Greenville kicked off their Downtown Alive music series last Thursday night with The Will, and will follow that up this week Jeff Markham and the Last Call from Asheville, NC.

Downtown Alive is a weekly concert series that runs from March through August featuring a variety of acts and entertainment over the course of the year.  The concerts are held in the Hyatt Plaza in downtown Greenville and draw up to 45,000 people annually.

The lineup this year is loaded with talented artists that we have featured here on Scene SC including American Aquarium, Leslie, The Enemy Lovers, Wylie, Owen Beverly, Austin Crane,Jesse Isley and The Trippers and that is just naming a few of the bands that are on schedule to play.  This music series will introduce us to a handful of new talent as it will the Greenville community.

Seeing how awesome this lineup was really made me just want to rip into the City of Columbia for so many things.  The city can’t seem to keep any sort of music series going and 5 Points Association keeps cutting back their weeks.  They do have a decent schedule of bands starting April 1st at the 5 Points After 5 series.  Take what you can get I suppose.

 

Check out the full lineup and dates below.

Downtown Alive 2010 Event Schedule

March 18: The Will

Indie/Alternative Rock

The Will’s diversity of musical interest causes their influences to come from a large array of talent. Each of the members has their own unique background and preferences. The band has a sound that is reminiscent of anything from Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, Coldplay and beyond. They mesmerize their audiences with the depth of their music. More

March 25: Jeff Markham and the Last Call

Folk/Americana

Jeff Markham and the Last Call is a five piece folk/rock ensemble from Asheville N.C. with the charm of the Avett Brothers, the stage presence of The Drop Kick Murpheys, and the songwriting stylization of The Band. More

April 1: Leslie

Southern Rock

Leslie is a 3 piece rock act from Charleston, SC who are currently recording their debut album with producer Paul Ebersold (Saliva, 3 Doors Down). Their influences blend a mix of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Humble Pie, and Bad Company. More

April 8: FeelinStella

Rock/Hip Hop

FeelinStella is a band out of Charlotte, North Carolina that displays a fresh balance of catchy lyrics, funky guitar work, and straight up rock and roll.
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April 15: Spiritual Rez

Funk/Reggae

SPIRITUAL REZ is a Reggae Horn Funk Dance Party that has been tirelessly touring the country while commanding an extremely positive and high energy sound. Since 2003, the band has shared the stage with internationally touring acts such as Culture, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Buffett, Israel Vibration, Buju Banton and Jamaican Legends The Skatalites. More

April 22: American Aquarium

Rock/Alternative Country

Hailing from Raleigh, NC, American Aquarium’s southern musical perspective is a blend of honest songwriting, an unwavering work ethic, and a genuine love of rock & roll. Whether you call it alt-country, Americana, or roots rock, one thing is for certain: Their music is a fresh voice that borrows from many forms of the American songbook. More

April 29: The Enemy Lovers

Indie/Rock

The Enemy Lovers (the indie-rock vehicle of brothers Tim and Steven Scroggs) is a rare act that can claim to have had financial backing, a producer, a manager and a lawyer in place before picking out a band name. But, as much as the Scroggs – with their made-for-Paste-magazine haircuts and radio-ready pop hooks – seem destined for a life of sound checks and tour buses, they could’ve just as easily taken a miss when it came to rock stardom. More

May 6: Firework Show

Indie rock from Charleston, SC

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May 13: Dangermuffin

Americana/Folk Rock/Indie

Dangermuffin is an eclectic trio, providing a much-needed fresh perspective on American roots music. Seamlessly melding the feel of a back porch blues band with dance-floor grooves, their original yet familiar sound pleases crowds of all ages.
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May 20: PictureMeFree

Rock

PictureMeFree is striving to develop the same radio success/ quality live-show ability as great bands that have influenced them such as The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, Rage Against the Machine, The Beatles, The Dave Matthews Band, and My Morning Jacket, among others. Each member possesses the ability to express any musical thoughts through their respective instruments as well as an uncanny ability to improvise live as a group. A live PictureMeFree show is a non-stop high energy rock show that features many original songs and a sprinkling of classic covers. More

May 27: WYLIE

Rock

Wylie was created by the thoughts and ideas of three very dear friends. Hailing from the piedmont of the Carolinas, the band is currently calling Charleston home. More

June 3: Elonzo

Americana/Folk Rock/Indie

An Americana band that pays homage to their rock and roll roots, Elonzo weaves and twists melodies to make you shake or break your heart. Calling their music “Nuevo Southern Rock,” they tell true to life tales while creating a wall of sound to underpin it all. More

