Riverfront Revival brings good old rock ‘n’ roll, country and Americana music to the Lowcountry Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 when this local fest returns to North Charleston’s Riverfront Park for its second year.
Curated and headlined by Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, the two-day event features 20 local and regional acts including Southern rock icon Band of Horses and Charleston’s own Randall Fowler, Emily Curtis, Elizabeth Covington, Grayson Little and Haley Mae Campbell.
“I can’t wait to be back in Charleston for Riverfront Revival,” Darius Rucker told the Charleston City Paper. “It was a dream of mine for so long to bring a music festival to my hometown, so to now be back for a second year with a great lineup of artists like Turnpike Troubadours, Lainey Wilson, Band of Horses and to be celebrating the release of my first record in six years all in one weekend is going to be awesome.”
Singer-songwriter Emily Curtis put together an all-female band for her set which starts at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8 on the Magnolia Stage. Besides Curtis at the center with her acoustic guitar, the ensemble features Kelly Sanchez on the keys, LaToya Renea on the bass, Sarah Faith Merrit on electric guitar, Stachia Stalav Simmons on drums and Xan DuBose on backing vocals.
Curtis said putting together this group for the coming Riverfront Revival feels like a benchmark in her career. The project is all about spotlighting each member’s talent and highlighting the importance of women in the community.
“This is my first time being part of a major festival,” she told the City Paper. “I wanted to create a unique live experience. That feeling of accomplishing something unique that’s not like the other bands is something that I’m really excited about. I think it’s just cool to be able to show people that it’s doable.”
Curtis’ music is a blend of soulful pop and Southern twang-tinged rock, and the group will definitely be highlighting that at Riverfront Revival.
“This is going to be more of a pop, soulful rock, folk situation,” she said.
Curtis said she started thinking about how rare it is to see women outside of the role of lead or backing vocalist after working so often with Simmons, one of the few local female drummers, and wanted to give more female performers an opportunity to shine at a big local festival.
“To put a bunch of women on one set — it just feels really good,” she said. “I think each one of the women that I’m working with on this project is a frontwoman in their own right. Each one of them has had their own shows before. Each one has their own music they’ve written. I feel like we’re putting those concepts together and showing how they can go hand in hand.”
For tickets and details, visit riverfrontrevival.com.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.