BUD STAGE - North Main Street

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH

7:30-8:30PM: CASEY JOE (Country/Blues)
(Anderson, SC)

Casey, a 19-year-old native of Anderson, South Carolina, is poised to take Nashville by storm, with his unique blend of country and blues. The whispers in Music City are that he’s the next John Mayer, but with a splash of country. The comparisons to Mayer were inevitable, once music executives realized that Casey is not only a master on the guitar, but also writes his own music. Casey has already shared the stage with such acts as Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Tracy Lawrence, Lonestar, Rodney Atkins, and Colbie Caillat, just to name a few. Later in 2008, he’s set to perform with Montgomery Gentry and the Charlie Daniels Band. Already a My Space Music phenomenon, Casey is known nation-wide, as his street team supporters help promote his shows around the country. READ FULL BIO...

9:00-10:30PM: CRAVIN' MELON (Southern Rock/Folk Rock/Rockabilly)
(Greenville, SC) 

Playing live in fact is where Cravin' Melon is at its best, so it's only fitting that the bio tells the story of the fans, as much as the band. From the fanatical FRC (Front Row Club) to newly indoctrinated "melonheads", the age range of faithful followers spans 3 generations. Instantly addicting, fun-loving melodies battered up with swaggering southern charm is the classic recipe for a down-home party with Cravin' Melon as the congenial hosts! The re-loaded rhythm section of bassist Rob Clay, drummer Gary Greene, (former percussion player for Hootie) and keyboardist Chad Barger, crank out the horse-power for the road-hugging vocals of lead singer Doug Jones, and the top-down guitar licks of Jimbo Chapman! READ FULL BIO...

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH

12:00-1:00PM: GEOFF ACHISON & THE SOULDIGGERS (Jam Band/Blues/Rock)
(Malmsbury, Australia; Atlanta, GA)

Geoff Achison has a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist. Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques - without the aid of pedals or gadgets. As a result, watching this guy wrench sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle. Geoff also possesses a soulful voice that has evoked favorable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes. An award winning songwriter to boot, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of catchy original tunes, improvised jamming and inspired versions of blues & soul classics. READ FULL BIO...

1:30-3:00PM: THE ALTERNATE ROUTES (Rock/Alternative/Classic Rock)
(Bridgeport, CT)

“The way that I make is my own, but I know what I’m in for,” sings Tim Warren, front man and co-founder of The Alternate Routes. Whatever fate has in store for this promising young band, it’s sure to make for a good story…and an even better song. The Alternate Routes have never been afraid to roll the dice during their brief and turbulent journey, always relying upon their heartfelt brand of music to pull them through the ups and downs that come with the territory. It’s a trait evident in their powerful Vanguard Records debut, Good and Reckless and True, a memorable, incredibly confident opening statement from a band that takes nothing for granted.

3:30-4:30PM: KATIE HERZIG (Progressive/Indie/Lounge)
(Nashville, TN; Colorado)

In 2006, after eight years of fronting the critically acclaimed Colorado-based band, Newcomers Home, and releasing her first solo record, Watch Them Fall, as a side project—singer/songwriter Katie Herzig retreated to the solitude of her bedroom studio. There, she single-handedly recorded and produced Weightless, a tour-de-force of innovative sonics and songwriting whose tracks have been prominently featured on NPR, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, E.R., Smallville, and, most recently, on two episodes of television’s highest-rated drama, Grey’s Anatomy. Following the release of Weightless, Herzig left Colorado for Nashville and immediately started to catch the attention of other artists. Her song “Heaven’s My Home” received a 2007 Grammy nomination for best country performance by The Duhks. She was also invited to open shows for The Fray and join PASTE Magazine and American Songwriter Magazine sponsored tours. READ FULL BIO...

5:00-6:30PM: CIVIL TWILIGHT (Alternative/Rock/Indie)
(Cape Town, S. Africa; Greenville, SC)

The story begins in the early '90's in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. It was here that two brothers, Andrew and Steven McKellar and of their high school classmates, Richard Wouters, first met and bonded over a mutual love of British and American rock music. READ FULL BIO...

7:00-8:30PM: ROCCO DELUCA & THE BURDEN (Indie)
(Long Beach, CA)

Music has been a part of DeLuca’s makeup from the start. “My dad was a touring guitar player for some amazing blues artists. I remember he and my uncles would have these late night jam sessions and I would hang out with them and then end up crawling into Uncle Joe’s bass drum and falling asleep to the drone,” smiles DeLuca. As he got older, he discovered the DOBRO® steel guitar and it wasn’t long before primitive folk music from both the south and the Appalachian Mountains made their way into his world. “Most of my friends were into punk and my family’s roots where in blues, so the two extremes were really all I listened to,” he explains. After playing out at parties and penning songs, Deluca spent the next decade honing his musical craft. He became the local opener for Taj Mahal, John Mayall and John Lee Hooker, played with Johnny Cash and after a series of eye-opening experiences in Europe; he returned to the States and landed a 2-year residency at the Gypsy Lounge just outside of Los Angeles. READ FULL BIO...

