High Cotton Music Hall

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High Cotton Music Hall Hartwell's Premiere Listening Room We are an intimate listening room for the serious music lover.

We had a simple, yet locally unique idea:
To create a venue where talented musicians can perform for people who truly want to enjoy live music. With a team dedicated to providing the best experience for both the performers and the audience, we are a music venue for nationally touring artists as well as regional and local musicians. Come out and enjoy the show, savor the warm, eclectic ambiance that only a 100-year-old room can provide, and be prepared to fall in love with High Cotton Music Hall! Located in a former cotton warehouse on Hartwell's historic Depot Street, High Cotton Music Hall is home to a variety of live music events encompassing all genres of American Roots Music. This is the only venue in town dedicated to the preservation and performance of live music. You can find our full calendar and ticket links on our website, and be sure to like our page so you will receive notifications about our events!

This week on Music from High Cotton, an encore presentation, featuring DK Harrell and his band. He brought his Memphis s...
10/15/2026

This week on Music from High Cotton, an encore presentation, featuring DK Harrell and his band. He brought his Memphis style blues, soul and rock to the stage of High Cotton Music Hall.

Tune in Thursday night at 9 to WUGA
FM 91.7 and 94.5 FM, or point your browser to wuga.org to enjoy the live stream.

MARK HUMMEL was born in New Haven, CT but moved to Los Angeles as a newborn. Hummel took up an interest in blues harp & ...
10/10/2026

MARK HUMMEL was born in New Haven, CT but moved to Los Angeles as a newborn. Hummel took up an interest in blues harp & rock-blues music in high school but soon discovered the originators like Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson & Little Walter. Soon after, Hummel frequented the Ash Grove club on Melrose Ave. in LA where he saw (in a three month period) three blues legends he would later work with on a regular basis; Charlie Musselwhite, Brownie McGhee (w/Sonny Terry) & James Cotton. By 1985 Mark Hummel’s Blues Survivors hit the road full time & continue till the present (Hummel’s memoir, “Big Road Blues: 12 Bars on I-80” recounts many road exploits). Hummel’s been featured on over thirty recordings since 1985 including his 2014 Blind Pig Records, Remembering Little Walter (a recording of a Hummel Blues Harp Blowout.) The  CD was nominated for a Grammy Award and won two Blues Music Awards.  Come see him with his band, Longtime Texas blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh and drummer, Wes Starr and help us celebrate a sound that was just what Smokestack Willie adored.

THIS THURSDAY, 10/15 at 8pm. See you there!

We’re disappointed to share that this Friday’s Brandon Santini show at High Cotton Music Hall has been cancelled.Brandon...
10/08/2026

We’re disappointed to share that this Friday’s Brandon Santini show at High Cotton Music Hall has been cancelled.

Brandon was scheduled to headline the Forgotten Music Festival in Port St. Joe, Florida, on Sunday. Unfortunately, the festival has been cancelled due to the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Isaias along the Gulf Coast.

Because that festival was the anchor date that made this weekend’s tour financially possible, Brandon has made the difficult decision to cancel his remaining dates—including his Friday night performance here at High Cotton.

We know how much our audience looks forward to these shows, and we are incredibly disappointed that we won’t get to welcome Brandon to Hartwell this Friday. We were especially excited to feature him during Harmonica Week, celebrating an instrument that means so much to the story of High Cotton.

This is a difficult reality for working touring musicians right now. Rising travel and touring costs mean that the loss of one major date can make an entire run impossible. We completely understand the decision, even though we hate the circumstances that brought us here.

We are already working on plans for Brandon to return to High Cotton, and we hope to have him back on our stage soon. Refunds for all tickets purchased have been processed and should show up on your end within the next day. Please let us know if you have any issues.

Thank you for your understanding and, as always, for supporting live music and the artists who make it possible.

