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Music in the Garden at Woodlands takes place in the screened-in Pavilion and are free to the public. The music events are on numerous Sundays in the spring and fall between 2 and 4 pm; other music events occur as announced. Our performers are local musicians who donate their time and talents! Be in touch with questions (404-373-2222 or annie@woodlandsgarden.org).

***Please keep in mind that off-site parking may be required for Music in the Garden. Off-site parking options can be found here. Contact annie@woodlandsgarden.org with questions.

 

2026 SCHEDULE - Visit our events calendar for the schedule.

  • 4/26: Folk trio, Harm's Way
  • 5/3: Songwriter rounds with Paul Shaw, David Coons and George Eckard
  • 5/17: Songwriter rounds
  • 5/24: Acoustic quartet, Mockingbird's Wing
  • 5/31: Trio, Blackfoot Daisy
  • 6/7: Duo, Nearly Normal String Band

 

 

2025 SCHEDULE 

Fall 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • September 28: George Hergen, folksinger and balladeer. George grew up in New York City and found his way to Greenwich Village during the 1960’s. George learned a lot of folk music first hand from the artists who made it famous. His music recalls groups like Peter, Paul & Mary and other folk groups and singers from the 50’s and 60’s.

 

  • October 5: Two Performances
    • Blackfoot Daisy. The Americana trio band from Clarkston, GA includes Don Sechelski on vocals, guitar and bass, Wendy DuMond on vocals, percussion, ukelele and guitar and Eric Toomsen on fiddle. They will perform a set of original songs along with some old favorites. Rooted in folk traditions but unafraid to stretch the boundaries.
    • Voices for Now is a friendly group of choral singers who believe that music has the power to help us feel, heal, and connect. We formed our own a cappella choir in 2022 and enjoy singing at community events and senior centers. Raising awareness about good causes is forefront in our minds when seeking out new venues for performances.

  • October 12: Songwriter Circle with Jeff Silver, Juliett Estrea, Paul Shaw and George Eckard. Singer-songwriters on guitar and more.
    • Juliet Estrea is a self taught Atlanta based singer/songwriter who focuses on personal and introspective lyricism with an indie sound. She is influenced by artists such as Adrienne Lenker, Big Thief, Sharon Van Etten, Slow Pulp, and Soccer Mommy.
    • Paul Shaw grew up in the Northeast and was exposed to rock and country music as a kid. He started playing drums at four years old and guitar at 3. His favorite percussion instruments, outside of the drum set, include cajon and doumbek. As a jazz drummer, Paul toured the US, Europe, and Asia during a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force. He has taught undergraduate classes at several universities including Mercer and private drum lessons for the last twenty-five years.
    • George Eckard started writing songs when he was in college and has had a passion for it ever since. His musical explorations began when his parents bought him a little red ukulele and he taught himself to play it. Today he plays and writes songs on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonicas, and he has led FHS’s songwriting lab since 2019. George has played at various local venues solo, with the Unusual Suspects, and with the 4 Man String Band. His second collection of original songs, Love the Land, was released in 2021.
    • Jeff Silver is a singer/songwriter and producer who has also composed for musical theater, modern dance, and advertising and corporate projects. He’s led songwriting workshops for elementary school children and cancer survivors, been a facilitator for songwriting retreats for veterans with PTSD, and is a chapter coordinator for Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Jeff is a past winner in the country category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and his song Forget About Love appeared on Mark Wills’ gold-selling album Permanently. His most recent album is 2025’s Kindling. Previous releases are Pinwheel, The Cynical Optimist, and Looking Forward/Looking Back.

  • October 19: Mockingbird's Wing
    • An acoustic band made up of four diverse musicians: Barbara Hotz, a singer/songwriter with deep roots in Mexico and a love of the old standards; Jonathan McBee, a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter out of Chicago; Paul Pendery, a Montana/Alaska/Texas singer/songwriter whose songs evoke soulful stirrings and happy feet; and Suzy Schultz, whose day job is full-time artist, adds vocals/flute/cello to the Mockingbird’s Wing sound. Like the mockingbird’s song, the different voices and styles come together to make a unique sound.
  • October 26: Frank Hamilton and Friends

 

Spring 2025

  • April 27 : Mocking Bird's Wing

 

  • May 4 : Four Folk singers - Charles Absher, Ron Hipp, Cameron Kane and David Leonard
    These are four gentlemen who have performed in the metro area for many years. They will be playing and singing a pleasing selection of original songs and old favorites.

