The tale of the Blue Dogs begins in South Carolina, where two lifelong friends formed a band that is now revered for their feel-good original songs, upbeat shows, and an effortless blend of rock, pop and country. That story continues with Big Dreamers, their long-awaited first album in 16 years. Produced by accomplished guitarist Sadler Vaden, who’s been a fan of their music since he was a teenager, the collection solidifies the Blue Dogs as one of the state’s most beloved and enduring bands.  Founded in 1987 and based in Charleston, the group is still led by songwriters Hank Futch (bass) and Bobby Houck (lead singer, acoustic guitar), who grew up together in Florence, South Carolina. For this project they were joined in the studio by guitarist Dan Hood, steel guitar player Charlie Thompson, and longtime drummer Greg Walker. Meanwhile, former member Phillip Lammonds co-wrote three of the new songs, making Big Dreamers feel like a full circle moment.  “We’re doing this to follow that dream of playing music and sharing our sound with whoever wants to listen,” Futch says. “We’ve probably been Americana before that became a term. But we didn’t feel like we had to be anything other than ourselves to write these songs.” 

Uncle Mingo are a Charleston, SC based funk-punk quintet that melds the party-hearty attitude of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with a stronger funk basis and an inclination toward long jams that lean towards prog-rock. Guitarist Scott Quattlebaum, bassist Bryon Moore and drummer Robert Thorn formed Uncle Mingo in Charleston as a trio in 1989, playing funk-metal and alternative rock. After developing a local following, the group added Jason Moore (saxophone, keyboard; no relation to Bryon) and recorded their first album, an eponymous cassette-only release which appeared that fall. That album was quickly followed by Fatty Mookie Mo' Booty, which became a word-of-mouth hit around the Southeast following the group's constant touring. After a few years, the group had developed a strong fan base across the Southeast, as well as Colorado. In 1996, the group released their third album, Little Baby Brother, which was produced by James Brown saxophonist Jeff Watkins and featured the James Brown horn section. Uncle Mingo signed a deal with Autonomous Records in 1997 and in the spring, the label gave Fatty Mookie Mo' Booty a national release, following it with Dancin' on the Moon in April. In 1999 the band went on hiatus, but never officially broke up. The band members got day jobs and settled into family life while occasionally performing together. In 2006 Greg Walker, of Blue Dogs fame, was brought on to play with the band as a drummer.

In 1984, well before the explosion of extended instrumental concerts, an improvisational band playing original music named Indecision emerged out of Charlottesville, Virginia. Drawing from a wide variety of influences, including The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, The Band, Steely Dan, and Little Feat, as well as the more complex rhythmic and harmonic structure of many jazz artists, Indecision forged a unique sound in the relatively new movement of improvisational music known today as the jam band scene.

Take your art seriously, not yourself. That’s the motto emerging blues-rock band Tobacco Road lives by - whether they’re on the road, in the studio, or in practicing their East Nashville garage. Playful, energetic, and equal parts modern and soulful, the band’s spirited personality turns a room full of strangers into a group of friends in minutes. With a little central Texas spunk, old-school Louisiana blues, and roots in North Carolina’s Piedmont, the past lives of Tobacco Road’s members blend into a sound that moves seamlessly between beltable diary entries, Southern-rock storytelling, and indie-rock groove. They draw from the nostalgia of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the soul of Susan Tedeschi, and the dynamics of Fleetwood Mac, while taking cues from modern role models like Maggie Rogers and Marcus King Band. In their first year as a band, Tobacco Road released their six-song debut EP All in Time and shared the stage with rising contemporaries like Marlon Funaki, Winyah, and Liam St. John. Tobacco Road’s quick development stems from a live show that’s both high-energy and disarmingly intimate - despite the sweeping vocals and wailing solos, they make you feel like part of the band, whether it’s your first or fiftieth show. The shifting moods of the band’s sound reflect the uniqueness of its members as five twenty-somethings learning to navigate love, loss, joy, confusion, and identity. Tobacco Road captures the chaos of growing up and the peace that comes with finding your people

We are shaped by songs and we are shaped by setting.  Finnegan Bell is born from both. Raised in South Carolina and located in Charleston, Shane Williams and Warren Bazemore have roots deeply tied to the place they call home.  Williams and Bazemore began writing and playing together while students at The University of South Carolina, and through life’s turns and seasons, they have not stopped making music since.  As the band Finnegan Bell, the duo continues to play over 100 shows a year having shared the stage with John Paul White, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Penny & Sparrow, Will Hoge, Marc Broussard, Edwin McCain and many other national and regional acts. With a deep belief in the power of music and community, Finnegan Bell created and curates the critically acclaimed songwriter series STAC House Shows.  Located in historic venues in Charleston, SC it provides a unique opportunity for songwriters and audiences to connect.