With Hurricane Michael swiftly blowing through both cool weather and Fall for Greenville are finally here along with a weekend full of great music. With over 70 acts performing on 6 stages over three nights (four nights if you include the Thursday night opening show) there’s a bit of everything in this year’s lineup. We picked 10 of our favorite acts playing this year’s festival that you’re not going to want to miss.
The Artisanals
WEST END STAGE
7:30-8:30
Get your Friday night kicked off right with the psych flavored Americana stylings of Charleston act The Artisanals who are fresh off their debut self titled album. The ten songs span at least the last five years of frontman Johnny Delaware’s songwriting career, including his time in Susto before he left that band to pursue The Artisanals first time. The band is quickly on the rise and definitely a must see act after spending much of the last year on the road honing their live show.
King Tuff
CAROLINA CHEVY STAGEÂÂ
Friday 9-10:30
First off, it’s pretty awesome that a Burger Records/Sub Pop artist is headlining Fall for Greenville. Though the last 8 years of lineups have really opened things up, this is especially exciting. The biggest catch of this year’s lineup, King Tuff is a cosmic rock star whose been put through the rock n roll ringer and come out with his new album The Other.
Real Work
IRON HILL BREWERY STAGE
Saturday 11:30-12:30
A newer Columbia band made up of veterans of the indie rock scene, Kenny McWilliams first venture into fronting a band has been a success. Their new debut EP has been warmly welcomed and led the band on several regional tour dates.
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
WEST END STAGE
Saturday 7:30-9:00
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers and American Aquarium mentioned next released two of the best country tinged albums out this year, and they both happen to be from North Carolina. Sarah Shook is the newer of the two, quickly rising over the last couple of years, pounding the road and burning through punkish country set after punkish country set.
American Aquarium
CAROLINA CHEVY STAGE
Satuday 7:30-9:00
Today’s political climate and the growth of American Aquarium frontman BJ Barham weighed heavily on the songwriting on the band’s latest album Things Change. The album title also refers to the band around Barham which changed entirely and in a way brought a breathe of fresh air into the band.
Dead Swells
IRON HILL BREWERY STAGE
Saturday 1:00-2:00
Columbia band Dead Swells are now an established local band with a growing following outside of their hometown, mostly in Charleston. Their latest single “By the C” is proof that the band has something special, and a high ceiling of potential.
River Whyless
CAROLINA CHEVY STAGE
Sunday 3:30-4:30
From just up the road in Asheville, River Whyless is one of those uber talented folk bands that NPR loves. On their latest album released earlier this summer they expanded on their sound, focused on writing more as a collective band. What didn’t change is their impressive melodic sense and lyrical songwriting ability.
Brother Oliver
LIVE AT ALOFT STAGE
Friday 9:30-11:00
The pysch Americana seems to be a running theme in these previews and Brother Oliver is another example. It’s not that strange that music is going that direction. When the folk songwriter Americana resurgence started back over 10 years ago it only makes sense that it would at sometime give way to more experimental tendencies. That’s where Brother Oliver excels, by pushing the envelope with mandolin and guitar effects on already well written songs.
The High Divers
CAROLINA CHEVY STAGE
Saturday 4:30-5:30
True road warriors from the lowcountry, The High Divers have been through it over the last two years. They’ve released a debut, hit the road, followed it up with 2018 album Chicora, and in between survived a nasty van accident and flooding in their hometown of Hilton Head. Nothing has slowed them down, but rather it’s proven the strength and belief in them of their fans who surround and support them. This date will catch them at the end of their tour with The Artisanals.
Grace Joyner
LIVE AT ALOFT STAGE
7:00-8:30
Grace Joyner is due for a new album, but in the meantime she is a must see act at any festival. Sometimes more of a subdued live performance, Grace Joyner is more of a captivating listening experience with slow burning songs and a uber talented band.
