Going to a concert in the summer is arguably one of the most fun experiences a teenager can have. We are especially lucky living in Charleston because there are so many venues near us and we have a lot of big names who come to play here. Even if your favorite artist is not coming to the Charleston area, traveling for a concert can also be a lot of fun! And according to student responses, it seems 2024 was the summer of concerts!
Starting locally, there were a bunch of people who came to Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island this summer! Brandon Lake came on May 5th so a little earlier than most of the other concerts listed here. For those of you unfamiliar, Brandon Lake is a Christian artist with very upbeat and high-energy worship music. I was supposed to go to this concert but was unable to, so I was glad to hear from Isabella All that it was “so hype.” Sounds like it was so much fun! Sam Hunt also came to Credit One on July 26th and although it was rainy it was the best time! Sam Hunt is a country artist with countless hits like Body Like a Back Road, Take Your Time, and Outskirts. Talia Barsness and I went and she says “Even though we didn’t know all of the songs, we still had a really good time.” I definitely agree! Street Wilson and Chloe Trowman went to Brooks and Dunn on June 15th with friends. Brooks and Dunn are a country music duo with a few popular songs like Neon Moon, Boot Scootin’ Boogie, and a feature on Luke Combs’ 1, 2 Many. Street shares that although they didn’t know the music very well, “Credit One is super pretty and the outdoor venue is so nice.” Alternative Rock Bands Death Cab for Cutie & The Postal Service made an appearance on April 26th. Caryn Hasenberg went as her first concert. How exciting! She says she loved it and how bright and fun it was, although it was extremely loud. Credit One is one of the best venues because it isn’t too big so you can see the performer from the very top and it’s super easy to navigate. I would definitely recommend going to a concert here.
Another great local venue is Firefly Distillery in North Charleston. This is an outdoor stage with a huge lawn for listeners to dance around. Zuriel Nyamutsaka recalls his time seeing T-Pain and says the smaller artists that opened for him were awesome and even played “Heard ‘Em Say” by Kanye West, one of Zuriels favorite Kanye songs. The popular rapper played through the rain and while playing some of his own best hits, he also performed covers of songs from artists such as Kanye West or Travis Scott. Sounds like a great time! Queens of the Stone Age also came in May, putting on a fantastic show. Lilly Sturm saw the rock band and shared that she felt “extremely lucky to go because the rest of their tour got canceled.” That really is lucky. Amaris Wint went to Sublime with Rome this summer and had a great time! She shares that the lineup was way longer than she was expecting but the openers were actually great! When Sublime finally came out it was so awesome as she and all her friends were at the very front! If these names and experiences aren’t enough to convince you to attend a concert, don’t worry there are even more that came to the area!
If you love the beach, the Windjammer on Isle of Palms has some awesome performances! Dean McCullough, Noah Orza, and Logan Burns saw 49 Winchester for just $35 each! They had a great time and even got some of their stuff autographed by “the best band ever. It was sick.” Eliza Miller and Cole McGowan also went to a beach concert at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach to see Chevelle. Eliza shares, “they played an unreleased song for the first time”. Sounds so awesome! Slightly farther away, Garrison Gray saw the Rolling Stones at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Getting to see one of the most famous bands of all time must have been amazing and Garrison says it was “electric, absolutely electric.” Leah Whipkey got to see Cage the Elephant at Charlotte PNC Music Pavillion. Since it is a partially outdoor venue, Leah says it was pretty hot at first, but much more enjoyable once it cooled down. The Wallows came to Cadence Bank Amphitheater and Whitney Limbert was lucky enough to see them! She says, “it was one of the best nights of my life.” What a fun time! Logan D’Agostino saw Jacob Collier in North Carolina and had a “surreal experience.” He says the crowd’s enthusiasm and energy made the concert ten times better and he felt an emotional connection with all the music played. Logan says “Jacob Collier is someone I look up to in music and getting to see him live was amazing.” I agree, seeing your favorite artist in person is so much fun because you get to celebrate their talent with countless other fans just like you.
While the Charleston area is lucky to have so many big names come in, sometimes you have to go far to go to your dream concert. There were a few students who traveled far and wide to see their favorite artists. Street Wilson went all the way to Los Angeles to see Zach Bryan! She says she had a blast singing along to her favorite songs with her family. Even though he didn’t play for a long time, it was still a super fun time. Going to the opposite coast, Judd Waggoner saw Travis Scott in Miami. Judd had a great time as all of his favorite songs were played and even some unreleased music. How special! He says the crowd was super energetic and loud, making the experience even better. Griff Polk was lucky enough to go to both Red Rocks and Madison Square Garden to see the Avett Brothers and AJR. He says his time at Red Rocks was “wild” but that the acoustics were great thanks to the natural structure of the Amphitheater. Griff also says seeing his favorite band AJR was surreal. Everyone in the crowd knew all the words and he even got to see himself on screen a few times! The crowd even orchestrated a tribute to the members’ father, surprising the bad and making for an emotional experience. Sounds like an unbelievable time.
Summertime concerts are plentiful and a great way to pass the time and find something to look forward to when summer is moving slowly. As shown by student testimonies, there are so many great artists who come to Charleston and places nearby. Finding a concert is so easy and a life-changing experience that you will never forget. If you didn’t get a chance to go to a concert this summer, definitely try again next year for the time of your life!
