acts such as Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime, The Hip Abduction, Fear Nuttin Band, and Sun-Dried Vibes. See Water has released their debut EP, entitled 'Diluted Acoustica', and quickly began work on their next project. Their first full-length album 'Hit The Moon' is to be released later this fall with the first single, 'Echo', leading the way.

"When you see a body of water, whether it's calm or violent, it makes you feel something, and that's what we're here to do."

Little Bird, hailing from Annapolis, MD and calling Charleston, SC home for one year now, tours throughout the eastern half of the country. They blend surf rock, jazz, and Americana into a high energy killer live show. In 2015 & 2016 the band played & headlined festivals such as Bayfunk, Pink Moon, Silopanna, Doah, EastPortaRockin' and more. Along with sharing stage on show bills with names like G. Love & Special Sauce, Pressing Strings, Long Miles, Fortunate Youth, and many more.

Help The Dogs Save The Kids

Help us kick off our 4th Annual Homecoming & 28th Anniversary concert on December 28th at Charleston Music Hall by joining us on December 27th at Music Farm for The Super Goo Jam. The Super Goo Jam will kick off the spectacular event for the Blue Dogs and their friends by having the party of the year with multiple bands and dancing to celebrate the end of the year and to help raise money for The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and Press On Foundation for pediatric cancer research. Following The Super Goo Jam is Blue Dogs 4th Annual Homecoming and 28th Anniversary concert on December 28th at Charleston Music Hall. The Blue Dogs have been performing together for over 25 years and perform up to 100 shows a year. This year, the Blue Dogs, an Americana band will have their 4th Annual Homecoming and 28th Anniversary concert that will benefit the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and Press On Foundation for pediatric cancer research. This is a special charity event that has had special appearances in the past by some of Blue Dogs dear friends such as Darius Rucker, Drivin N' Cryin, and Danielle Howle. Last year, at the 3rd Annual Homecoming and 27th Anniversary concert, the Dogs raised $50K for MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital & Pediatric Cancer research thanks to the support of Tito's Vodka, a variety of local sponsors, and donations of ticket holders, as well as a generous match by an anonymous donor. This year, we hope to surpass last year's amount and we can only do that with your help. So, we are calling all Dog People to get your tickets now and come out to this superb event on December 27th and 28th, to raise money so that the doctors at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital can find a cure for cancer that affects children. 

Fallin' Leaves & Fallin' in Love--The Ultimate September Wedding Blog

With the turn of the month comes the ultimate wedding season. September brings the start of a new season and for many the start of a new life as a newlywed. So what do you expect to see during this wedding season? Well, expect to see a more laid back, fun, whimsical approach to the big day. Gone are the traditional, stiff, boring approaches to weddings, and taking its place are donut walls, boho-style dresses, be your own barista or mixologist, and a hands on approach to weddings with the goal to have their attendees feel a part of the ceremony in more ways than just being the guest of the bride or groom. Following are some of the top trends of this wedding season: 

THE DRESS

For the more laid-back bride go for the boho off-the-shoulder wedding dress. You can even add flowers in your hair to add that extra touch of a free-spirit bride. 

If you’re the more whimsical and fun type of bride then try a fun new trend and go for a nontraditional color or print wedding dress for your big day. 

If you’re more traditional and love the classical, regal look then add a faux fur shawl to your dress to give you a dash of old-Hollywood and glam. 

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE

Mismatched bridesmaids are the hit this season. Long gone are the overly expensive ugly bridesmaids dresses that you only get to wear once. Now it’s all about the bridesmaids getting to choose their own styles and colors. 

As for the groomsmen it’s all about keeping it simple and neutral. 

THE BOUQUET

Today is all about the wild and the free. So pick those wild flowers and create your own bouquet with long uncut stems and berries. Some favorite picks are wine colored dahlias, Brazilian pepper berries, hypericum berry spray, and small vines of ivy to elongate the shape of traditionally arranged bouquets. 

THE CAKE

Sayonara to traditional big cakes with toppers and fondant. Taking its place are small, simple cakes with no toppers and buttercream icing. One option is a cake with drip designs. 

Or you can match your boho-style wedding with a cake with foliage 

Another in demand cake this season is the “Naked” cake…a cake with little to no frosting on the outside.

THE FOOD

Continuing on the food train, gone are the days of main dishes and only two choices of food. Instead, have a more hands on approach and don’t be afraid to get creative! Instead of only a couple of options for beer do a local craft beer tasting. Or if you’re a taco lover like me, have a build your own taco bar and add a build your own margarita bar to pair with it. If you are opting for a more rustic wedding have a pig roast or BBQ and pair it with a BBQ sauce station to let your guests try a variety of sauces. Another option you can do to give your guests a taste of you and your partner’s background is have the main dish be one from your heritage or have each of you choose your favorite family dish to be shared with your guests. Another fun take on the food option is bite size food with alcohol shooters such as pretzel bites paired with local craft beer, bite size tacos with margarita shooters, bite size apple pie with moscato d’Asti, or brownie bites with frozen espresso shooters. When guests are arriving you can have a doughnut wall for them to munch on while they wait for the ceremony to begin and you can pair it with a gourmet coffee bar to give your guests an extra boost so they can last for the night’s festivities. Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts is our favorite place to get delectable doughnuts here in Charleston, SC and they even have doughnut cakes now!

THE DRINKS

A fun simple way to take care of the drink situation is His & Hers cocktails. The guests are given a glimpse into what kind of drinks you two like and your partner gets to feel like they have a say in the planning of the big day, too. 