June 10: Amy Coccia and Friends

Indie/Pop/Folk Rock

Amy Coccia and Friends is an indie/alt/folk band that specializes in catchy melodies, dynamic soundscapes, soaring vocals, and lyrical accessibility. The writing and vocals of founding member Amy Coccia venture into cross-genre territory, leaving no stone unturned. With influences like the citified, country-tinged songs of Rilo Kiley & Neko Case, the anthem inspiring rock-and-roll of Jimmy Eat World, the catchy electronic stylings of The Postal Service, and the raw, gritty vocals of Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, Coccia’s bag of tricks seems endless. More

June 17: The Plainfield Project

Rock/Funk/Reggae

The Plainfield Project consists of a humble group of friends that come together to produce an unparalleled sound and energy that anyone from the devout music enthusiast to the passerby will appreciate. Quite simply, the band is a rock and roll tree with jam, reggae and funk roots. More

June 24: Archer Vs. Gunman

Powerpop/Indie

Archer Vs. Gunman is the Upstate’s newest, most exciting and most promising power-trio. The band is a streamlined pop machine whose live shows are action-packed with complex arrangements and dynamics that turn from pin-drop-quiet to speaker-bending-loud at the drop of a hi-hat. Archer Vs. Gunman’s ability to write songs that are both emotionally resonant and pleasantly melodic, is rare and leaves listeners craving more. Song after well-crafted song, Archer Vs. Gunman are rapidly winning the hearts of audiences and music critics alike. More

July 1: Madeline

Though described in the past as a cross between The Softies, Kimya Dawson, and The Carter Family, Madeline now shares more in common with ’70’s superstars Joni Mitchell and Karen Carpenter. On her third full-length album, “White Flag,” Madeline securely sets herself apart from her peers through her intelligent, emotional lyrics, her clear, haunting voice, and her unique song writing. More

July 8: Pinna

Funk/Rock

Pinna, the dynamic trio composed of Ryan Ball on drums, George Fetner on vocals and guitar, and Josh Miley on bass, fuses funk, jam and rock to create the unique sound that has garnered them a loyal fanbase and media attention across the Southeast.
More

July 15: Kentucky Shine

Rock/Alt Country

Bridging the gaps between rock and alt country, Kentucky Shine’s sound as well as their upcoming album illustrate a maturity in Cunningham’s songwriting, the invigorating power of a new beginning, and the arrival of another promising act within Charleston’s thriving music scene. More

July 22: The Lo and Beholds

Rock/Soul/Funk

The Lo & Beholds, a 5-piece indie/alternative rock group from Charlotte, NC, are a youthful group of musicians. The sophisticated and layered guitar melodies, the powerful yet thoughtfully crafted rhythm section, and the emotionally provoking lyricism, though, would have you thinking they’ve been in the business for much, much longer. More

July 29: Kelly Jo Ramirez

Pop/Rock

Kelly Jo, a Greenville, SC native, has won over many audiences all over the Upstate. Her sound is a unique blend of pop, rock, soul, and Latin music helping her locally produced album, ”ZerimaR“ receive many accolades and attention from Nashville producers. She is currently working on a new album in Nashville and working as an entertainer in Greenville.
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August 5: Owen Beverly

Folk/Country/Southern Rock

Owen Beverly was playing guitar professionally for a Mississippi Blues band while he was still in high school. He came to Charleston, South Carolina, on a music scholarship and got his degree in classical compostion and theory in three years &emdash; all the while writing music and playing in local clubs. Over the years he has toured in support of Blind Mellon, Howie Day, John Mayer, Better than Ezra, and Jump Little Children &emdash; to name a few. More

August 12: Austin Crane

Indie/Folk Rock

Austin Crane has been playing together for the last three and a half years. Comprised also of Caleb Weathersby, James Gibson, and Nathan Poole, the band has recorded two full length albums. The sounds of the band have developed into something brighter, bigger and oddly satisfying. There is still the unmistakable sense of urgency and genuineness, reminiscent of earlier songs, but now these qualities transmit at an even higher intensity than before and with greater care. More

August 19: Jesse Isley and the Trippers

Indie/Folk Rock

The music of Jesse Isley is honest. Every song is derived from personal accounts. The intent is to be heartfelt and not to take on a formula – not to take on something fake. The music that accompany these stories are influences of artists greater than himself. From Hendrix to Debussy, Johnny Cash to Death Cab. These and other techniques acquired while completing his degree in Music play a role in the sounds you hear come from his songs. His live shows are always exciting and evoke the mood of calm and storm in the same performance. More

August 26: Swift Robinson

Rock/Alternative

Vocal harmonies from Casey Bennett and Eddie Williams cue up the cohesive dual-melodies of Dispatch, while the groove is laid down with Ben Robinson’s foot-stompin’ bass licks and Sonny Hopkins’ 50-caliber machine gun beats. Swift continues to push the boundaries of alt/rock, seamlessly blending electro elements into impressive live instrumentation. Rock with a social conscience, Swift Robinson’s tight punchy rhythms are paired with politically and emotionally charged lyricism that’s a refreshing bent for up-and-coming indie alternative. More