My number one regret this weekend? Not grabbing more of those Liquid Death and Liquid I.V. combos at the bar.
Second regret: not lying in the grass and soaking in every song over the last forty-eight hours.
One of my friends asked if I ever actually enjoy festivals when I’m on assignment, or if I’m too focused on getting good photos. The answer is yes — I enjoy them. As a longtime follower of Mt. Joy and The Backseat Lovers, I was definitely singing along in the photo pit.
In the five minutes before the show started, I met so many fans at the barricade — people who got in line at 5 a.m., absolutely thrilled to be there. But there were also the chill, experienced festival-goers, resting on picnic blankets between both stages and getting the best of both worlds.
Between the salt air, the boats docked nearby to listen in, and the perfect blend of indie folk, there’s no better place to be on a late April weekend.
After running between stages all day and recognizing the same fans over and over, I realized the best thing about High Water: the setlist perfectly curates a crossover of fans, introducing them to new acts while celebrating the ones they love.
Second best? Definitely the craft popsicle I snagged from King of Pops. Shoutout to the blueberry lime — I needed that.
Honestly, High Water has one of the best festival crowds I’ve ever seen — and that’s not just my South Carolina bias talking. Despite the heat and humidity, everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. Unlike bigger festivals where you’re always rushing, High Water has a southern slowness to it. Nobody’s sprinting between stages. It’s mellow and relaxed — just like that blueberry lime popsicle.
To be fair, I only made it to Day 1 due to some unexpected circumstances, but even one day gave me enough to write a week’s worth of blog posts.
The day started strong with Easy Honey, a transplant band that’s made Charleston’s scene their home. They set the perfect tone for the weekend. As someone embedded in the SC music scene, Charleston really feels like the hub right now. Acts like Colors in Corduroy may be playing places like Royal American and Charleston Pour House today, but they’ll be hitting bigger stages soon — same for coastal bands like Winyah and Sunchild.
As I walked back to the press tent after photographing the first three songs, I could hear the mid-afternoon crowd screaming and singing all the way from the stage.
A new discovery for me was Joy Oladokun, who had such a genuine, heartfelt set. I’ll always love huge stage designs and light shows, but there’s something special about an artist walking out with just a guitar and a song.
As a photographer, I also love nothing more than an expressive face when someone’s playing. I’ve had Joy’s “I See America” on repeat since getting home.
A few years ago, David from SceneSC predicted Boygenius would eventually hit High Water. We didn’t get the trio, but we did get Julien Baker’s collaboration with Torrance — and honestly, it was the next best thing.
No one captures a western revival vibe like Julien Baker, shredding in a pair of overalls alongside Torrance’s vocals.
Shoutout to the fan who waited in line since 7 a.m. just to get barricade for this show. I hope she snagged a setlist.
Seeing The Backseat Lovers and Mt. Joy live was a dream. Watching couples sway to “Julia” and hearing the crowd scream along to “Kilby Girl” felt like the perfect end to the day.
The biggest surprise? Lord Huron. I’m definitely a fan — I’ve had a few songs saved for years — but I wasn’t expecting to be crying in the pit level excited like I was for The Backseat Lovers.
Still, the energy this crew brought was insane. I didn’t expect the harmonica rack to appear by the second song. Their onstage energy matched the rustic, “in the woods” vibe of their music perfectly.
I ended up lying in the grass by the water after shooting their first three songs, and it was honestly one of the most magical experiences of my musical life.
Someone — I can’t remember who — covered “Teenage Dirtbag,” and it was a moment. Definitely someone. Definitely unforgettable.
If I could do it again, I’d drink twice the Liquid Death, eat two popsicles, and never leave the grass.
