Concert Review: 2024 High Water Festival

Hozier BY CAITLIN RUSS

The 2024 High Water Festival kicked off Saturday in North Charleston, South Carolina with blue skies and sunshine. Folk and indie artists performed one after another, alternating between stages “Stono” and “Edisto.” The most dedicated fans quickly found a spot at the “Stono” stage determined to have a front row view for Noah Kahan’s performance on Saturday and Hozier on Sunday.

Shovels & Rope
Singer-songwriter Al Olender opened day one of the festival. Her folk-pop solo act welcomed attendees as they flowed through the gates. Husband and wife duo, Shovels & Rope, performed Saturday evening to a large crowd. The Charleston-based band founded the festival back in 2017 and it has run annually ever since. It has become hugely popular and sells out impressively fast.

Courtney Barnett
The day was packed with performances without being overwhelming. Folk singer and classical multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla performed in the afternoon with band in tow. Other acts on Saturday included Olivia Jane, Houndmouth, The Dip, Courtney Barnett, and The Walkmen. All acts on Saturday lucked out with perfect weather. Attendees traveled back and forth between stages to see their favorite artists perform while others set up blankets and basked in the warm sunshine. Indie folk band Fleet Foxes was the second-to-last act of the night. Their set kicked off with “Wading in Waist-High Water,” followed by “Sunblind” and “Can I Believe You” all from their 2021 album, Shore. Lead singer Robin Pecknold seemed wowed by the crowd and expressed his appreciation for them after every song.

Noah Kahan
Fans waved posters and screamed in excitement as Noah Kahan took stage not long after the sun set for the evening. The palpable anticipation that grew on Saturday led to the moment Kahan took stage. He was energetic, goofy, humorous, and overall entertaining. He made jokes, read fan-made signs aloud, and even ran through the center of the pit at one point in the show. It was the perfect ending to day one. Day two was another story.

It was no secret that there was rain in the forecast for Sunday. Fans packed ponchos, raincoats, and mud boots but still many found themselves ill-prepared for the harsh weather that day. Early afternoon it seemed the rain would hold off and it would just be a dreary day with killer music. Mother nature had other plans when the wind picked up and chilly raindrops fell from the sky. The attendance of the festival seemed to be impacted. Some fans packed up and found shelter under trees or in their cars. Others left entirely.

The Flaming Lips
But the show went on as scheduled. Kevin Morby made it through his set before the downpour occurred. The Wallflowers, an American rock band featuring Jakob Dylan, performed in the rain to a crowd of fans in ponchos. Briston Maroney and Grace Potter experienced the same fate, but they kept their energy up despite the temperatures dropping as the sun was setting. The Flaming Lips performing Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots confirmed the rumor of performing in a hamster ball alongside giant pink robots. During the set, “Fuck Yeah High Water” balloons were brought out onstage and large inflatable balls bounced around the crowd.

Hozier
Hozier started his set with “De Selby (pt.2),” “Jackie and Wilson” and his most recent hit, “Too Sweet.” Thousands of fans huddled together to shelter from the cold breeze as they were serenaded by Hozier and his band the rest of the evening. After performing “Take me to Church,” Hozier took a few moments to speak on civil and women’s rights which led into “Nina Cried Power.” Festival goers enthusiastically sang along to “Work Song” before leaving the festival grounds.

All in all, it was a successful festival. The hot and cold weather didn’t deter fans from packing the venue. The weekend featured a wide variety of folk and indie artists that kept up the energy with every performance.

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CAITLIN RUSS

Caitlin Russ is a Florida native currently residing in North Carolina. She is an English teacher by day and freelance entertainment journalist by night. Caitlin enjoys reading, hiking with her husband and 3 children, and attending as many concerts as she can. Her all-time favorite music artists include John Mayer, Tyler Childers, and Paramore.

Read Caitlin's posts here.