May marks the first notes of live music drifting through downtown Highlands as the Outdoor Concert Series returns.
Presented by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, the beloved Friday Night Live and Saturdays on Pine concerts once again anchor the month with mountain tradition, regional talent, and the unmistakable joy of gathering outdoors.
Friday Night Live concerts are held at Town Square on Main Street. Saturdays on Pine concerts are held at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street (one block from Main Street). All of the performances are free and family-friendly. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash.
Friday Night Live opens the month on May 15 with the Foxfire Boys, a group whose roots run deep in Appalachian soil. Formed in the early 1980s through the Foxfire Fund’s cultural program, they carry forward the stories and sounds of Northeast Georgia with a bluegrass blend that has taken them all the way to the Grand Ole Opry. Their return to Town Square feels like welcoming back old friends, the kind who know exactly how to get a crowd smiling.
On May 22, Highlands’ own Silly Ridge steps into the spotlight, bringing their signature mix of classic bluegrass and playful, high-energy favorites. They’re a local troupe in the truest sense: familiar faces, quick wit, and a knack for turning any gathering into a toe tapping celebration. If May has a heartbeat, Silly Ridge is often the one keeping time.
Rounding out the month on May 29 is Andrew Wakefield & Friends, a Chimney Rock based guitarist and songwriter whose performances feel both timeless and freshly cut. Wakefield weaves old and new with a craftsman’s touch, pouring heart and soul into every note. His shows are intimate, spirited, and deeply rooted in the Western North Carolina bluegrass tradition.
Just a few blocks away, Saturdays on Pine brings its own brand of May magic to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. On May 16, the neon bright, retro-charged world of LAZRLUVR takes over – a full throttle 1980s revival complete with teased hair, glam attitude, and irresistible dance-floor nostalgia.
The following Saturday, May 23, welcomes The Parks Brothers, a high-energy Charlotte-based band known for nonstop medleys that leap from ’90s jams to beach tunes to country favorites without ever losing the crowd. And on May 30, the month closes with SNAP, a tight, funky quartet whose mash ups and genre bending grooves guarantee a lively night.
With music drifting through the cool evening air each weekend, the Plateau once again becomes a place where community gathers, memories take root, and the simple joy of a shared song carries us into summer.
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