The Sing Out Loud Festival is back in 2018, and the lineup is better than ever. Artists from all over the country, representing a number of different genres, are descending on the Ancient City from September 1-23. Explore some of your old favorites and meet a few new faces as we present the headliners of the 2018 Festival. In addition to these fantastic acts, you’ll be able to meet dozens of local and regional performers and artists gracing venues all around St. Augustine.
JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT
A king of soul-influenced rock and the Americana of Alabama, Jason Isbell is the recipient of four Grammys. As it is a benefit for the Betty Griffin Center, his performance at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is the only concert that requires tickets.
Show: September 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
AGAINST ME!
Semi-local kids from way back when, Against Me! is a punk rock band formed in Gainesville in 1997. To briefly plagiarize one of their early songs, Against Me! refers to themselves as a band that laughs at danger and breaks all the rules.
Show: September 23, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
THE DECEMBERISTS
An American indie rock band, the Decemberists hail from Portland, Oregon. They’re well-known for incorporating history and folklore into already complex and engaging music, and they put on an amazing live show.
Show: September 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
LUCERO
In case you didn’t know before, there’s such a thing as country-punk rock. And if such a genre intrigues you, go see Lucero in concert. Their music has been described by The A.V. Club as a “synthesis of soul, rock, and country [that] is distinctly Memphisian.”
Show: September 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
Even having since abandoned the cassettes and vinyl they were so faithful to in the nineties, The Mountain Goats have maintained the emotional lyrical motifs and raw, organic sound to which they have always adhered. Their indie rock has just become a little more polished.
Show: September 2, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
LEFTOVER SALMON
If you’re in the mood for just a little bit of everything, let the Leftover Salmon music flow through you. This Boulder, Colorado-based jam band is a blend of bluegrass, country, rock, and even Cajun/Zydeco.
Show: September 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
RISING APPALACHIA
Sisters Leah & Chloe and their beloved band use vocal harmonies, acoustic instruments, and world folk traditions to build a foundation of soul sounds. Their work is deeply influenced by traditional stories and sounds and a devotion to world culture.
Show: September 21, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
IRON REAGAN
These musicians are no strangers to the art of crossover. Over the years, they have filled the ranks of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, and Darkest Hour. But with a recent signing to a new label this so-called “hardcore thrash quintet” is ready to take their music to the next level.
Show: September 23, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
THE WEEPIES
On the very night they met, Deb Talan and Steve Tannen started writing songs together. And so the indie band The Weepies was born. And after Deb recently beat cancer, their music has become more vibrant, poignant, and lyrical than ever before.
Show: September 2, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
CHUCK RAGEN
Despite being one of the frontman of the Gainesville-based band Hot Water Music, Chuck Ragen is no stranger to solo work. In nearly two decades of bringing his music to the masses, his take on a blend of punk rock and folk is still captivating.
Show: September 22, Front Porch at the Amphitheatre
WAR ON WOMEN
Throwing back to the beloved rebelliousness of the punk greats, War on Women is a co-ed, feminist hardcore punk band. Their songs explore pressing social issues and try to enact change through poignant lyrics and thrilling melodies.
Show: September 23, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
AUSTIN LUCAS
A childhood spent in Bloomington, Indiana and a few years living in the Czech Republic have shaped Austin Lucas into a very unique sound. His music can be classified as punk rock meets folk meets bluegrass meets alt rock, but it really has to be heard to be believed.
Show: September 22, Front Porch at the Amphitheatre
SOUTHERN AVENUE
This Memphis-based five-piece blues and soul band was named after a street in Memphis that runs from the easternmost part of the city all the way to Soulsville (the original home of Stax Records). They’ve been described as “the most talked about band in Memphis” – which is quite a pedigree to boast. Their music is filled with an emotional energy and passionate presentation that will captivate you.
Show: September 21, Backyard Stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre
TIM BARRY
The former frontman for punk rock band Avail and former bassist for (Young) Pioneers, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has been creating his own unique blend of folk and punk rock since 2004.
Show: September 22, Front Porch at the Amphitheatre
THE COMMONHEART
Those on the lookout for a show that will bring the roof down will have to look no further than The Commonheart. The band – hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – is a big band production (think the common five-piece with a few backup singers and horns added for good measure) fronted by a singer who will put his heart and soul into every song. The music has vocals that you can savor and a sound that you’ll get lost in.
Show: September 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
DAVID DONDERO
A truly talented songwriter who can join the annals of musical greats is a thing not easily found. But it’s been said that David Dondero could stand alongside the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and Tom Waits. From a childhood behind a drumset to hardcore punk bands in the nineties to a solo career where he really found his niche, David brings an extraordinary talent to the folk-rock scene.
Show: September 2, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
AL RIGGS
In true Alternative/Indie style, Al Riggs describes his music as “sad queer songs and sometimes angry queer songs.” So if you like sad and sometimes angry songs that plumb the depths of nature and human emotion, Al Riggs might just be your man.
