A chronicle of the Upstate South Carolina music community and beyond
By DAN ARMONAITIS Howard Childress was only 14 years old when he and three other teenagers from Spartanburg County made their network television debut on “The Nat King Cole Show” in 1957. After Cole introduced The Sparkletones, a camera cut immediately to a close-up shot of Childress, whose boyish face Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS As members of the Marcus King Band, Jack Ryan and Justin Johnson have had their share of incredible opportunities, from playing some of the most prestigious venues in the world to appearing on national television and sharing the stage with several famous musicians. It’s a pretty good Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS Josh Daniel is bringing to Spartanburg a special concert that “should be played loud,” to borrow a phrase that appears on screen at the beginning of an acclaimed film that the Charlotte, N.C.-based musician has watched numerous times over the years. With the help of a star-studded Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS When Raleigh, N.C.-based journalist, musician and author Thomas Goldsmith, better known as Tommy, thinks about the area of the country he’s headed to this weekend in promotion of his new book, “Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: The Making of an American Classic,” he immediately recognizes how Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS Having enjoyed only limited regional success with his former band, Sequoyah Prep School, Justin Osborne had somewhat burned out on music when, as a student at the College of Charleston in 2013, he got the opportunity to study for a few months in Cuba. “It wasn’t a Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS The Spartanburg Philharmonic is gearing up this week for a small ensemble concert that will be “locally sourced.” As part of its popular Espresso series, the Philharmonic will present “Homegrown,” a one-hour showcase of works by classical composers past and present who have called the Hub City Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS A little more than seven months ago, Howl in the Valley released its much-anticipated debut EP. The contemporary folk-rock trio — composed of Spartanburg-based musicians Jonathan Stephens, Janeen Scott and Michael Krell — had only been playing together for less than a year when it made its Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS In the middle of their latest album, “Blue,” which is otherwise mainly filled with tongue-in-cheek covers of famous pop songs, The Cleverlys offer a rare moment of pure sincerity. The group, led by veteran comedian and guitarist Paul Harris, gives a poignant, no-nonsense rendition of “Wait a Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS When Darby Wilcox performs with her backing unit, The Peep Show, she’s often accompanied on harmony vocals by fellow Greenville-based singer-songwriter Lisa Stubbs. It makes for an magnificent blending of distinctive voices, but the focus isn’t necessarily on that aspect of the performance given that there’s an Read More
By DAN ARMONAITIS A cursory glance at the upcoming tour schedule for Vagabond Crowe makes it clear that this is a dedicated, hard-working band. The Hendersonville, N.C.-based Americana outfit is pretty much busy each weekend from now into December, then, after a break for the holidays, kicks right back into Read More