A non-stop stream of people filed into J.F. Gregory Park Friday evening for the annual Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival, sampling treats and hitting the midway while being entertained by live music on the main stage.

Gates opened at 5 p.m. The park closes at 11 p.m. Friday.

The first music act took the stage at 6 p.m. and immediately drew a crowd. Audie Murphy’s Mixtape, a nine-piece band — including horns — from Fort Stewart tore into “The Seeker” by The Who and didn’t let up for 45 minutes, performing songs from Tom Petty to CCR to Pink Floyd.

The group, of course, is named for Audie Murphy, the most-decorated soldier of World War II.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Brewer said he normally plays drums, but had to fill in as lead singer Friday due to an illness.

“We play everything from Iron Maiden to R &B,” he laughed.

Also performing Friday night were Esteban’s Hat, Guns4Hire and Justin Dukes.

The GOSF runs 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Opening ceremonies will be at 5:30 p.m. Big Al Mack of the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show will be the emcee for the evening. Adam Wakefield is scheduled to take the stage at 6:45 p.m., followed by Jerrod Niemann. Headliner 38 Special will perform around 9:40 p.m., followed by fireworks.

For complete details of the weekend, see http://www.bryancountynews.com/section/101/article/51021/.

A photo gallery can be found at http://www.bryancountynews.com/seafoodfest17/.