Life

WEEKEND EVENTS: Robert Morgan, Saluda Grade concert

By Bill Moss, Published: August 23, 2013

SALUDA — Saluda native Aaron Burdett and his band will play at Saluda's free Top of the Grade concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday after the Saluda Tailgate Market.

"This is the perfect opportunity to show your support and pride for Saluda's performing artists, and a chance to hear award-winning Aaron Burdett in your own backyard," said Cathy Jackson, one of the organizers.

The performance will be held on center stage at McCreery Park.

The Top of the Grade concerts are organized by the NC Small Town Main Street promotions team to carry out the vision of Saluda becoming a four season destination for both local residents and visitors.

The Saluda Business Association is a major sponsor of the event. Other sponsors are Don Mintz Builders, Terry and Fred Baisden, Historic Thompson's Store/Ward's Grill, Cathy Jackson Realty, Lynn and Mike Cass, Green River BBQ, Frank and Tayloe Francisco, Frank and Amy Beeson, and Mill Creek Post & Beam. To help underwrite the concerts, we invite anyone who would like to sponsor an event to contact us. Sponsorships are $100.

In October of 2012, Aaron's "Going Home to Carolina" won Our State magazine's "Carolina Songs" songwriting contest over 250 other competitive entries. In May 2013 Aaron's song "Magpie" won 3rd place in the bluegrass song category in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest, one of the largest and most highly regarded music festivals in the US for traditional, bluegrass, Americana, and singer-songwriter artists.

Robert Morgan to speak

Robert Morgan is scheduled to appear at book launch events at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the Heritage Museum, and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at Fountainhead Books, 408 N. Main St.
Morgan's newest novel, The Road from Gap Creek, picks up the story of Julie and Hank Richards, who readers first met through Julie's eyes in Gap Creek.

The Road from Gap Creek opens when Army officers visit the Richards home to tell Julie and Hank that their son, Troy, has been killed in a bomber crash in World War II. From that pivotal and painful moment, Morgan takes us back to the start of the Depression, swings ahead again to other key places in time — marriages, deaths, births —told by the strong-willed, opinionated and beautiful Annie.