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.

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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.

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Meet: Channel Bluff

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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.

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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.

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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!

Today’s vision for the park is to create a place where nature and community grow together in a way that is both intentional and restorative. That means protecting green spaces, planting native gardens that strengthen local ecosystems, and preserving a peaceful environment where visitors can slow down, reconnect, and breathe deeply. Whether it’s at an event, taking a morning walk, or finding a quiet moment alone, we want every visitor to feel the comfort that comes from being surrounded by thoughtful stewardship of the land.

From the tall pines and sandy soil to the nearby beaches and coastal breeze, this park reflects the spirit of the Lowcountry and reminds us how essential it is to care for the spaces we all share. To us, stewardship is more than maintenance after events, it’s also keeping gathering areas safe and walkable, supporting native plants that sustain bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, and ensuring our nature trail remains welcoming for everyone to enjoy.

In that same spirit, the beauty of the park and the meaning of memory come together quietly along the winding paths. In the shade of the pines, a simple bench becomes more than a place to rest, allowing those in need of a place for pause, reflection, and to feel connected to those we miss. For families moving through grief, these spaces can offer a steady kind of comfort to return to and let the world slow down for a moment. Our memorial benches are thoughtfully placed along the memorial trail, offering loved ones a lasting tribute while also giving every visitor the quiet gift of rest within the natural peace of JB’s Celebration Park.

If you’d like to dedicate a memorial bench to a loved one, please contact us here.

We are eager to announce two new plans for the park to create an inviting and lasting space for years to come! Plans are taking shape for a colorful new garden space designed to attract butterflies and pollinators, along with early inspiration for a permanent stage that would host music, events, and special gatherings for the whole community to enjoy.

Behind the scenes, one of our park's trailblazers has been carefully growing and nurturing local beebalm plants so their roots are strong and ready for transplanting. Known for their beautiful lavender bracts, these native Lowcountry plants thrive in sandy soil and full sun while providing valuable habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. There will be more indigenous plants added to create a lush oasis. The only piece still being finalized is the location. Our team is currently discussing the best placement to protect the garden from heavy foot traffic during major events, while still remaining easy for visitors to enjoy. At this time, the most likely home for the garden will be along one of the park's side areas near the tree border, where it can continue to receive plenty of sunlight. On the map below, you can see the areas currently being considered in red. 

In addition to the Butterfly Garden, we are in the early stages of planning a permanent stage for future music events and community gatherings. Inspired by classic Lowcountry craftsmanship and traditional curing-shed design, the vision for this space reflects the timeless character of the South while serving a modern purpose for the park. Designed to be open and airy during the hottest summer days, it would welcome cool breezes and create a comfortable outdoor gathering place. In the cooler months, its warm rustic charm would echo the hospitality and comfort of our community.

While the image below represents our early dream for the space, park leadership will be working with an architect to bring that vision into a practical design. And with the support of our community, we know it can become a reality!