The city’s downtown event series kicks off this Thursday and Friday with the season-opening nights of Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Clemson MBA and Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays presented by Pepsi.
The free weekly events return to NOMA Square, offering a season filled with live musical entertainment performed by local and regional touring bands, special events and children’s activities.
Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Clemson MBA opens its 24-week event season on Thursday, March 21 with The Grateful Brothers. The season includes 20 new bands, with 15 originating from the Upstate region. Highlighted performances include Mystic Vibrations, Mark Webb Jr. and Randomonium on the Carolina Foothills Federal Credit Union Stage. The event series serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council, a local organization providing support and other vital services to individual artists, arts organizations and arts education programs.
“Piedmont Natural Gas is proud to be among many Upstate businesses that are investing in the present and future of the communities we serve,” said Hank McCullough, Senior Manager of Government Relations for Piedmont Natural Gas. “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the City of Greenville and the Metropolitan Arts Council as the title sponsor of Downtown Alive, and I am confident that this season will take us to new heights.”
This year’s event will feature Beats and Bites, with food trucks rotating every Thursday. In addition, this season of Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive will once again feature the Gimme the Gig contest. Local bands will have the opportunity to submit links to their music online, allowing fans to cast a vote for their favorite band. The band receiving the largest number of votes will ultimately earn a paid gig at the series on August 29, as well as studio time at Sit-n-Spin Records. Complete details will be released prior to the contest’s start date in May.
Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays presented by Pepsi debuts on March 22 with The Night Affair Band. The season will feature 28 bands, 17 of which are new to the series. Highlighted performances include The Jamie Wright Band, Hot as a Pepper, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues and True Blues. Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays will also feature the Greenville Triumph Kids’ Zone with free activities for children.
“Greenville Heritage FCU is excited to begin our seventh year as the title sponsor of the Main Street Fridays concert series,” said Alan Berry, Greenville Heritage FCU President/CEO. “We are proud to support the City of Greenville as the title sponsor for the City’s premier live music series. We hope many Upstate residents will join us this year for 28 wonderful evenings of live music and family fun at NOMA Square. Year after year, Main Street Fridays delivers the best the City has to offer in family entertainment.”
For a complete entertainment lineup, visit the City of Greenville’s website or follow the events on social media.
Additional downtown event series event partners include BHHS C. Dan Joyner, Topgolf Greenville, Roost, Entercom, Fete, Patagonia Cerveza, the Hyatt Regency Greenville, Season’s Café and Catering, Penske, iHeartMedia & MY 102.5, WYFF 4, Enclave Paris Mountain, Community Journals, Breakthru Beverage Group and Signatures Apparel.