Sails Original Music Series
2025 Season
The City of Hickory's Sails Original Music Series returns to downtown Hickory this spring and fall, presenting free concerts of live original music under The Sails on the Square. Performances will begin at 7 p.m., Friday evenings in May, June, and September. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic or grab food from downtown establishments, purchase beer and wine from local vendors within the Hickory Downtown Social District, and enjoy a diverse lineup of bands from regional to internationally recognized musicians.
2025 Band Lineup
May 2 - Random Animals
You’ll be swaying like a hippie to these pop-soul, groovy dudes from Asheville.
May 9 - Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band
They take the sentimentality of an old-time string band and put it in a dance hall.
May 16 - Holler Choir
Led by choir director Clint Roberts, this new acoustic band is not going places – they are already there! You’re going to love Clint’s voice.
May 23 - Mike Strauss Band
Think Dawes meets Dire Straits! Strauss has been writing and playing the region for years. I predict we’ll all have fun with Mike!
May 30 - Shamarr Allen
He’s been heralded as a Big Easy emerging artist who goes where Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis left off as he sings with power and makes the trumpet howl – and he’s a VERY COOL dude!
June 6 - Dangermuffin
This quartet weaves coastal influenced lyrics and feel with southern jam band power. You’ll want to be here if you wanna rock.
June 13 - Larry & Joe
This duo performs a high energy fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, guitar, maracas, and whatever else they decide to throw in the van. Don’t think this is going to be some sleepy, folky performance – cuz you’ll be wrong, and they’ll wake you up.
June 20 - Sierra Green and The Giants
The New Orleans-based Sierra Green – the “Queen of Frenchman Street” – and her band create a place where soul, blues, and R&B find a new home – and she’ll take you there!
June 27 - Randall Bramblett Band
Randall Bramblett is an A-list singer/songwriter and musician who is penning and playing some of the best music of his long career. He’s played with Widespread Panic, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Winwood, and many, many others. He’s royalty. Rock on, Randall!
Sept 5 - Psychedelic Surf Country
You may know Joel Timmons as a leader of the beloved low-country band, Sol Driven Train. He also tours constantly with multiple other high caliber ensembles. But we asked him to put together a band to showcase his brand-new solo project. The result is Psychedelic Surf Country. He calls them his super group! It’ll be surfy, rocky, funny…
Sept 12 - Jacoozy
They are improvisational and funky – all the things that make for a good dance party on a Friday night in Hickory!
Sept 20 - Selwyn Birchwood*
Selwyn calls his style of music “Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues.” He’s a unique and powerful writer and blues guitarist playing and singing with his signature power and room-filling charisma. Let’s welcome him back to Hickory. He’ll be playing the Sam Davis Field on a special Saturday evening event!
*As part of the Festival on the Field event, the performance is at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Samuel William Davis, Sr. Multipurpose Field in Taft Broome Park. Vendors and food trucks start at 4 p.m.
Sept 26 - New Translations
When this band was first at the Sails Original Music Series, they were called Jive Talk. But they got signed to Warner Brothers and they changed their name. But they still have that quirky pop intensity that made us love them before. A young, exciting band comes back for more!
Special Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor: Protection Products, Inc.
Supporting Sponsors: Bob Sinclair Music, Larry’s Music & Sound, Pfahlert Creative Labs, Olde Hickory Brewery, and Crowne Plaza
Sails Music Series Facebook 2025 Sails Music Poster 2025 Sails Music Press Release
Band Booking Information
Thanks for your interest in having your band perform at the Sails Original Music Series. This very successful series hears from bands all over the world, and it is exciting to make our choices from this great diversity of original art. We very carefully select high quality music acts that are not routinely playing in our area. We pride ourselves on introducing our audiences to lesser-known bands versus booking local or regional favorites. We do not book cover bands.
Here's what we're looking for...
- Under the radar regional, national, and international touring bands coming through our area that generally are doing well at ticketed events or catch our ears for other reasons
- R&B, Classical, Pop, Hip-Hop, Americana, Jazz, Country, Blues, Bluegrass, and more all have a place on our stages
Booking for the annual series begins the winter prior to the upcoming spring and fall seasons. Bob Sinclair coordinates the Sails Original Music Series for the City of Hickory. He is the talent buyer/producer and looks for unique bands on the rise. City staff have no part in the selection or booking of talent for the series. If your band meets the criteria above, please click the button below to contact Bob Sinclair for consideration. Be prepared to provide your EPK and links to live shows performed in the past 12 months.