 

  • May 18 : Songwriters in the round - John Cable, Cyndi Craven and George Eckard

  • John Cable began his career in the late 60s. After serving as lead guitarist and vocalist for the Texas country rock pioneers, Colours, he became a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He has performed on The Tonight Show, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, The Midnight Special, Austin City Limits and the Grand Ole Opry and some great concert venues, including Wolftrap, Carnegie Hall, and Red Rocks.
  • Cyndi Craven has written songs about a train from the train's point of view, a guardian angel with a crooked wing (and possibly a criminal record), starfish habitat, secret turtle language, and a dog with an unfortunate reputation, and she'll sing some of them at Woodlands Garden. A longtime member of Atlanta's acoustic music community, Cyndi has performed at pretty much every area coffeehouse venue. She also helped run Lena's Place for eight years and the Freight Room for five with Tom Wolf. Cyndi was a 1991 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk finalist, and she has sung at the Bluebird in Nashville.
  • George Eckard has lived in the Atlanta area for more than 50 years and has been playing various instruments for longer than that. He has played at local venues solo, with the Unusual Suspects and with the 4 Man String Band. His second recorded collection of original songs, Love the Land, was completed recently. He leads the Songwriting Lab at the Frank Hamilton School.

 

  • May 25 : Redwine Jam and Harm's Way

Red Wine Jam is an Atlanta-based folk music duo comprised of Chris and Carol Moser. They perform a wide range of North American and Celtic folk songs and tunes, from traditional material to newly written compositions by contemporary folk legends.

    • Harm’s Way is an Americana music group that has entertained in the Southeast since the mid-1970s. Its song list includes familiar classics and lesser-known folk tunes. The group is led by Harmon Koeltz, who began his music career as a drummer and band leader in high school. He is joined by vocalist Liz Bradley, who has been singing pop, folk, rock, traditional big band/swing and more since the 1980s.

 

  • June 1 : The Nearly Normal String Band
    The Nearly Normal String Band consists of husband-and-wife team Viva and Neil Araki. They play multiple acoustic instruments in several styles, including blues, bluegrass, Celtic, 60s folk, and old time Appalachian. The Band plays at state parks, farmers markets, coffee houses, private parties, weddings, and music festivals. They are also annual performers at the Friday night concert series at the historic Union County courthouse.

 

  • June 8 : Eason and Gibson
    Libby Eason and David Gibson have performed in the Atlanta area for many years. They have performed as a duo for over a decade and both solo as well as with various groups including The Unusual Suspects. They are both songwriters and talented musicians.

 

 

2024 SCHEDULE 

  • Fall 2024
    • October  6 : Songwriters Charles Absher, John Cable & George Eckard

      • Charles Absher has been playing music since high school (yes, over 50 years ago). There was a 10-year period when he put down the guitar to earn a civil engineering degree, but it soon became his stress reliever as he advanced in his career. He’s played in Bluegrass, Folk/Rock and Americana bands both before and after the college degree. Now retired, he continues to compose and perform his own songs.
      • John Cable began his career in the late 60s. After serving as lead guitarist and vocalist for the Texas country rock pioneers, Colours, he became a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He has performed on The Tonight Show, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, The Midnight Special, Austin City Limits and the Grand Ole Opry and some great concert venues, including Wolftrap, Carnegie Hall, and Red Rocks.
      • George Eckard has lived in the Atlanta area for more than 50 years and has been playing various instruments for longer than that. He has played at local venues solo, with the Unusual Suspects and with the 4 Man String Band. His second recorded collection of original songs, Love the Land, was completed recently. He leads the Songwriting Lab at the Frank Hamilton School.
    • October 13 : The Nearly Normal String Band with The duo of David Gibson and Libby Eason

      • The Nearly Normal String Band consists of husband-and-wife team Viva and Neil Araki. They play multiple acoustic instruments in several styles, including blues, bluegrass, Celtic, 60s folk, and old time Appalachian. The Band plays at state parks, farmers markets, coffee houses, private parties, weddings, and music festivals. They are also annual performers at the Friday night concert series at the historic Union County courthouse.
      • Libby Eason and David Gibson Have performed in the Atlanta area for many years. They have performed as a duo for over a decade and both solo as well as with various groups including The Unusual Suspects. They are both songwriters and talented musicians.
    • October 20 : Black foot Daisy

      • The Black foot Daisy includes Don Sechelski on vocals, guitar and bass, Wendy DuMond on vocals, percussion, ukelele and guitar and Eric Toomsen on fiddle. They will perform a set of original songs along with some old favorites.
    • October 27 : Red Wine Jam with Voices for Now

      • Red Wine Jam is a trio with Chris and Carol Moser and their friend David Leinweber. They will be doing a tribute to the famous Canadian Singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot.
      • Voices for Now is a friendly group of choral singers who believe that music has the power to help us feel, heal, and connect. We formed our own a cappella choir in 2022 and enjoy singing at community events and senior centers. Raising awareness about good causes is forefront in our minds when seeking out new venues for performances.
    • November 3 : Mocking Bird's Wing

      • Mockingbird’s Wing is an acoustic band made up of four diverse musicians: Barbara Hotz, a singer/songwriter with deep roots in Mexico and a love of the old standards; Jonathan McBee, a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter out of Chicago; Paul Pendery, a Montana/Alaska/Texas singer/songwriter whose songs evoke soulful stirrings and happy feet; and Suzy Schultz, whose day job is full-time artist, adds vocals/flute/cello to the Mockingbird’s Wing sound. Like the mockingbird’s song, the different voices and styles come together to make a unique sound.