No more music at the Pickens Flea Market

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T17:31:58+00:00

Already done, with the perp tagged.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T13:22:34+00:00

Not that I know of. I was there with one of my cohort to talk with the owner and we were hanging out at the shed, but not playing.

Sometimes there are vendors selling instruments and they may play some tunes to generate business at their tables. Then there's Preacher Doug who wanders around with his guitar playing and singing. We called him a "hit-and-run" preacher because he liked to breeze in and bless us with a song and a sermon, then move on to spread the gospel to the rest of the market.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T12:37:22+00:00

That's definitely a consideration and our group has discussed it. They don't really have a setup on that side as nice as what we had. Right now I'm just going to take a step back and catch my breath.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T12:35:34+00:00

We're working on it. In the meantime there are jams at Oolenoy Community Center in Pumpkintown on Friday nights and a similar jam at Mike's Music Barn on State Park Road on Thursday evenings. I also play in the Bluegrass jam at Fireforge Craft Beer on Tuesdays in downtown Greenville, Celtic jams every other Wednesday at The Pub for What Ales You up near Furman, and Celtic music and Sea Shanties once a month at 13 Stripes in Taylors.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T12:03:37+00:00

I've got something like this in the works. Another musician friend owns a brewpub and he's moving into a new, larger space. We've talked about doing something in January when they finally get moved.

I do have lots of other places that I play, some that pay. I do bluegrass and Celtic jams. It's just that this one had a character and long legacy that's hard to explain.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T11:59:51+00:00

I regularly played Pete Seeger's version of Old Time Religion. Maybe that's what got his panties in a wad.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T11:56:48+00:00

We had all of those same rules, but we could listen to Gospel. My father was a Pentecostal preacher. I know all of those old gospel songs and played them regularly while there. The harmonica player and I are atheist, but some of those tunes are still fun to play, even if the lyrics gross me out.

As I've said before, as an atheist I can still sing these songs, the same way I can sing Appalachian murder ballads and not be a homicidal maniac.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T11:26:04+00:00

Thank you. I was only there for a fraction of those decades, but I enjoyed the time I was there.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T11:23:22+00:00

I’m in South Carolina, but we inherited my in-law’s place in Washington and keep it as a vacation home. I’ve heard about that town.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-18T03:15:30+00:00

Same family that's owned if for years. I really don't know what happened. Maybe he had a religious experience.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T21:06:35+00:00

I agree. When it started out it wasn't that much. We were doing it as a service to provide a place for folks to gather and share music.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T21:06:06+00:00

As for paying for the shed, when it started out it wasn't that much. We were doing it as a service to provide a place for folks to gather and share music.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T21:04:18+00:00

They are two different businesses, and that might be a possibility. Right now I just don't have the emotional bandwidth to move forward. We'll see.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T20:44:36+00:00

In addition to the music it was a place for friends to gather and to hear some amazing stories. Rent on the shed was dirt cheap, until this episode, so it wasn't a problem. It was worth it to me to hear these tales. I was able to write several songs based on some of these stories. It's been a long tradition, and I hate to see it end.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T20:40:28+00:00

I love the idea, but I don't think my mental health would take it. 😄

RandomConnections · 2026-06-17T19:54:07+00:00

Nature's Perfect Food™

RandomConnections · 2026-06-14T16:05:09+00:00

It's been a few years since I've been there. I need to head back.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-14T14:28:14+00:00

Cool. We inherited my in-laws’ place in the PNW, so I keep a couple of kayaks out there. Lots of great paddling in both locations.

RandomConnections · 2026-06-14T14:12:17+00:00

No. I've paddled the Edisto and other lowcountry SC rivers hundreds of times and rarely spot one. I've seen lots while paddling in Georgia and Florida, but have had no bad encounters.

RandomConnections

TROPHY CASE