4-29 — This week in SC Music

On Saturday night, I was one of the judges at the inaugural Irmo Battle of the Bands, hosted at Craft and Draft. The four winners go on to the finals at the community park this summer, and the winner of that goes on to play at the annual Okra Strut Festival, wins a $1,500 cash prize, and receives a giant trophy that’s okra green and six feet tall. The comically large trophy would be a fine addition to any band’s rehearsal space.

As one of the student bands said, “thank you to the judges, you’re doing the Lord’s work.” That band is in good hands; Paisley is their teacher and obviously gives them good advice.

Battle of the Bands has a certain stigma to it. Just about everyone who’s played in a local band has performed in one. I think my high school battle of the bands was one of my first shows. When I was in college, my band actually won the New Brookland Tavern battle of the bands, and that’s how we recorded our album.

I think that a battle of the bands brings the music community together more than any other event. It’s always a mix of young and old, genres that include metal, hip-hop, country, and everything in between. When the fan vote is accounted for, that’s when it gets really interesting. Bands get to perform in front of a crowd that they’re really trying to win over and maybe snag a vote from an honest fan or two.

On top of all that, the format Saturday night had eight bands performing two songs each. A sound person’s dream, eh? I’m of the opinion that Battle of the Bands is a rite of passage. Can you even imagine a more character-building event for bands?

In the News

Trueline, a new entertainment venue on Rhett Street in Greenville, brought out a Trueline branded jackhammer to bust up the ground of its new venue and music hub. The West End venue is set to open by 2025, will hold about 2,000 people, and comes from Michael Grozier, founder and CEO of Trueline, co-founder of House of Blues, and executive vice president at Live Nation. The event had some pull; Marcus King was one of the speakers along with Mayor Knox White, VisitGreenvilleSC President and CEO Heath Dillard, and Gail Awan, CEO of Urban League of the Upstate. Investments include $5 million from Vicinity Capital.
There’s a music festival in North Carolina called Jiggy With The Piggy and I can’t think of a better name for a music and BBQ fest.
What went wrong at High Water Music Festival last weekend? Charleston Scene takes you behind the hourslong exit issues, a lack of liquor and even property thefts.
Celebrate the 306th Anniversary of Blackbeard’s blockade at The Blockade of Charleston Festival, May 18, Patriots Point Stadium, Mount Pleasant, 1-8 p.m.