Show: September 2, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
VERLON THOMPSON
The Raleigh Indy Weekly once described Verlon Thompson as “perhaps the most well-rounded yet overlooked instrumentalist and songwriter beneath the large Americana umbrella.” That’s quite a bold statement, but it’s praise that Verlon Thompson definitely deserves.
Show: September 23, Colonial Oak Music Park
TWELVE HOUR TURN
A band from 1996 to 2000, Twelve Hour Turn is briefly reforming for the Sing Out Loud Festival. From forming in Jacksonville to recording in Gainesville to touring the US and Canada, this punk rock group is ready to bring their sound back to the Sarbez stage.
Show: September 22, Planet Sarbez
AMERICAN AQUARIUM
Even after a move to the big city, the songs of American Aquarium reminisce about small towns and the lessons, stories, and lives that define rural America. Their folk-infused Southern rock is a fascinating split perspective of rural life from a group that moved away but never really left. The storytelling from the band’s frontman is at once both deeply personal and highly relatable, leaving the listeners always with the priceless gift of hope.
Show: September 21, Backyard Stage at the Amphitheatre
SUSTO
An alt rock band hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, SUSTO gets their name from a Spanish word referring to a folk illness wherein one’s soul is separated from one’s body. For founder Justin Osbourne, the music of SUSTO was something he had to get out into the world. After releasing their first album independently, the band became a huge hit in their hometown, and their notoriety eventually expanded across the country.
Show: September 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
AMIGO THE DEVIL
Danny Kiranos, better known to the masses as his musical counterpart Amigo The Devil, has been challenging the expectations of traditional folk, country music purists, and rock/extreme metal fans alike with his morbid, yet oddly romantic, take on folk that has amassed a dedicated and cult-like fanbase. Of himself, Amigo says that he’s “helping dark hearts tell their love stories one song at a time.”
Show: September 22, Planet Sarbez
THE PAUSES
The band’s debut album introduced listeners to Jason Kupfer’s studied ear and methodical rock flourishes, Nathan Chase’s technical rhythms, and Tierney Tough’s attentive musicality and immaculate vocals. The combination of all these elements has created an intriguing indierocktronica (yeah, take a second to dissect that one).
Show: September 8, Planet Sarbez
LAPêCHE
LAPêCHE is a four-piece born out of Brooklyn New York. Fronted by singer-songwriter Krista Holly Diem, the band boasts a sound inspired by their indie roots, delivering a dark, catchy rock that’s simultaneously somber and uplifting. Collaboratively, with her husband and bassist, Dave Diem, LAPêCHE also includes the intricate and thoughtful guitar slaying of Drew DeMaio as well as the creative rhythm of Jefferson Gensterblum.
Show: September 22, Planet Sarbez
AMPLE ANGST
Ample Angst is the most recent musical project of songwriter, Mike Bernos, who after the successful creation of the blues-rock driven, Spice and the Po Boys, reconnects with his introspective folk roots. There is some New Orleans honky-tonk, country, and folk-gospel, which go straight to Bernos’s indulgent roots curated in that great musical city.
Show: September 8, Colonial Oak Music Park
WILLIE EVANS JR.
In a pretty straightforward way, Willie Evans Jr. makes beats, videos, raps, and graphics. Often simultaneously and live. It’s a treat to watch him get down.
Show: September 22, Nobby’s
BEARS AND LIONS
Their mixing of a theatrical stage show and rocking live music keeps the kids involved and entertained as Bears and Lions tell their stories of their love of pancakes, following your dreams, making unusual friends, accepting others, and teamwork.
Show: September 15, Colonial Oak Music Park
BITE MARKS
Another punk rock project to come from Gainesville, Bite Marks has a stage presence and penchant for music that can stand with the greats.
