A chronicle of the Upstate South Carolina music community and beyond
By DAN ARMONAITIS When Marshall Chapman returns to Spartanburg this weekend, she’ll be performing as part of what she said will be her “favorite show of the year, for sure.” While some of that feeling can be attributed to the fact that it’s been nearly two-and-a-half years since she last Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS During the heyday of big band jazz in the 1940s, one of the genre’s biggest stars was bandleader Woody Herman. A three-time Grammy Award winner and a recipient of the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the clarinet-playing Herman toured the country with various ensembles dubbed The Herd Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS The last two years have been unusual, to say the least. Between the global pandemic that turned the world upside down and political divisions that seemed to widen to unprecedented levels during the most recent U.S. election cycle, it’s as if society has been living through a Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS At the start of the year, Howl in the Valley decided to take a little break. The folk-rock band — composed of Spartanburg-based musicians Jonathan Stephens, Janeen Scott and Michael Krell — didn’t schedule any concerts for January and February. The idea was to use the time Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS When social distancing measures related to the coronavirus pandemic put a temporary ban on nightspots presenting live music, Spartanburg resident Russell Bannan wanted to do something to support local musicians suffering from lost income. Teaming up with longtime friend Justin Tripam, Bannan came up with “The Lint Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS As an outdoor gathering spot used extensively for live music, The FR8yard in downtown Spartanburg shut its gates for the winter just after Thanksgiving. During the downtime, FR8yard partner Kenneth Cribb kept himself busy by putting together an impressive slate of concert events that were to have Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS Like many other musicians throughout the world, Mary Emma Norris has spent the past couple of weeks in isolation and unable to perform in public due to crowd-gathering restrictions related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It’s a far cry from how the month began. On March 1, Read More
Do you know a music-loving high school senior? Are you one yourself? If so, here’s a fun project the student can work on while homebound due to coronavirus-related school closings. The Mountain Fever Music Group announced on Monday, March 16 that is accepting applications for its 3rd annual Higher Education Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS Downtown Spartanburg will be filled with music throughout the afternoon and evening on Saturday, March 14 as two major St. Patrick’s Day-themed events are held along Main Street. The 3rd annual Shenanigans on the Square will be presented by Delaney’s Irish Pub and Wild Wing Cafe from Read More
Dan + Shay will bring its “The (Arena) Tour” to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville on Saturday, March 14. [Update: The concert has been postponed until Sept. 10 due to the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the coronavirus.] Having won Grammy Awards each of the past two Read More