When I heard this was in the works earlier this year I hoped that the Music Farm Columbia would be open and ready to host, and they’re not far off. Columbia’s new venue is set to open soon with a solid fall lineup in the books, but Saturday music will alternate between an outside stage under the late summer sun and inside Tin Roof. In addition to all the great music happening Saturday, festival goers will also be offered tours of the new Music Farm, and access to the Music Farm’s new beer garden.
For the second year straight Freeway Music is bringing together some of the Southeasts premiere musicians to raise money for the On Ramp Scholarship which funds music lesson for children who could not otherwise afford them. Last year the music festival hosted by the Midlands best music lesson studio raised an admirable $1,225 in their opening year with their eyes set on a higher goal this year. With this powerful lineup of locals and regionals it seems as if they’ll be setting the bar for years to come.
This year the annual music festival is headlined by Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland and his other band Ed Roland and the Sweet Tea Project. 2014 marked a huge anniversary for Ed Roland and his band Collective Soul. It was 20 years ago in June when Atlantic Records released the band’s booming first single “Shine” that blasted across airwaves all over America, eventually winning the Billboard award for Top Rock Track of 1994. Earlier this year Collective Soul celebrated that anniversary by releasing their 9th studio album, a serious accomplishment and a testament to the bands talent and longevity.
Don’t call it a side project. Stepping away from the heavy guitars of Collective Soul, Roland considers Ed Roland and the Sweet Tea Project a new band. The similarities of Roland’s style still overlap, with undeniably catchy melodies, The Sweet Project gives Roland the freedom to explore new musical territory surrounded by other talented musicians from the Atlanta area.
Supporting Ed Roland and the Sweet Tea Project at this year’s Freeway Music Festival are a host of bands that have also seen much success throughout their musical career including Columbia’s own Weaving the Fate (Free Times Best of band) and Charleston’s Danielle Howle (Free Times Best solo artist.) The Mobros are returning from a three-month tour that took them all over America playing some of the freshest blues you’ll hear anywhere. Other bands such as Octopus Jones (Raleigh, NC) and Hannah Miller (Nashville, TN) with SC roots have moved on to bigger music markets, but return home for this show. One thing’s for sure, the lineup is bursting at the seams with talented musicians at a festival that celebrates musicianship and positive vibes.
Bud Light Main Stage (outside):
9:15-10 Ed Roland & Sweet Tea Project
8:15-9 Weaving the Fate
7:15-8 76 and Sunny
6:30-7 The Herbie Jeffcoat Projekt
5:45-6:15 The Casual Kings
5-5:30 The Mobros
4:15-4:45 Danielle Howle
3:30-4 Prettier Than Matt
2:45-3:15 Hannah Miller
2:00-2:30 Swallowed by the Sun
1:15-1:45 Moving Mercury
Inside Stage:
7:30-8:15 Octopus Jones
6:45-7:15 Bobby Hatfield
6:00-6:30 Jeremy Sakovich
5:15-5:45Don Russo Group
4:30-5 Tony Lee Group
3:45-4:15 Youth Model
3-3:30 Liquid Hustle
2:15-2:45 DM Radio
12:00-2:00 Rock Band Classes
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