Mauldin is one of those easy kinds of towns that cause the shoulders to relax immediately upon arrival. Located just outside of Greenville, the town has produced such talent as actor Orlando Jones and basketball star Kevin Garnett.

Mauldin is also known for being a wonderful place to experience some of the best music South Carolina has to offer. Each summer the Mauldin Cultural Center features local musicians in their Railroad Concert Series. The most recent installment in the series included a high school friend of mine, Charles Hedgepath, whose talent with the guitar was mindblowing when we were kids and is unfathomable as an adult.

The next installment is tonight (July 27) and features The Bad Popes, a Greenville-based group with Hedgepath on guitar and vocals.

All in all, this is guaranteed to be a wonderful experience at the Mauldin Cultural Center Amphitheater at 101 East Butler Road. Concerts are free and picnic baskets are permitted. For more information please visit the concert series website.