Gullah Me, Gullah You – Times Before the Bridge

Gullah Cultural Series: Gullah Me, Gullah You

presented by The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park,
and Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association
Lavon Stevens, artistic advisor

Gullah Me, Gullah You Gullah Cultural Series is our community’s exciting music event series celebrating all things Gullah. Mostly of music, but also storytelling, history, food, and culture; each performance, modeled in the spirit of a television talk-show setting but reversed as a musical show-talk event, heralds local Gullah citizens for their contributions to our community. Held at SoundWaves, in Gullah churches, and Hilton Head schools, Gullah Me, Gullah You introduces us to many touching and beautiful stories as well as challenges of native Islander life right here on Hilton Head Island. In support of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association and the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, this series is sure to entertain and enlighten all! Bonus: Gullah cuisine dinner option available before the show.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at SoundWaves (6:30pm dinner; 7:30pm concert)

Early Beginnings:  Times Before the Bridge and
Tales from Young Entrepreneurship

Join us at SoundWaves as our Gullah concert event series commences its second season with a peek back into Island life Before the Bridge and through the lens of a successful local Gullah Geechee entrepreneur revisiting her fledgling start in business.  Carolyn Grant and Emory Shaw Campbell entertain us with anecdotes from the creation of Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956, the historical chronicle they co-wrote with Thomas C. Barnwell, Jr., detailing secluded, small barrier native island life. Fifth generation Gullah Sonya Grant and owner of Gullah T’s N’ Tings shares stories that inspired her to carry on her family’s ’Binya’ entrepreneurial legacy, handed down from her grandparents Abe and Charliemae Grant, Sr., retired owners of HHI’s Abe’s Native Shrimp House.

Emcee Melvin P. Campbell hosts the show highlighted by performances by Quiana Parler, vocalist of two-time Grammy winning Ranky Tanky, who joins as special musical guest, fronting our Gullah Cultural Series house musical act, the Lavon Stevens Band.

Lavon Stevens, artistic advisor
Melvin P. Campbell, emcee

Special guests:
Carolyn Grant, author
Dr. Emory Shaw Campbell, author
Sonya Grant, owner, Gullah T’s N’ Tings 

Quiana Parler, vocalist

The Lavon Stevens Band:
Lavon Stevens, piano
Clarence Williams, bass
Jimmy Charles, drums

Cuisine Partner – Chef Chris Williams, owner and chef, of Roy’s Grille & BBQ will be offering a choice of:

Adluh stone ground grits with Caribbean grilled chicken
and pineapple salsa (GF);

Adluh stone ground grits with Caribbean grilled shrimp
and pineapple salsa (GF); or

Adluh stone ground grits with Caribbean grilled portabella mushrooms and pineapple salsa (V)(GF).

Patrons who order the dinner/concert package will receive one complimentary drink with their purchase.

Seating is cabaret-style at tables of 4.
Reserved dinner/concert seats are $74 per person.
Dinner/concert general seating is $64 per person.
General seating for concert-only tickets is $34 per person.

Elevate your experience with a hi-top table for two with bar stool seating: $180 per couple, including a bottle of wine!
(only 6 hi-tops available)

Doors and bar open at 6 pm with dinner service at 6:30 pm.
The concert portion of the evening begins at 7:30 pm.
Concert-only ticket purchasers will be admitted beginning at 7:15 pm.

Reserved seating expected to sell-out quickly. Get your tickets now!