The Blue Dogs Summer Shindig kicked off on June 1, 2024, at The Refinery in Charleston SC, giving the longtime Lowcountry band The Blue Dogs (est. 1987) the chance to dip its collective paws into the festival milieu and invite like-minded bands from its past and present to celebrate with a full afternoon and evening of music!
"Volume One: Back to the 90's" featured three bands -- Charleston's Uncle Mingo, the SC upstate's Cravin' Melon, and NC/GA canine cousins Jupiter Coyote -- that the Dogs toured with and/or crossed paths with many times during the decade when each of them toured the most, the 1990's. Each band had a set, and the night ended with a group jam with members of each band.
Acoustic solo/duo performers living in the Carolinas were also invited to play a few songs between sets. These talented singer/songwriters included Andrew Hyra of Billy Pilgrim, Shane Williams and Warren Bazemore of Finnegan Bell, Jacob Johnson, and Emily Curtis.
The show goes on in 2025 on Saturday, May 31, with "Volume 2: Carolina Road Warriors," titled such to acknowledge and honor each of this year's bands, all of whom traveled many thousands of miles and played hundreds of venues around the Carolinas and well beyond, especially in the 80's, 90's, and 00's.
This year, the Dogs are bringing in…
...first and foremost, North Carolina legends The Connells, based in the capital city of Raleigh from 1984 to this day 41 years later, and one of the only bands from our region who literally traveled the world -- and one could say, thanks to their touring and major exposure they received on MTV back in that heydey, they are best known for their song "'74-'75," which was a number one hit in Norway and Sweden in 1995 while reaching the top 10 in a total of 11 European countries;
another NC band formed in the 80's just down the road, in Chapel Hill, Dillon Fence, who toured the country with Hootie and the Blowfish on their first major tour and still draw crowds to this day;
and another TWO bands who are based right here in the Lowcountry: FINNEGAN BELL, the sweet singer-songwriter duo who write nothing but killer songs, and who have performed with the Blue Dogs many times in recent years at the Charleston Music Hall and other venues; and local Charleston heroes, JUNCO PARTNER, made up of a who's who of Charleston and South Carolina musicians who rock the house with cool covers in the southern rock/jam/boogie category.
General admission as well as VIP tickets will be available for the show. VIP ticket holders have exclusive access to the "upper deck" with premium viewing at The Refinery with a dedicated entrance and first-come, first-served seating; private newly renovated restrooms; and a separate VIP bar with premium spirits not available elsewhere.
4pm Doors
4:05-4:15 Henry Futch III
4:20-5pm Finnegan Bell
5:15-6:15 Junco Partner
6:30-7:45 Dillon Fence
8:00-9:15 Blue Dogs
9:30-10:45 The Connells