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH

1:00-2:30PM: SOL DRIVEN TRAIN (Roots Music/Jam Band/Americana)
(Folly Beach, SC) 

Sol Driven Train is a band in motion. Perpetually piling on and off the bus, the momentum of their hard work and heart-felt music propels the group upward. At shows, the band members bounce to the pulse of the music along with the crowd. Stylistically the band “seamlessly mixes Allmanesque Southern rock, languid world-beat, swampy funk and downright catchy melodies as they swap lead singers and instruments. A punchy horn section adds an extra dimension of sweaty soul to the genre-blurring jam party” (Atlanta Creative Loafing, 11/21/06). All that sweat is paying off for Sol Driven Train. With their honest songwriting and energetic live performances, they are attracting fans devoted to witnessing their musical progression. Since the fall of 2005, the band has been touring the Southeast and beyond, averaging 150 shows per year at festivals, bars, music venues, theatres, summer camps, and children’s museums. READ FULL BIO...

3:00-4:30PM: THE WORK (Jam Band/Rock/Funk)
(Greenville, SC)

Originally conceived as an informal improv ensemble, The Work, the horn-driven funky band from Greenville, SC, have grown into a cohesive and formidable unit of gifted musicians who have brought their diverse talents together to make for a unique experience that keeps the feet moving, faces smiling, and fans guessing what’s next. If you listen to their debut CD Bring Back The Good, you’ll hear the sound that’s been moving the feet of thousands of people around the southeast since 2001. Drawing on influences that range from Curtis Mayfield to Miles Davis, with a micro-dose of the Grateful Dead in the mix, The Work’s material is upbeat and uplifting with a sound that picks up where 70’s funk and R & B left off. READ FULL BIO...

5:00-6:30PM: BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana)
(Atlanta, GA)

Formed originally in 1998 by Jeff Mosier, Blueground Undergrass has developed a solid reputation and nationwide following by playing its multi-faceted music mix coast-to-coast. The band has always been known for exciting performances and eclectic arrangements. Its sonic wall of twang type sound pleases the whole spectrum of fans from hippies to cloggers to rockers, taking Blueground Undergrass to the brink of almost moshpit energy, yet guiding each show with song-driven clarity along the way. By successfully parlaying an extensive knowledge of bluegrass music with major elements of jazz and Southern rock, Blueground Undergrass has forged a unique, new listening experience, one rooted in the essentials of great American genres. Their Landslide Records debut, Faces, represents a strong culmination of the bands lengthy musical experience as well as its legendary live shows. READ FULL BIO...

 

SATURN STAGE - Peace Center Amphitheatre

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH

6:00-9:00PM: WHITNEY WALTERS AND THE SOUND (Party/R&B/Funk)
(Greenville, SC)

Quickly becoming one of the Upstate's favorite bands, Whitney Walters & The Sound will take you back in time and get you moving with a blend of old school R&B, Motown, funk and dance tunes. They mix it well with groovy smooth jazz and soulful ballads. This multi-talented 9-piece band covers everyone from Earth, Wind & Fire to Steely Dan, plus throws in some soon-to-be hits of Whitney's originals. We dare you to sit still. READ FULL BIO...

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH

12:00-1:15PM: MARK HARRIS (Christian/Pop)

After 15 years with 4Him, a collaboration that resulted in 22 No. 1 hits and 8 Dove Awards, Mark Harris wasn’t laying the groundwork for a solo career when he released The Line Between the Two in June 2005. While each of the four members was working on or had recently released solo projects, there was no plan to put an end to 4Him. In fact, later in 2005 the group was planning to go into the studio and record another hymns album. But as they sat down together in a North Carolina restaurant one warm summer day, Mark, Andy, Marty and Kirk found themselves planning an ending for the group that had brought them such success and fulfillment. READ FULL BIO...

1:30-2:15PM: LAURA STORY (Folk/Acoustic/Bluegrass)
(Atlanta, GA)

Once an aspiring symphony conductor, Story didn’t even know she could sing - much less write songs - until she was in her early twenties. Today, Story is not only a gifted vocalist and worship leader but also the composer of one of the most beloved worship songs of our generation - “Indescribable.” The song has topped charts and been recorded by multiple artists, but most importantly, it has helped people all over the world experience our magnificent God. Story had no idea her life would be used for such a purpose. Set to release her label debut on INO Records (Sara Groves, MercyMe, Derek Webb) in January 2008, Story is still learning that God’s plan is far deeper and wider than she ever thought possible.

