Vinyl Junkie: Highlights of Artisphere 2024's top-notch, varied musical offerings

If I had a whole magazine to myself, there still wouldn’t be enough room to describe everything that’s going on at this year’s Artisphere.  

Here are some highlights of musical acts on the Main Stage, but I’d encourage you to check out the complete schedule for the rest of the events. Other stages include a Local Performing Arts Showcase and Artists on the Rise, each featuring a diverse lineup of local and regional talent. There are even pop-up stages in various downtown locations throughout the weekend.  

Friday, May 10

Whitney Mongé starts things off on the Main Stage on Friday, May 10, noon-1 p.m. She’s a singer/songwriter who brings some soulful emotion and interesting chord progressions into her Americana style. Originally from Seattle, now settled in Asheville, she honed her musical chops busking and was featured in the movie Find Your Way: A Busker's Documentary (2014).  

Hailing from Elkin, NC, Time Sawyer comes in at 2 p.m. for an hour of laid-back Folk Rock with some really nice harmonies and slick slide guitar.   

At 4 p.m., it’s the duo By George from Raleigh. They describe themselves as “Frog Pop. I’m not exactly sure what Frog Pop means, but it’s definitely high-energy and catchy.  

Shamarr Allen from New Orleans is a trumpeter/singer/songwriter who is hard to put into just one category. Jazz plays an integral part, but with heavy Rock, Funk, Hip-Hop, R&B and Blues influences as well. He takes the stage at 6:30 for an extended set, closing out the evening with a show you won’t want to miss.  

Saturday, May 11

Saturday at 11:30 a.m., singer/songwriter Taylor Winchester from Charlotte cranks things up on the Main Stage with some original Indie Folk.  

Singer/songwriter Meredith Foster from Charleston hits the stage at 1:30 with some thoughtful and tongue-in-cheek lyrics and is sure to be a crowd favorite. 

Self-described “Honky Tonk Rock & Roll Crusader” Mac Leaphart is on at 4 p.m. with a 90-minute set of clever, slightly quirky lyrics and great musicianship. He’s originally from South Carolina and currently lives in Nashville.  

Will Overman, also from Nashville, takes it from there at 6:30 to wind down the evening with some country-inflected Americana.  

Sunday, May 12

Sunday at 11 a.m., Greenville’s own Rebellious Hearts, a three-piece Bluegrass group, cranks up the day’s lineup. Toe-tapping is guaranteed.  

Ashley Heath from Asheville comes on at 1:30 for an extended set of her gritty Americana. 

And the vocal group Kyshona Trio gives us rich, powerful, velvety, spot-on harmonies at 4. Their music invokes styles as diverse as Gospel, Soul, R&B, Folk, and Rock.  

TALK Greenville contributor Joe Cash is no stranger to the stage – he's a longtime drummer for local groups such as True Blues and The Bad Popes among others. He says music has been part of his life since before I can remember and he played his first paying gig at age 11.