Join Us at the Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival

Mark Your Calendars for the Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival on August 11-12

"Tradition" is defined as the handing down of a belief, legend, or custom from generation to generation. Beach music fans from all over the South love their traditions and will flock to the Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival on August 11-12 to party with the SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS, a 44-year living tradition of beach music. The band shot to stardom in 1966 with "Double Shot of My Baby's Love,” which sold over a million copies and remains the signature song of the group today. The song demonstrated its timeless popularity when the cast of Ally McBeal, a hit television show of the 90s, sang along to the original MEDALLIONS recording during an October 1998 episode. Bruce Springsteen labeled it "the greatest fraternity rock song of all time.” More Top 40 hits followed with "She Drives Me Out of My Mind" and "Hey, Hey Baby.” Timeless music – a timeless performance! Although membership in the MEDALLIONS changed over the years, the popularity of their stage show did not. The talent industry soon dubbed them "THE PARTY BAND OF THE SOUTH,” a tag the group proudly advertises. John McElrath, founder of the original band, still leads the eight-member group. The current SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS feature a five-piece horn section and effectively blend the sounds and music of yesterday and today. Creating a sensation wherever they go, their diverse song list makes them overwhelmingly popular with college audiences as well as Baby Boomer rock ‘n rollers throughout the Southeast.

On August 11-12, music and beach lovers of all ages are invited to attend the PARTY OF THE SOUTH, as the SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS bring their high energy, party-style performance to their 40th Anniversary Celebration of “Double Shot,” which coincides with the book releases of Greg Haynes’, He-e-ey Baby Days of Beach Music, and ‘Fessa’ John Hook’s, Shagging in the Carolinas. Both of these authors and icons of beach music days will be featured guests at the Festival. During this weekend celebration, many members who have played with the MEDALLIONS over the last 40 years, including most of the original members, will join McElrath and make the trip to Jekyll Island to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime performance. Other favorite beach music bands will join in on the fun. Come sway to the music of such bands as The Tams, Hack Bartley & Shuffle, and The Statesboro Blues. Shag Clubs from all over the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida will caravan to the Festival and dance the weekend away as they hold one of the largest Shag Contests in the South. Hook, who produces the Endless Summer Network on the Grand Strand's WODR 105.3 FM radio station, wrote his book to celebrate these unique people and circumstances that nurtured the evolution of Shagging and Beach Music at the “jump joints” of Carolina Beach, the inland lake retreats, and the pavilions of Ocean Drive, Atlantic, Folly, Wrightsville, and Tybee beaches. The weekend’s schedule includes the bands playing on three different occasions. Friday and Saturday evening performances will be at the Convention Center. Doors open at 8 PM and tickets are $15 A limited number of tickets are available for the evening performances so you may want to purchase them ahead of time. Saturday afternoon’s performance will take place on the beach from 11 AM – 6 PM and tickets are $12 For Saturday afternoon’s performance, children 12 and under are free, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center.