The Lewis Family bluegrass-gospel group, of Lincolnton, Ga., has performed for more than four decades across the nation but rarely in their hometown area.

The exception is the appearance at their own bluegrass festival the first weekend each May at Elijah Clark State Park near Lincolnton.

Area fans, however, will get to see the group at 7:30 p.m. today in the Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St. They will be joined by bluegrass fiddler, banjo player and singer Lizzie Long, also of Lincolnton, opening the Morris Museum of Art's sixth annual Southern Soul and Song concert series.

Tickets are $22.50, orchestra and mezzanine; $17.50, first balcony, and $12.50, second balcony. Call (706) 722-8341 or visit southernsoulandsong.org.

There is a strong rumor that banjo player Earl Scruggs, formerly of Flatt & Scruggs, might be a surprise guest.

That isn't too farfetched, because Mr. Scruggs has been an unannounced guest at The Lewis Family's recent bluegrass festivals. He also joined banjo player Little Roy Lewis and Ms. Long for the 2007 Vine Records CD Lewis, Scruggs & Long - Lifetimes.

Since the 1950s, The Lewis Family has been churning out great albums. Their most recent is We Are Family, featuring Jeff & Sheri Easter and The Easter Brothers. The Lewis Family in 1992 was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

OKEFENOKEE JOE & FRIENDS: There will be another wonderful concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday when naturalist and country singer Okefenokee Joe performs at American Legion Post 71, in the 300 block of West Spring Grove Avenue in North Augusta.

Tickets will cost $6 at the door and will benefit the post's building fund.

Earlier in his life, the naturalist, who stars in the popular Swampwise and The Joy of Snakes specials on Georgia PBS TV stations, was known by his real name of Dick Flood.

He will be joined in Friday night's show by talented singers and songwriters Carl Black, Wade Teston and Mr. Teston's daughter, Erin. The Testons were a finalist in The Augusta Chronicle's singer-songwriter contest.

AIKEN SONGWRITERS SHOW: Judith Goodwin, the development officer for university advancement at the University of South Carolina Aiken tells me the recent songwriters concert on campus grossed nearly $17,000 in sponsorship and ticket sales benefiting USC Aiken scholarships.

The show, attended by more than 500, featured Larry Jon Wilson, Mike Stewart, Stewart Harris and Archie Jordan.

"Above all else," Ms. Goodwin said, "I think it was a 'spirit raiser' as well as a fundraiser."