Swervedriver are an English alternative rock band formed in Oxford in 1989 around core members Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge. Between 1990 and 1998, the band released four studio albums for Creation Records in the UK and A&M Records in the US as well as numerous EPs and singles. Breaking up in 1998, the band reformed in 2007 and have released two further full length albums, as well as reissues of all their albums, the most recent being the 99th Dream reissue which was released in January 2024 and went to no.18 in the official UK album chart and no.6 in the official UK vinyl albums chart. Their latest release is the World’s Fair EP, out March 2025. Containing four brand new songs, the World’s Fair EP is the band’s first new music in over five years.
Led by original Pylon vocalist Vanessa Briscoe Hay, Pylon Reenactment Society carries forward the music of one of the most influential bands to emerge from Athens, Georgia’s late-1970s scene while continuing to write and record new material. The group released its first full-length album, Magnet Factory, in 2024.
The Charleston group has earned two Grammy Awards while bringing the music and traditions of South Carolina’s Gullah culture to audiences around the world. The band’s Good Time reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart, and Ranky Tanky has performed on “TODAY,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration event, “We the People.”
A longtime member of Athens’ Elephant 6 collective, Elf Power has spent more than three decades exploring the psychedelic edges of indie rock. The band’s 14-album catalog includes collaborations with producer Dave Fridmann and Vic Chesnutt, and the group has toured with R.E.M., the Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr., Neutral Milk Hotel, Guided by Voices, and Arcade Fire.
The Durham, North Carolina band brings its loose, guitar-heavy take on Southern rock to Columbia behind its third album, Big Ugly. The record continues songwriter Aaron Dowdy’s exploration of Southern identity and storytelling and features contributions from Merce Lemon, Dave Hartley of The War on Drugs, and John James Tourville of The Deslondes.
The Grammy-nominated family music project is led by bassist, songwriter, and producer Divinity Roxx, who previously served as Beyoncé’s bassist and musical director. Her work for young audiences has expanded into children’s books, television, and theater, including co-writing, producing, and performing the theme song for the PBS Kids series “Lyla in the Loop.” Divi Roxx Kids will open the festival with family-focused programming at 12 p.m.
Formed in Charleston in 2022, Interceptor draws from traditional, speed, thrash, power, and black metal for an old-school heavy metal sound. The band has released two full-length albums and joined Dark Angel’s 2025 North American tour, playing dates alongside Sacred Reich, Vio-Lence, Hirax, and Midnight.
Columbia, South Carolina’s Mids makes hook-heavy rock with a crate-digger’s approach to the genre, pulling from across the pantheon of rock music and reshaping it in their own image. Heavy riffs, psychedelia, grunge, and funk collide in tightly built songs that still leave room to stretch out, get weird, and take unexpected turns when performed live.
Born and raised in South Carolina, Eezy Olah is a musical visionary who blends perception and emotion to craft immersive soundscapes. Rooted in the authenticity of southern charm and life experiences, Eezy Olah creates music that is both deeply relatable and introspective. With a sharp creative vision and a passion for storytelling, his sound transcends boundaries, connecting with listeners on a personal and universal level.