Rosés champagne and wine are always a classy go-to. Another more adventurous route is a beer garden or tequila, wine, or margarita gardens. Also, grown-up popsicles are making their statement at weddings and are becoming the must- have treat at your big day. Check out King of Pops Charleston for the best popsicles and grown-up popsicles. With over 500 flavors, you will be able to provide even the pickiest of eaters with a popsicle. King of Pops prides themselves off of creating popsicles with all natural ingredients and no artificial sweetners. They even have vegan popsicles! 

THE RECEPTION

Tables, tables, tables so many arrangements yet still not enough ways to arrange them.
Tablecloths:  Metallic, Glitzy Golds, Rose-gold, but absolutely NO SILVER! 

Instead of large round tables use long rectangular tables or mix of long tables surrounded by smaller square and round tables. 

Table flower arrangements are all about green and leafy:  succulent, eucalyptus, wheat greens, acacia and bay leaf branches. Also, the taller the better if you’re dealing with flower arrangements. Otherwise, short and neat succulent arrangements on tables are the hit for this season. 

A fun addition can be to add some lounge seating for your guests so they can feel more comfortable when taking a break from the dance floor. 

Another way to bring a little bit more of you and your partner’s life into the big day is by adding touches from key moments of your life. For example, if you two are music lovers then instead of a typical reception book use old records of your favorite bands for your guests to sign, then after the wedding you can hang it up in your new home.

THE MUSIC

Many people think that music is just for the dance floor. However, you can add a whole new element to your wedding day by incorporating different genres of music throughout your big day. This season it is all about the variety of music and mixing it up.

For example, you could have a violinist like our very own Seth G. for your cocktail hour to welcome your guests as they become acquainted with your other guests and reminisce on the two of you. 

Then, to kick this celebration into high gear and carry it into the night you can have a DJ or band like our very own DJ Natty Heavy, DJ YNot, or DJ Rdot to get people dancing until the sun comes up.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

Finally to tie everything together and to give you physical evidence and to allow you to reminisce on your big day for years to come, have a professional photographer and videographer to capture all the moments you were a part of and those you missed. 

Rockin' The River with Ellen Drive and Jump Castle Riot- 8/11

"Did Ellen drive to the jump castle for a riot?"
"Um...no. But, you can catch Ellen Drive AND Jump Castle Riot at Riverfront Park on Thursday, August 11th for the second to last Rockin' The River."

Can you believe it is already the second to last Rockin' The River for this year, and that there are only four more months left for this year, too? We can't either! If you feel like time keeps slipping away without any memories to go with it, then you need to change that and go see Ellen Drive and Jump Castle Riot this Thursday at Rockin' The River. Ellen Drive is a jazz, R&B, and rock band that reigns from Summerville, SC. They consist of a four-man band with Randall Fowler as frontman, Aron Robinson on drums, Justin Hodge on guitar and vocals, and Andy Freeman on bass. Teaming up with Ellen Drive is Jump Castle Riot. 

Jump Castle Riot is a blues/rock band from Charleston, SC. They consist of a female and male four-piece ensemble with Nina-Rose Murchison on vocals and guitar, Julia Van Raalte on guitar and vocals, Asher Dibernardo on drums, and Richard Hartnett on bass. Since their formation in 2015, Jump Castle Riot has performed with a variety of people including The Travelin' Kine, Dead 27's, Atlas Road Crew, Elise Testone, Thomas Champagne, and blues legend Buddy Guy. So, come make another lasting memory for this year and see Ellen Drive and Jump Castle Riot this Thursday, August 11th at Rockin' The River. 

Join us next week for the last Rockin' The River, on August 18th, with Departure:  The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band. This is a FREE show with FREE parking thanks to Ear for Music, Icebox, and the City of North Charleston. 

August Newsletter

Where has the time gone?! We can't believe it is already August and the kids are getting ready for another school year. But no worries, we have plenty of fun events lined up for this month that we are excited to share with all of you!

Rocket Man- A Tribute to Sir Elton John 

We are thrilled to team up with Charleston Music Hall and bring an eccentric Rocket Man:  A Tribute to Sir Elton John to the community of Charleston, SC on Saturday, August 6th at 8pm. Tokyo Joe's - Rocket Man Tribute conforms to the model of a real Elton John concert. With multiple costume changes, electrifying light displays, and the everlasting music of Elton John, many people will have to constantly remind themselves that they are not at an actual Elton John concert. Performed by the Columbia, SC based rock quartet Tokyo Joe, Rocket Man is sure to leave every Elton John fan feeling as though they have experienced a tribute performance worthy of the original. 

Rockin' The River 

Can you believe we are already past the half way point for Rockin' The River? Neither can we. With only two more left, we are feeling a little bittersweet. But no worries, you can catch the last two Rockin' The River on August 11th with Ellen Drive and Jump Castle Riot and on August 18th with Departure (The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band) at the beautiful Riverfront Park in North Charleston. 

DJ Natty Heavy and Hootie & The Blowfish

We are stoked to have our very own DJ Natty Heavy kick off both nights of the Hootie & The Blowfish Homegrown concert event here in Charleston, SC on August 5th and 6th. This wonderful two day event raises money for area schools and will be at the Volvo Car Stadium in Daniel Island. 

O.A.R - August 20th

We can't wait to have O.A.R at Riverfront Park in North Charleston on Saturday, August 20th. O.A.R is known for its intense, vibrant, live show - including selling out Madison Square Garden twice - and the communal feeling it shares with its fans. So, get your tickets now before it is too late and join us for an unforgettable night on Saturday, August 20th. 

DJ rDOT

Robie Howell, also known as DJ rDOT, is one of Charleston's most talented DJs. He's been entertaining and attracting party-goers from near and far for more than ten years. Whether he's bringing the hype to Charleston's hottest clubs or being asked to work beside the most popular DJs and entertainers in the industry, rDOT has a history of never disappointing. He is available for corporate events, weddings, and clubs.