The rise of Chappell Roan.
When Chappell Roan announced South Carolina tour dates earlier this year, shows were booked at The Senate in Columbia and Charleston Music Hall. Since those announcements in February, Roan has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, and those shows have moved to Firefly Distillery and The Township Auditorium. Tickets range from $185 to $600+ right now. Remember when reselling $1 above face value was illegal?
So, how long does it take for an artist like Chappell Roan to hit that meteoric rise in popularity? The answer is about nine years. The Midwest queen first traveled from Missouri to NYC in 2015 for an Atlantic Records showcase. She was signed, released an EP in 2017, and was dropped from the label in 2020. From there she teamed back up with songwriter Dan Nigro, and built a loyal social media (TikTok specifically) with risqué songs.
The Midwest Princess Tour is coming up June 13 in Cola and here’s a video from the show in Charleston. Now you know.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch Music Festival is running it back in 2024, bringing back some of the festival favorites from the past. The Raleigh music festival leans hard into indie Southern acts, both new and old, and includes plenty of small font acts to learn more about. Here’s an uncurated 831-song playlist.
What’s new
- Brave Baby released their new single “Half Awake” from their upcoming album along with a video for the song. The coastal indie rock band is set to release a full-length album later this year.
- The Mobros new Music Video “Magnolia Roses” was accepted by Seattle Film Festival and will be screened this summer.
- The Violent Femmes are extending their tour, performing BOTH their debut album and their sophomore record Hallowed Ground, into the Fall with a date at The Charleston Music Hall on October 1.
- Todd Mathis released two new albums, “Writing it Away” and“Protect Your Piece of Mind.”
Pick 5 Cody Gentry
Q: How do you feel about the music scene in South Carolina?
A: I love the lowcountry scene. It seems like so many artists stick around the Charleston area and really cultivate the area and blend genres in a really cool way. We are starting to see that trend in the upstate with the scene planting roots and growing!
Upcoming Shows
- 21 Savage | Wednesday, June 5 | Heritage Park, Simpsonville, SC
- Jason Isbell | Sat, Jun 8 | College of Charleston Cistern Yard, Charleston, SC
- Brent Cobb | Sat, Jun 8 | Rock the Ranch, Seneca, SC
- Kitty Coen + Slow Funeral | Swanson’s Warehouse, Greenville, SC
- All Get Out | Friday, June 14 | New Brookland Tavern, Columbia, SC
- Steve Miller Band | Friday, June 14 | The Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC
- Susto | Thursday, June 20 | New Brookland Tavern, Columbia, SC
- 2 Slices | Friday, June 20 | Charleston Pour House, Charleston, SC
Encore
While searching other local music outlets around the country, I found this Breach Inlet review from Utah’s SLUG Magazine. Long live the Pablo Sessions.