“Harmonica Week” at High Cotton is right around the corner and our first featured act is the incredible, Brandon Santini...
09/28/2026

“Harmonica Week” at High Cotton is right around the corner and our first featured act is the incredible, Brandon Santini. A 25-year veteran of the blues, rock & now country music circuits, Santini has built his sound from the Piedmont roots of his North Carolina childhood to the storied stages of Memphis’ Beale Street where he refined his playing into the explosive harmonica work, commanding voice, and dynamic stage presence & songwriting. He has earned eleven Blues Music Award nominations, landed major TV placements, and has a reputation as one of today’s leading modern blues performers. Not to mention that he has had the honor of performing on stage with Buddy Guy, Blues Traveler, Gary Clark Jr, Beth Hart, and Charlie Musselwhite.

But our very favorite person he has shared the stage with is our beloved, Smokestack Willie. He was a super fan of Santini’s and loved having him here at High Cotton. When we first decided to highlight the harmonica in honor of Walter there was no better artist to kick it off. Come see why he was so special to Walter and experience his incredible talent on the harmonica live at High Cotton on 10/9/26 at 8pm!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brandon-santini-tickets-1996316983838

This week on Music from High Cotton:Coming up this week on Music from High Cotton, an encore presentation with Mark Humm...
09/15/2026

This week on Music from High Cotton:

Coming up this week on Music from High Cotton, an encore presentation with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors.  New Yorker magazine had this to say about this week’s artist: “ Hummel, a specialist in West Coast Blues, knows a thing or two about how to please an audience”. Hummel is a singer, songwriter, and harmonica player. He definitely pleased the audience during this live performance, recorded at Cotton Music Hall.

Join us Thursday night at 9 on WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM.  Live stream at wuga.org.

09/08/2026

Scott T. Smith is a singer-songwriter from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. He combines his folk roots with soul, folk, and rock to share stories of resilience and hope. Smith released his first EP, Wanted Man, in 2019,with his debut album anticipated to launch in spring 2026, as part of Tyler Childers’ Snipe Hunt tour.

Come see him in beautiful Hartwell, GA at High Cotton Music Hall on 9/18. Grab your tickets before they are gone!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scott-t-smith-and-the-hurricanes-tickets-1996184172596

This week on Music from High Cotton:Multiple Blues Music Award winner and Billboard No.1 artist, singer, songwriter and ...
09/01/2026

This week on Music from High Cotton:

Multiple Blues Music Award winner and Billboard No.1 artist, singer, songwriter and guitarist Albert Castiglia is our featured performer on the next episode of Music from High Cotton.  In addition to his solo work, Albert is a member of the Blood Brothers Band with Mike Zito and part-time singer, Bill Murray.  He has also toured as a featured performer in the Experience Hendrix concert series.  For this concert, he brought his high-powered band to Cotton Music Hall for an hour of thrilling blues-rock.  Tune in Thursday night at 9 for Music from High Cottonon WUGA 91.7 and 94.5.  Live stream at wuga.org.  All episodes of Music from High Cotton are archived at wuga.org.

This October, we’re celebrating a week of harmonica in honor of our beloved “Smokestack Willie.” We’ll kick things off O...
08/21/2026

This October, we’re celebrating a week of harmonica in honor of our beloved “Smokestack Willie.” We’ll kick things off October 9 with Brandon Santini, a dear friend of Smokestack’s and an incredible blues harmonica player. Then on October 15, we welcome the legendary Mark Hummel for another unforgettable night of blues and harmonica. We’ll wrap up the week on Saturday, October 17, with our Blues Jam, where the High Cotton house band will be playing all of Smokestack’s favorite songs.A special week of music celebrating a very special friend.

October 9 — Brandon Santini

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brandon-santini-tickets-1996316983838?aff=erelpanelorg

October 15 — Mark Hummel

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mark-hummel-and-the-blues-survivors-tickets-1996317948724?aff=erelpanelorg

October 17 — Blues Jam

Address

57 Depot Street
Hartwell, GA
30643

Telephone

+17064367424

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