For 26 years, Anderson County has invited the community to “Celebrate Anderson” by hosting a free concert and fireworks show at the William A. Floyd Amphitheater over the Labor Day Weekend.
This year, fans can get ready to boogie! Anderson County is pleased to announce Grammy Awarded, national touring artist Kool & the Gang on Sunday, August 31, 2025 as the headline performers for the festival. Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time.
Kool & the Gang, officially launched in 1969. Thanks to iconic songs like “Celebration”, “Cherish”, “Jungle Boogie”, “Summer Madness”, “Get Down On it” and “Open Sesame” , they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.
In 1964, Ronald “Khalis” Bell and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined Jersey City neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk. At first calling themselves the Jazziacs, the band went through various names – The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, Kool & the Flames – before settling on their famous moniker.
On October 19, 2024, Kool & the Gang was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the Class of 2024. The group continues to delight fans around the globe with their timeless hits and amazing live performances. For information and tour dates: www.koolandthegang.com
“We are thrilled to welcome Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Kool & the Gang to Anderson County” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “As the hit makers who have given the world the song, ‘Celebration’, they are the perfect fit for our Celebrate Anderson Festival. Fans can expect a BIG show with world class performers who know how to bring just the right ‘Summer Madness’ to Anderson County” continued an excited Mr. Burns.
The concert is FREE but does require a free ticket to enter. Organizers are expecting the event to reach capacity and encourage fans to get tickets early. You can secure your ticket beginning Friday April 4th at www.andersonevents.com. Lawn tickets are for fans who wish to bring their blankets and chairs to set up on the lawn. Standing Room Only tickets are for those who want to dance up close to the stage where chairs are not permitted. Fans are reminded that securing the free tickets helps organizers best prepare and communicate important information to ticket holders about the event.
For more information about sponsorship and vendor opportunities at Celebrate Anderson, please email Adrienne Cole, celebrateanderson@andersoncountysc.org