2:30-3:30PM: MARK HARRIS (Christian/Pop)

After 15 years with 4Him, a collaboration that resulted in 22 No. 1 hits and 8 Dove Awards, Mark Harris wasn’t laying the groundwork for a solo career when he released The Line Between the Two in June 2005. While each of the four members was working on or had recently released solo projects, there was no plan to put an end to 4Him. In fact, later in 2005 the group was planning to go into the studio and record another hymns album. But as they sat down together in a North Carolina restaurant one warm summer day, Mark, Andy, Marty and Kirk found themselves planning an ending for the group that had brought them such success and fulfillment. READ FULL BIO...

5:00-8:00PM: MAC ARNOLD & THE PLATE FULL O' BLUES (Blues)
(Pelzer, SC)

Mac Arnold must have known at an early age that his music career would read like a "Who's who" of Blues/R&B legends. His high school band "J. Floyd& the Shamrocks" were often joined by none other than Macon, Georgia native, James Brown on piano. After deciding to pursue a professional music career, he joined the Charles Miller group until 1965 when he made the move to Chicago to work with recording artist/saxophonist A. C. Reed. In late 1966, at age 24, came the opportunity of a lifetime to join the Muddy Waters Band and help shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the late 60's and early 70's. Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop.The Muddy Waters Band (as a unit) shared the stage with the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams, and Big Mama Thornton ("Hound Dog") just to name a few. During this time, Mac played on John Lee Hooker's "live" album, Live at the Café Au Go-Go, as well as Otis Spann's classic recording The Blues Is Where It's At, which is still rated a five star CD today. READ FULL BIO...

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH

ALL CHILDREN'S PERFORMANCES

12:30-1:30PM: MARK LIPPARD (Professional Variety Entertainer)
(Denver, NC)                  

Mark Lippard is a veteran of the stage. He has received rave reviews in a variety of venues throughout the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Japan and Russia. Mark has been a guest on NBC’s “Good Morning America” and has entertained for festivals, corporations, resorts, as well as NBA and NFL games. He has even won an International Jugglers’ Association Team Championship. Mark offers a fast paced show full of wild and crazy visual antics. It is high energy with a triple shot of espresso! Each show will WOW and DAZZLE you with comedy, juggling, trick unicycling, fire eating and hilarious audience participation.

2:00-3:00PM: BILLY JONAS (Folk/Acoustic/Indie)
(Asheville, NC)

A Billy Jonas performance is an explosion of energy. In singalongs, bangalongs, whisperalongs, as well as improvised songs, his primary instrument is the audience. Everyone becomes part of a performance that reaches out and ". . . touches even the most hardened of hearts." (Fayetteville Morning News). Concerts begin with a simple "tuning" of the audience; from there a whimsical trajectory carries listeners through stories of life, love, and triumph over 'Murphy's Law.' Jonas' original pieces are played on fanciful "industrial re-percussion" instruments made from found objects. He sings in a clear tenor voice; his guitar work is adventurous, alternately percussive and lyrical. READ FULL BIO...

3:30-4:30PM: SOL DRIVEN TRAIN (Roots Music/Jam Band/Americana)
(Folly Beach, SC)

Sol Driven Train is a band in motion. Perpetually piling on and off the bus, the momentum of their hard work and heart-felt music propels the group upward. At shows, the band members bounce to the pulse of the music along with the crowd. Stylistically the band “seamlessly mixes Allmanesque Southern rock, languid world-beat, swampy funk and downright catchy melodies as they swap lead singers and instruments. A punchy horn section adds an extra dimension of sweaty soul to the genre-blurring jam party” (Atlanta Creative Loafing, 11/21/06). All that sweat is paying off for Sol Driven Train. With their honest songwriting and energetic live performances, they are attracting fans devoted to witnessing their musical progression. Since the fall of 2005, the band has been touring the Southeast and beyond, averaging 150 shows per year at festivals, bars, music venues, theatres, summer camps, and children’s museums. READ FULL BIO...

5:00-6:00PM: BILLY JONAS (Folk/Acoustic/Indie) 
(Asheville, NC)

A Billy Jonas performance is an explosion of energy. In singalongs, bangalongs, whisperalongs, as well as improvised songs, his primary instrument is the audience. Everyone becomes part of a performance that reaches out and ". . . touches even the most hardened of hearts." (Fayetteville Morning News). Concerts begin with a simple "tuning" of the audience; from there a whimsical trajectory carries listeners through stories of life, love, and triumph over 'Murphy's Law.' Jonas' original pieces are played on fanciful "industrial re-percussion" instruments made from found objects. He sings in a clear tenor voice; his guitar work is adventurous, alternately percussive and lyrical. READ FULL BIO...