Show: September 23, The Front Porch at the Amphitheatre
In addition to this lineup, you can find these musicians at venues all over the city:
5 CENT PSYCHIATRIST | 86 HOPE | AC DEATHSTRIKE | ADAM LEE | ALEX PERAMAS | AMY HENDRICKSON | ANCESTROS CORD | ANCIENT CITY POETS | ANCIENT CITY SLICKERS | ANDREW BOSSCHER | ANDY SEZ | ASLYN & THE NAYSAYERS | BEARTOE | BEDSWEATER | BELMONT & JONES | BIG LO | BIG LOGIC & THE TRUTH SERUM | BILLY BUCHANAN & HIS ROCK N SOUL REVUE | BLUE DREAM | BLUM | BOB PATTERSON | BRANDON LUCAS | BRANDON STONE | BRENT BYRD & THE SUITCASE GYPSIES | BRENT MCGUFFIN | BRETT BASS AND MELTED PLECTRUM |BUBBA SPLIFFS | BUCK SANDS | BUFFALO ROSE | CANADIAN LUNCH MONEY | CATCH THE GROOVE | CHARLEY SIMMONS | CHARLIE ROBERTSON | CHELSEA LOVITT | CHELSEA SADDLER | CHELSEA SADDLER WITH INNER ALCHEMY | CHEMTRAILS | CHRISTINA WAGNER | CLAIRE VANDIVER | COLTON MCKENNA | COMEDY OUT LOUD | CONSTANT SWIMMER | DAN ANDRIANO | DAN PADILLA | DARK HORSE SALOON | DARRYL WISE | DAVIS & THE LOOSE CANNONS | DEAD KAREN | DEBT NEGLECTOR | DEMO | DENNY BLUE | DERON BAKER | DEWEY VIA | DIE ALPS! | DIVEBAR | DIZ RENO JAMES | DJ 3 CLOPS I | DJ RAGGAMUFFIN | DONNY BRAZILE | DOUG BURNS | DUFFY BISHOP | DYLAN NIRVANA | ELLEN MOSELEY | EMMA MOSELEY BAND | ENGRAVED | EXPERT TIMING | FLAT STANLEY | FOLK IS PEOPLE | FOND KISER | IL GATO | GATORBONE TRIO | GEEXELLA | GHOST TROPIC | GIRRAFRICA | GLASS BODY | GLOVE | GO GET GONE | GRANT PAXTON BAND | GREGG RUGGIERO | GYPSY CHIX | HAFFA HOG | HALF MY HOME | HARD LUCK SOCIETY | HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL | HEDGES | HOLY HUMAN | HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY! | I LIKE DANDELIONS | I-VIBES | JACKIE STRANGER | JAMES DEFRATES | JASON WALL | JOE ROCCO | JOHN DICKIE WITH COLLAPSIBLE B | JOHNNY DEBT II | KING PEACH | KALEB STEWART | KAPOWSKI | KATIE GRACE HELOW | KATHERINE ARCHER | KENNY AND THE JETS | KID YOU NOT | KIM BROWN | KRISTOPHER JAMES | KYLE KELLER | KYRA LIVINGSTON | LAST ELECTRIC RODEO | LAURIS VIDAL | LIS WILLIAMSON AND JIM QUINE | LONESOME BERT & THE SKINNY LIZARDS | LOVE CHUNK | LUIS MARIO’S LATIN JAZZ BAND | MADI CARR | MAI TATRO’S MOONLIGHT DRIVE-IN | MALLORY JEN | MATT FOWLER AND SUE TICE DUO | MELISSA SMITH | MELODIME | MICHAEL CLAYTOR | MICHAEL JORDAN | MINIMUM RAGE | MJ BAKER | MUDTOWN | NAVIN AVE | NICHOLAS ROBERTS | NIGHT NURSE | NO PDA | NOT QUITE DEAD | OBSERVATORY | OK! CHARLIE | ORBITER | PACO LIPPS | PARADOX | PELLICER CREEK BAND | PEYTON LESCHER | PILOTWAVE | PINE | POULTRY RUN | PUDDLED | RAMONA | REELS | REMEDY TREE | RHYTHM OF FEAR | RV | RYAN JOHNSON | SAILOR JANE | SALT & PINE SALT DRIVEN RIDE SALTY DAUG SAM PACETTI SANDSPURS SECRET SMOKER SEVERED + SAID SHEA BIRNEY SKIN & BONZ SOUTHERN TIDE SPACE HEATERS STEAM MECHANICS | STEPHEN PIGMAN | STONO ECHO | STRANGERWOLF | STRAYIN’ ANCHORS | SUGARBEATS | SUNSET MONDAY | TAYLOR OLIN | TELEPATHIC LINES | TERRI GAMBLE | THE BRIDGE STREET VIBE | THE DEWARS | THE DOG APOLLO | THE DRIFTWOODS | THE DUNEHOPPERS | THE GOOD BAD KIDS | THE GRAPES OF ROTH | THE GROOVE COALITION | THE GROOVE ORIENT | THE HOT SAUCE DERBY | THE MOTHER GOOSES | THE NEW 76ERS | THE OBSCURE BROTHERS | THE PEMBERWICKS | THE PINECONE SHAKE | THE RIP CURRENTS | THE RUBIES | THE SKINNY | THE STARLIGHT TRIO |THE WILD SHINERS | THE WILLOWWACKS | THE YOUNG STEP | TIMBERWOOD | TODD & MOLLY | TOM MCKELVEY | TRASH FESTIVAL | TROPIC OF CANCER | TWEN | TYLER PESHEK | UNCLE MARTY | UNCLE MOSIE | WASTE OF TALENT | WHETHERMAN | WHISKEY & CO | WHISKEY FACE | WHYTE TYGERS | ZACK SLAUGHTERBECK | Z.F. LIVELY
A full schedule with local acts and participating venues can be found online at www.singoutloudfestival.com/schedule. You can stay up to date with all Festival updates by liking SingOutLoudSJC on Facebook, visiting the official festival website at www.singoutloudfestival.com, and downloading the Sing Out Loud Festival app.
To see more events in St. Augustine, visit our online calendar of events!
