High Water Festival deserves a lot of credit for this 2024 lineup. After an incredible first day at the festival, I woke up to a stormy Charleston day with rain pouring down for the better part of the morning. Normally, that would cause a slow start to the day to get to the park, but not with this one. Day two at High Water was stacked with incredible talent in every time slot, so it was a can’t miss even with the stormy weather.
The first full set that started the day for us was The Heavy Heavy at the Edisto stage, which was a perfect way to start the day. An instant mood booster that set the vibe for the rest of the day. The Heavy Heavy has drawn comparisons to legendary acts like The Band and The Mamas and the Papas, and their set made me nostalgic for a time period I’ve never experienced. A time I’ve only watched in old music documentaries at festival stages. Their soulful rock songs echoed throughout the park in the crisp spring air as the entire field danced to the beautiful tones emitted from the stage.
The Linda Lindas, a band I’ve been eager to see live, brought an infectious energy to the Stono stage. Their set was a testament to the new wave of punk music they were ushering in, and it was impossible not to get swept up in the fun. Their performance was undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable of the weekend.
Kevin Morby and The Wallflowers were the middle sets of the day, and while a change of pace, they were equally impressive. Kevin Morby very much fits the themes you would consider to be loved by a publication called Road Trip Playlists. We have loved his music here for a long time and felt lucky to be seeing the music live. The Wallflowers are also a set we felt lucky to view live. Bringing Down the Horse was a frequently played record in family car rides growing up. I wasn’t prepared for how fun it would be to sing ‘One Headlight’ with thousands of strangers.
I’ll always declare Briston Maroney a must-see artist, and I rushed to the Edisto stage to see that set. The first time I saw Briston at New York’s Bowery Ballroom was one of the more memorable shows that I have been to. Sunday in the cold at High Water Festival was another memorable performance and one that made it worth the time during the stormy day.
It’s hard to imagine a better closing lineup for a festival than what High Water had on Sunday night. Can anything compare to seeing The Flaming Lips play Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety live? I was seven when this album came out, but it has become one of my all-time favorites, and I never thought I’d be able to hear it in this capacity. High Water Festival brought me a dream come true-concert experience that I couldn’t have even dreamed of because I wouldn’t have thought it would be possible. But it was possible, and it was magic. Yellow balloons bounced around the crowd to the iconic music being played, and as the sun went fully down, it was a moment I never want to forget.
Grace Potter was electric. I loved every second I saw, but I must admit that I left a little early to get a good spot for Hozier.
Hozier blew my mind last year at Shaky Knees Festival, so I knew I wanted to be close for the headline slot, and it was the perfect end of the day and bookend to an amazing weekend. I can’t applaud High Water Festival enough for the curation of their lineup. The setting is picturesque. I must note that some of the logistics of leaving the festival could be improved, but I can’t wait to come year after year to this festival.
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