Gaining Southern Ground in Charleston

Zac Brown’s music and food festival returns to the Holy City October 11-12. 

As if two nights of the Zac Brown Band aren’t enough, the fourth annual Southern Ground Music & Food Festival in Charleston has everything to suit your fancy – Southern home cooking, bluegrass music and hoppy brews. The two-day festival at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island, curated by Brown himself, also includes a complete lineup of eclectic music from the Old 97’s, Secret Sisters (pictured), North Mississippi All-Stars, The Wailers, Gov’t Mule and Blues Traveler. (See the complete lineup here to find out when your favorite band will be making an appearance at the festival.)

Given that the event is Brown’s brainchild, his band is naturally the main fixture. In addition to Zac Brown Band’s nightly shows, members of the band also perform individually, including Coy Bowes and the Fellowship, Clay Cook and John Hopkins & Brighter Shade. In addition, the band will close each night with “Super Sets,” when they bring in artists from the lineup to make special guest appearances.

Let’s not forget the other namesake of this festival: the delicious Southern eats. Although vendors haven’t been named for this year, past year’s eats included Home Team BBQ, Taco Boy and Ali Baba. Head Chef Rusty Hamlin, co-creator and chef of Zac Brown Band’s “Eat & Greet” events, heads up the backstage four-course meal for Front Porch Stage Box ticket owners who can enjoy dinner with the band just steps away. This year’s tickets are already sold out, but you can get on the waiting list here.

One-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are still available for purchase and include general parking and entrance to all concerts for each day. VIP upgrades can also be purchased — perfect for the music and food lover – with catered food, complementary beverages at the VIP bar and access to the backstage VIP area.

Photos courtesy of Southern Ground Music & Food Festival.