AIKEN MUSIC FEST 2025
JACK THE RADIO
June 7th
Raleigh, North Carolina roots-rockers Jack the Radio blend rock and blues sensibility with Americana, folk, and country to create a tapestry of swampy southern-tinged sounds on their latest album release, Creatures. All of the songs on the album were written by singer George Hage with a common thread that weaves its way through telling us to stand strong as we ride out the highs and lows of what life throws at us.
Over the years, Jack The Radio has shared the stage with The Avett Brothers, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, George Thorogood, Cold War Kids, Rayland Baxter, and American Aquarium to name a few. Their music has been featured in countless commercial, film, and TV projects including Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Graceland, Beverly Hills 90210 as well as in sports programming for NASCAR, NFL, PGA among others.
THE AINT SISTERS
JULY 5TH
Fun, eclectic folk rock. Fronted by the deliciously androgynous duo Arrie Bozeman and Barb Carbon, the Aints deliver high-energy performances of their wildly diverse original music. Joined by the hardest working men in rock n Roll, Richie Jones on the Boom Chick thwackita whackita, and Justin Boudreau, aka BooDreamy, masterfully holding down the rhythm section and making everybody swoon with their gorgeous licks. Think Indigo Girls meets Dream Theater but with a little Birdcloud in the mix.
If ya ain’t sisters, what are ya?
MYSTIC VIBRATIONS
AUGUST 9TH
The deep roots of Mystic Vibrations began growth in Little London, Westmoreland, Jamaica and spread to the US in 1992 by Ric Williams. Credited to our name are two self released Studio Albums, (People Get Ready and Busy Street) and one Live recording (Live In Finlay Park). An abundant schedule keeps us constantly on the road touring the eastern US, from New York to Florida. The band is a four-piece rhythm section held by exceptionally talented musicians: Dion “Caution” Samuel (Drums), George “Raheem” Johnson (Bass), Marcus “Marky”‘ Ruby (Keyboards and Backing Vicals) and Ric Williams (Guitar and Lead Vocals). The band has been blessed by establishing a large fan base that has steadily grown over the years. Our music speaks of Love, Unity, and Peace amongst all mankind; not forgetting the trials and tribulations of oppressed peoples. Mystic Vibrations is now and forever working on fresh material and collaborating musical energy with our brothers and sisters around the world. We have enjoyed appearing at a multitude of venues over the past years since Creation. These include parks, festivals, night clubs, weddings, a plethora of private parties, television and radio performances and interviews.
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS
SEPTEMBER 6TH
The road to being hailed as the new torchbearers of Southern rock hasn’t been as glamorous as you might imagine for The Georgia Thunderbolts. It wasn’t many years ago that the guys busked at gas stations, fumbled through covers, and drove four hours to Alabama to play to a bartender and a three-legged dog sitting on a barstool.
These days, however, the Rome, Georgia-based quintet is a critically acclaimed and internationally touring band fending off the sophomore slump with its latest album, Rise Above It All, out on Mascot Records. The 13-track record is an artistically assured collection of hard-hitting Southern rock, blues, and heartfelt Americana.
“When you cut back on being a tough guy, more emotions can come through, and you hear that on this record,” says TJ Lyle, lead vocals, harmonica, and keyboards. “This album travels all musical genres.”
Shelby Kemp with the Galbraith Sisters
OCTOBER 11TH
I’m Shelby Kemp, and I’m a musician based out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
When I got out of school, I didn’t really know what to do with myself. I came from a very rural part of the state and did my schooling at a place where any sort of music education program was the furthest thing from most folks minds. I bailed out of there to the next, slightly larger town over and started making music with anyone I could, for anyone who would listen.
When I got my first guitar at the age of 14, I gave up on my feeble attempts to be good at or enjoy sports or math or deer hunting, and I dove into learning all of my favorite songs on that instrument. Most of those songs were from the British rockers of the 60’s and 70’s.
As I dug into that iconic sound from across the Atlantic, I learned about the through-line from my favorite guitarists like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton that runs straight back across the pond and into my own back yard. Delta Blues, Country Blues, Folk Blues… whatever you want to call it, became my love and my greatest fascination. I learned how to open tune my guitar and started trying to emulate all of my favorite players… Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Mississippi Fred McDowell. It’s a pursuit I have maintained into my adult life, and to this day there isn’t much in this world I find more fulfilling than waking up and going through a whole pot of coffee trying to work out how to play an old blues tune.
