Spoleto organizers made a bold move by booking the Carolina Chocolate Drops for the Finale, rather than the traditional Spoleto Festival Orchestra. While we’re not sure of the motives for the change-up (boredom? finances?), we do think it’s a good idea. The string band will inject some much-needed youthful energy into the finale. They have a huge fan base in the Lowcountry, which should draw a bigger, younger crowd — quite a different crowd, in fact, than many Spoleto events. And this is a good thing, as it broadens the festival’s appeal to a wider audience. As lovely as it is to hear the SFO play under the stars in past years, we’d inevitably feel like nodding off before the fireworks began. We’re pretty sure the Drops won’t let that happen this year.
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