Josh Turner to Headline Anderson Soirée

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council gave the go ahead on $450,000, most of it grant money, as part of Tuesday night’s meeting.

Council approved $49,500 to bring a headline music act to the Anderson Soirée on April 26 at 7 p.m. on South Main Street. Country Music Star Josh Turner, whose hits include “Long Black Train,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” and “Would You Go With Me,” will kick off this year’s downtown festival. Turner, who is from South Carolina, is best known for his deep voice and soulful country ballads.

Council also approved $400,000 to hire Anderson’s H3 Marketing, LLC for the event management of the upcoming International Network of Michelin Cities Conference in April. The city will use part of a $600,000 grant from the South Carolina Department or Revenue to pay for the effort, which will include graphic design, event production, vendor costs, promotional items, public relations services, staging, audiovisual equipment, and general execution of the event. Visitors from 25 countries are expected at the event, which will include tours of Clemson University’s I-Car facility in Greenville, Anderson University and Tri-County Technical College.