“Top of the Grade Concerts” at McCreery Park in historic downtown Saluda begins on Friday, May 9 from 7 – 9 p.m.  Starting the summer long concert series will be a local favorite, Sound Investment performing oldies and beach music great for dancing or just singing along.
Concerts are scheduled for the second and fourth Friday from May through September. All performances will be held on the Ella Grace Mintz Stage from 7 – 9 p.m at McCreery Park in the area that was previously the skateboard park.
Top of the Grade concerts are coordinated by the City of Saluda’s Small Town Main Street program and funding for the Friday night concerts has been through a community grant from Polk County Community Foundation.  All concerts are free to the public thanks to a Free Community Events grant.
The new Ella Grace Mintz Stage was graciously funded and built by the Don Mintz family in memory of Ella Grace Mintz, infant daughter of Sean and Shena Mintz, who died from a rare kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
Attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets.  Food, soft drinks, beer and wine, and coolers are allowed.  No food will be available at the park, but all of Saluda’s delicious restaurants will be open serving everything from hamburgers and pizzas to gourmet meals. Events are rain or shine so you may need to bring an umbrella if rain is in the forecast.  In some cases, rain events may move to the Pavilion.
2014 Top of the Grade Concert Schedule
May 9 – Sound Investment
May 23 – Phil & Gaye Johnson
June 13 – Sound Investment
June 27 – One Leg Up
July 11 – Sound Investment
July 25 – Aaron Burdett
August 8 – Sound Investment
August 22 – Bayou Diesel
September 12 – Sound Investment
September 26 – Scoot Pitman
For more information about the concerts, contact Cathy Jackson at 828-817-2876 or cathy@cathyjacksonrealty.com.

– article submitted
by Cathy Jackson