Piccolo Spoleto’s Women in Rock concert brought the 2026 festival season to a close Saturday night. The concert, a culmination of the festival’s celebration of local artists, was headlined by Charleston-based singer-songwriter Elise Testone and also featured local musicians Liz Kelley and Victoria Purdy.
Testone’s set, featuring Liz Kelley and Jordan Igoe on backup vocals, was a history of women (and several men) who defined and evolved the rock genre throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
“I especially enjoyed singing Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac, Magic Man by Heart, and Just A Girl by No Doubt. The reactions to my original music was a highlight for me,” said Testone, “especially when singing such familiar music! It’s always a blessing to have your personal creations well received”
Another highlight for Testone was having her students open for her on stage.
“I am so thrilled with the way everything turned out! I couldn’t be more proud of my young students for their bravery and hard work preparing for a memorable evening,” she said. “They were the highlight for me. It’s amazing to play a small role in their creative journey and confidence building.”
Kelley, who performed earlier in the day, said that the audience was warm and inviting.
“I was really happy with my set. We had great weather. There’ve been a lot of adorable kids running around and dancing all day, so it was all good,” Kelley said.
She described the event as calm, a true example of Southern living.
“There were a lot of people in lawn chairs, just kind of vibing, but it felt like they were very attentive. So it was nice,” she said.
Another meaningful aspect of the performance for Kelley was having a familiar face on stage with her.
“I hired my college mentor to play trumpet with me today, so that was really special. That’s the first time I’ve hired him to play my original music. It felt like a big moment for me,” Kelley said.
As the finale continued into the night, families, children and music lovers gathered near the stage, dancing, smiling and enjoying the performance.
In the crowd was Isabella Gardner, a College of Charleston graduate who now works as a production assistant and building steward for Cannon Street Arts Center. Gardner, 23, described Piccolo as a festival that inevitably breeds community.
“I think it’s like we’re all already friends. I don’t know. We just all come into Piccolo, and we’re all excited to be artists and facilitate art. And everybody who comes in is so excited to watch art. So I just feel like we’re all already buddies because we’re all working towards the same goal,” Gardner said.
Gardner said one of her favorite moments of the day was watching Elise’s students open for her.
By the end of the evening, the tribute to Women in Rock had audience members up and dancing. From toddlers to seasoned Piccolo participants, the event drew Charlestonians both old and new to Hampton Park.
Dancing in the crowd were Adele and Irvin “Irv” Fisher. The Charleston residents have been attending Piccolo Spoleto for the past decade and continue to return for the atmosphere.
“It’s wonderful. The atmosphere, just the environment, and the beautiful music all come together to present a real magical evening,” Adele Fisher said. Her husband, Irvin, cited previous tribute performances as the reason they continue to attend year after year.
Another attendee, Heidi Danes, stumbled upon the event and decided to stick around.
“This whole place is so friendly, so fun. I love that there are birthday parties happening around here too,” said Danes. “The people have all been so sweet, so talkative, so welcoming.”
Danes, who moved to Charleston a month ago, walks her dog through Hampton Park and was made aware of the performance on the morning of. She and hundreds of others hung around Hampton Park for the evening with picnic blankets and chairs.
As the sun went down and the crowd rocked out to the concert, the Piccolo Spoleto event represented not only Women in Rock, but how those women and their songs bring people together, get them out of their seats and allow them to come together in camaraderie and celebration.
Jordyn Britton is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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