| Tweet |
The 1-year-old Shoreline Ballroom venue on Hilton Head gained new heights of credibility in recent months with appearances by Loretta Lynn, BB King and Buddy Guy. But its stock went through the roof in mid-May when it brought the Doggfather of hip hop to the island to play before a sold-out crowd.
Snoop Dogg performed at the ballroom May 17 for what was one of the largest concerts in island history and certainly the largest hip-hop show Hilton Head has ever seen. In front of a crowd of about 1,500 at the Folly Field Road venue, Snoop mixed old favorites, covers and newer material, said Freddie Ward, bookings and promotions manager.
“He’s great. He stays on stage — he’s on stage for 80 or 90 minutes and does great songs,” Ward said. “In our room he did ‘House of Pain’ (a cover of ‘Jump round’), he also did Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing.’ How good is that?”
Ward said the Shoreline, which opened in March 2008, has been seeing increased success booking national acts as its reputation grows. The venue has also been working with other venues in Columbia and Charleston to offer acts multiple opportunities to perform nearby to further entice them to swing through South Carolina. Upcoming acts this summer include Hank Williams III and jam band moe.
“We’re just trying to keep music alive in the Lowcountry,” he said.
