The Greenville Tourism Commission is pleased to announce the musical line-up for Saturdays on the Square 2011. This year’s summer concert series will be on Saturdays in July and August for a total of 9 fabulous events!

These events are once again being hosted by the Greenville Tourism Commission and are FREE to the public. The concerts will be located on the Veterans Plaza stage in downtown Greenville, between the newly renovated Courthouse and Judicial buildings. Concert goers should bring their lawn chairs and friends and plan to have a great time as they listen to free live music, kick-up their heels, visit with old friends, make new friends, enjoy some good eats and just basically have a fun Saturday on the Square!

The 2011 9-week line-up features a variety of top-notch entertainers. The dates and performers include:

• July 2nd     Opening Night Gary Jenkins & the Thundering Hearts (classic rock)
• July 9th 50’s Night  Moose & Da Sharks (full 50’s band and production); Twi-light Drive In; Antique Car Show
• July 16th    Beach Night Conch Republic (“Trop Rock”/Jimmy Buffet tribute)
• July 23rd    Gospel Night  Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Dove Award Winners)
• July 30th    Country Night The NashVegas All-Stars
• August 6th     Bluegrass Night The Boxcars (Bluegrass music’s newest “super-group”); Bill Monroe 100th Birthday Tribute  County Line Bluegrass (Opening act) 
• August 13th    Motown Night Tyrone Smith Revue (popular southern show band)
• August 20th    Local Talent Showcase    Mudd River Union (Muhl. Co’s local favorite)
• August 27th     Grand Finale  The Marshall Tucker Band

The Greenville Tourism Commission is pleased to welcome an almost entirely new line-up of performers that cover many musical genres. The kick-off celebration on July 2nd will feature Saturdays on the Square newcomers Gary Jenkins & the Thundering Hearts. Based out of Nashville, they are a high-energy show band that combines music, comedy, and audience participation for a one-of-a-kind show. They will be paying tribute to our nation on this special Independence Day weekend. 

On 50’s night Greenville welcomes back Moose & Da Sharks and their full blown 50’s show. This night will also feature the Twi-Light Drive In Antique Car Show on display prior to the show. The public once again is invited to wear their favorite 50’s attire for a fun filled trip back in time.

A special Beach Night has been added featuring “Trop Rock/Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band” The Conch Republic. This band received the 2010 Rising Star Award for Top Beach Band by Gigmasters.com, the number one online booking venue for world-class performers. This “band of pirates” has been “bringing the beach” to fans for the past five years across the mid-west and south. They have had the honor of opening up for The Beach Boys as well as playing at Margaritaville, Key West. So get ready to “jump in da line!”

For gospel night, one of Southern Gospel’s most influential groups, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound will be bringing their Cathedral’s Influenced Tour for a stop in Greenville. This incredibly popular group has won multiple Dove Awards and received a Grammy nomination. Their live performances are considered some of the best in gospel music and have spawned a new generation of gospel music lovers across the globe. 

At the end of July, The NashVegas All-Stars will be bringing the boot-scootin’ sounds of country music to the square for two-steppers and line dancers! Dance music of a different sort will follow in August with one of the south’s hottest dance and show bands for over 30 years The Tyrone Smith Revue. “Super T” aka Tyrone Smith had the honor of playing at Jenna Bush Hagar’s 2008 wedding reception and even played a Christmas party at the White House during President Bush’s time in office. They have also been featured nationally on the Today Show, the Morning Show, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and Entertainment Tonight. They are sure to bring the house down!

A very special Bluegrass Music night has been added this year to join in the statewide celebration of Bill Monroe’s, “the father of Bluegrass Music”, 100th birthday. Bill Monroe’s birthplace is right next door to Greenville in neighboring Ohio County, so this is a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to Kentucky’s most famous contribution to the world of music. Bluegrass Music’s newest “super-group” The Boxcars will headline the evening. The Boxcars feature a wealth of talent including group leader Adam Steffey who has played with Alison Krauss & Union Station and received two 2010 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards for Mandolin Player of the Year and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year. This band pays tribute to traditional Bluegrass Music while still creating their own unique style of contemporary Bluegrass. Bluegrass night will also feature a second performer Muhlenberg County’s own County Line Bluegrass are scheduled to open up for The Boxcars. County Line is a young up-and- coming Bluegrass group who won the 2010 Alltech Fortnight Festival Battle of the Bluegrass, beating out over 100 bands, and had the honor of playing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville as part of Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman Concert Series.

Greenville will also be highlighting the talents of one of its best local bands Mudd River Union. The band was featured in last year’s concert series as part of a local talent night and they brought an incredible sound energy to the stage. They have been brought back by popular demand and will have a full two hours to showcase their big country hearts and musical souls!

To cap off this incredible line-up the grand finale concert will feature legendary Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band (MTB). MTB was one of the major rock bands of the 70’s and cranked out hit singles like “Heard it in a Love Song,” “Fire on the Mountain,” “Desert Skies,” “Can’t You See,” and “Take the Highway.” After nearly 30 years, MTB continues to be played on classic rock and country radio and has never stopped touring. They are sure to rock the house on the final night and provide a fitting end to what will be an awesome summer concert series.

Each concert will begin at 8 pm with the exception of the Bluegrass Night on August 6th which will begin at 7:00 pm to allow for two groups. Parking will be available throughout downtown. This is a great opportunity to eat at a Greenville restaurant and shop unique specialty and antique stores throughout the city. There will be food vendors on site at each of the concerts and several downtown merchants will remain open offering concert specials.

In the event of rain, the concerts will moved to the Muhlenberg County High School, East Campus at 2900 State Route 176 in Greenville with the exception of the July 23rd gospel night which will be held at the Multi-Ministry Building of Second Baptist Church at 217 West Depot Street, Greenville.  Also an exception is the grand finale show which will take place on the square rain or shine.

More information is available online at www.tourgreenville.com and on the Greenville Tourism Commission’s Facebook page. The tourism office phone is 270-338-1895 and Director, Beth Newman will happily provide answers to any questions potential attendees may have.

The tourism commission is excited about the upcoming events season and looks forward to seeing you at Saturdays on the Square 2011!