Riverfront Revival, the two-day music festival on Charleston, SC's riverfront, switched up the formula a bit this year with its schedule and lineup. The format last year called for an all-day Saturday-Sunday event, while this year it moved to a Friday evening and all-day Saturday event. They also showcased a larger variety of music; deviating from primarily country acts last year, to a blend of country, blues, rock, and even hip-hop across the ground’s two stages. Riverfront Revival is now more approachable than ever, whether you want to ride the barricades or lay a blanket down in a designated area. Friday was an especially laid-back night. Patrons gathered into the park as the sun set, ready to put an end to the work week and relax. The sky was blue, and temperatures were nice and cool, with a breeze blowing off the Cooper River.
Day 1
The eight-piece rock band The Revivalists came on stage as the sun dipped behind the horizon. David Shaw (lead vocals) and Zack Feinberg (guitar) were the first to step on stage as the crowd roared. They were followed by Ed Williams (pedal steel guitar, guitar), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), George Gekas (bass guitar), Andrew Campanelli (drums and percussion), Michael Girardot (keyboards and trumpet), and Paulet "PJ" Howard (drums and percussion). The band kicked off their set with “Kid” from the album Pour It Out Into The Night (2023), and then, during “Good Old Days,” David climbed down from the stage and embraced the crowd at the barricade. “All My Friends,” from 2018’s Take Good Care, showcased the Revivalists' full array of musical talent.
Tedeschi Trucks Band closed out the night, starting their set with an amazing cover of George Harrison’s “Wah-Wah,” which set the crowd ablaze with sultry vocals and wailing guitar licks. Married couple Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks offered an experience that would delight any blues fan. The band's performance of “Do I Look Worried,” from the 2013 album Made Up Mind, was a fiery fusion of rock and blues. Tedeschi’s emotional vocals danced with Trucks’ masterful guitar strokes. Derek's guitar solo was that of a legend and sent the crowd into an uproar. It was a jaw-dropping performance that thrilled and captivated the audience on the first night, and solidified their status among the blues elites.
Day 2
Day 2 had a crowd-pleasing performance from classic rockers Sister Hazel on the Magnolia stage, as They opened with the song “Happy” from ...Somewhere More Familiar, and then jumping into their latest single “Hole In Your Life.” Ken Block (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Jett Beres (bass, harmony vocals), Andrew Copeland (rhythm guitar, vocals, keyboards), Ryan Newell (lead and slide guitar, harmony vocals), and Mark Trojanowski (drums) rocked the crowd, with some even dancing awkwardly and unashamedly, like no one was watching. The band's blend of catchy pop and southern rock provided the perfect atmosphere to just sit back and enjoy the day.
Country darling Hailey Whitters added a sassy spice to the second day. She started her set with “Plain Jane” from her 2022 album, Raised. The song highlights Hailey’s confidence which shone through the lyrics. Hailey bantered with the crowd and discussed her old-school Midwestern upbringing, before turning the Live Oak stage audience into a giant sing-along with classics like “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver and Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp.
Arrested Development, the fest's only hip-hop act, offered something different and refreshing with their afrocentric brand of rhyme stylings. Emcees Speech (lead vocals) and One Love (vocals) commanded the stage and the audience's attention with their thought-provoking lyrics and old-school delivery. Fareedah Aleem (vocals, dancing) and Montsho Eshe (dancing, vocals) were a joy to watch. They drew the crowd in with their beautiful vocals and showed the crowd how to move with their energetic dance moves.
Collective Soul rocked the crowd after sundown. Ed Roland (vocals), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar), Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will Turpin (bass), and Johnny Rabb (drums) went to work almost instantly, hammering the crowd with high-octane rock and roll during “Mothers Love” and “Bluer Than So Blue” from their latest album, Here To Eternity. Clad in a yellow suit and white fedora, Roland leapt forward, stretching himself across the stage, while Triplett delivered the familiar opening riff of the song “Heavy” from Dosage. Working off the momentum, they performed the song they are best known for—“Shine,” from their debut album Hints, Allegations, & Things Left Unsaid, which forced the crowd to participate in one of the most memorable choruses of the 90's.
Of course, no Riverfront Revival would be complete without a performance from its founder — Charleston’s very own Darius Rucker. This time, Rucker brought his friends, Hootie and the Blowfish, who closed out this year's Revival. A massive crowd occupied the field in front of the Live Oak stage and was treated to over 20 songs, from a catalog that once dominated the radio waves, including all the hits from their historic debut album Cracked Rear View. Rucker, Mark Bryan (lead guitar), Dean Felber (bass), and Jim Sonefeld (drums) delivered epic performances of “Time” and “Hold My Hand,” but, for me, their performance of “Let Her Cry” was a particular highlight. If that wasn‘t enough, the band performed some amazing covers as well. A few of those included Tom Waits' “I Hope I Don’t Fall in Love with You,” Led Zepplin’s “Hey, Hey, What Can I Do,” “She Talks to Angels” by the Black Crowes, and REM’s “Losing My Religion.” Hootie and the Blowfish put on an epic hometown show.
This year's Riverfront Revival offered a more accessible festival experience as well. The crowd was a perfect size, not overstuffed or hard to navigate like some of the bigger festivals. From its variety of music, drinks, and tasty eats, Revival is the perfect low-key fall festival.
