REVIEW & GALLERY: High Water Festival 2024
RIVERFRONT PARK | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | APRIL 20-21, 2024 | BY KRISTEN PITTMAN
The morning sun casted a warm glow across the lush greenery and Spanish moss at North Charleston’s Riverfront Park. Anticipation was in the air on the first day of the High Water Festival. A weekend long celebration of music and local food was to begin as lines formed, the boats bob on the Cooper River, and the faint sound of Fleet Foxes sound checking on the Stono Stage radiated through the trees.
High Water is tucked into the Riverfront Park which gives it the dreamiest entrance of any festival I have been to thus far. Walking under large trees and along a river boardwalk resets your mind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a serene dreamscape. For those that travel to the festival and are not local, it is the warmest welcome to South Carolina’s coastal environment.
The park grounds allow for a pleasant festival layout. Immediately upon entry, the first in line sprinted to the Stono Stage where Noah Kahan would perform later in the night. Whereas most people leisurely took their time to explore the many options of vendors High Water had to offer. A large covered area on the dock dedicated to Wicked Weed Brewing was a hit amongst fans, and the large merch stand didn’t go a minute without seeing a patron.
New York artist, Al Olender, took the Edisto stage and kicked off the most prevalent part of the festival: the music. The festival curators, Shovel & Rope, and the entire High Water team build a stacked lineup every year that never fails to embody the lowcountry and coastal vibe. Artists from around the world take the Stono and Edisto stages and make them their own. I quite enjoyed the easiness of there only being 2 stages where no artists are overlapping. It provides an incredible flow of patrons going from one end of the park to the other and allows everyone to witness every artist of the lineup without having to pick and choose.
Day one of High Water Festival held big excitement for Noah Kahan as it kicked off his run of headlining a lot of the big name music festivals this year. Preceding his set saw the likes of Fleet Foxes, Courtney Barnett, Houndmouth and Olivia Jean on the Stono Stage. Fleet Foxes were on the top of my list for this festival. Nothing could top the instrumentation and vocals of “Mykonos” played on the riverside. Courtney Barnett graced an exceptional set that had everyone singing along. Olivia Jean was the first big voice of the day and the interaction with band members on stage and her stage presence was the one to beat that day.
Another standout was The Dip. A three-piece horn section that accompanied every song was exactly what festival-goers needed to distract themselves from the 90F degree weather and scorching sun on their backs. But the sun had to set at some point, and once it did; the roar of the crowd began as Noah Kahan was about to take the Stono Stage.
The entrance to “Dial Drunk” begins and a stunned Noah Kahan runs onto the main stage for the final act of day one. It was a breath of fresh air to watch someone show it on their face how grateful and shocked they are to be in their position in one moment. Kahan truly looked ecstatic to be there and put on a show that exceeded expectations.
DAY ONE GALLERY:
Day two brought the opposite weather to North Charleston as it started rainy and cool. This day, festival goers dawned their boho and coastal outfits underneath ponchos and raincoats. A common occurrence throughout the day was walking by a stranger and hearing “Hozier is worth it!” And I agreed with them; Hozier was worth it. Luckily, everyone was able to stay warm and hold out till the evening thanks to the food vendors located in a tree-covered area of the park. There were food options for everyone at High Water and after you would get your dipped corn dog, you could move to the nearest bush to hide from the rain underneath. All jokes aside, the weather did not put a damper on the day. Spirits were high and the music never stopped.
Local artist, Babe Club, started off the day and knew exactly what the people needed. A theatrical performance from the duo set a tone for the day that never ended. Excitement and joy flew through each artist: Cut Worms, The Heavy Heavy (which had major Fleetwood Mac vibes), Kevin Morby, Briston Maroney, and Grace Potter. The Edisto Stage was on fire all day long.
My day two standout was The Linda Lindas. For those that were unfamiliar with the band, spewed the first words as the band entered the stage, “How old are they?” I was one of them and after finding out, I was even more enthralled by their stage presence and musicality. They redefine age and deconstruct any bias people have towards younger artists. A pure rock band made of young people, promising greatness in the near future.
The Falling Lips were one to remember as they it is their signature to leave a mark on a stage in a wild way. Large pinks, robots, balloons, rainbows, and more. A galore performance that couldn’t be affected by the drab weather.
Finally, Hozier closed out the weekend while on the beginning of his 2024 tour named after his most recent studio album, Unreal Unearth. It was heaven on Earth to have witnessed Hozier in his prime. High Water patrons got to hear “Too Sweet” played live for only the second time since its release. Only played the night before at his tour opener up the road in Raleigh, NC. Hozier thanked the crowd for powering through the rain to spend the evening with him and his band.
DAY TWO GALLERY:
My first High Water experience was one to remember. It had an incredible venue, atmosphere, food, and vendors. It was a slower-paced festival than most, and allowed everyone to thoroughly enjoy the music played by every artist. I can’t believe it took me this long to find this gem that occurs in my home state of South Carolina. I can’t wait to come back next year.
