Winyah Bay, where the brackish rivers that wind through so much of our community finally meet the Atlantic. The very waters that have raised generations and have watched us all age like fine wine. On September 5, those same waters bring the story full circle as JB’s Celebration Park presents its first major music festival, JB’s Lowcountry Music Festival. A celebration of the place we call home, the people it has shaped, and the music that brings us together.
Starting at 11 AM, Channel Bluff, an up-and-coming indie rock band from Charleston, will kick off the day. From there, the crowd will groove with local favorite The Abnormals before welcoming our headliner, Winyah—a band that grew up along the very same waters we call home.
Introducing: The Abnormals
Every community needs a hometown band to look forward to on a night out, and The Abnormals are exactly that. Forged by their community and a shared love of rock music, this local cover band not only knows how to work a crowd, but they usually know the faces in it too.
Their families have deep roots in the area and even share a few “dad connections” with the festival’s headliner, Winyah. But these musicians are known for more than putting on a great show. They’ve spent years mentoring young and aspiring musicians throughout the community, helping inspire the next generation of local talent while remaining a beloved part of the area’s live music scene.
Their performances are electrifying, with a Southern rock sound that dances between Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers. When The Abnormals take the stage, it’s difficult to find anyone still sitting without a foot tapping or lips singing along. They play the songs everyone knows and everyone loves, backed by a fantastic group of musicians whose solos always know how to light up the crowd. They’re one of those local bands that sets the place on fire every single time they perform.
Meet: Channel Bluff
With new faces come new sounds. Channel Bluff, formed by brothers and lifelong friends who grew up together, is an emerging indie rock band out of Charleston. They’ve played venues like Windjammer, The Royal American, and Lo-Fi Brewing while winning over audiences with their experimental, coastal, indie sound.
Channel Bluff consists of Evan Grove (vocals), his brother Bryson Grove (lead guitar), Harrison Propps (bass and synth), and Jack Thomson (drums). For some locals, a few of those names may sound familiar. Evan and Harrison both attended Waccamaw High School, where they played football from 2016 to 2020, making this performance a bit of a hometown return.
Presenting, Our Headliner: Winyah
For a band named after the waters that connect this community, coming home feels only fitting. Winyah, who chose to make JB’s Celebration Park the first stop on their next tour, Right Here Right Now, has seen a remarkable rise in popularity over the last few years. Even after moving inland to Tennessee and playing major festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo to piling into a van and touring across the country; they’ve never lost sight of where they came from.
The band is made up of familiar faces, many of whom grew up right here in the pawleys island area: Thomas Rowland on lead vocals, Stephen Russell on bass, Luke “Butters” Gordon on lead guitar, Rob Buffington Jr. on keyboard, and Jake Riley on drums. From Lowcountry Prep to Waccamaw High, many of these boys found their way through the snail covered marsh grasses and salty waves.
While some bands are from a place, others become part of it. Winyah has managed to be both. And though many of them no longer live at the beach, their Lowcountry upbringing is still evident in their sound.
Their music is still largely experimental but they have found their focus and clear sense of direction. Their current sound ebbs between the coastal calmness of a gentle beach guitar and electric drops with a whole lot of grit. Winyah takes heavy inspiration from bands like Wunderhorse, The Allman Brothers, Men I Trust, and The Backseat Lovers. And while keeping their feet out of the sand, they’ve still found time to collaborate with notable indie artists like Evan Honer and Flipturn.
Winyah has been busy to say the least! And we couldn’t be more proud of them and all of what they’ve accomplished.
While the park prepares to welcome these incredible musicians, we’ve created a special Spotify playlist for those who want to get to know the bands before festival day. Whether you’re discovering them for the first time or getting excited for their upcoming sets, this playlist is the perfect way to experience the sounds coming to JB’s Lowcountry Music Festival!