Meet the artists bringing something uniquely different to the lineup this season
Some lineups play it safe. This one doesn’t. From Palmetto State storytelling to Augusta soul comedy to a horn-fueled rock band that refuses to stay in one lane, our three May artists share one thing in common: they show up fully themselves. Every. Single. Time.
OPENER
JD BOATWRIGHT
JD Boatwright grew up on music that fired his imagination. Classic rock, soul, and the kind of country that actually has something to say. Over time, he’s figured out how to blend all three into a sound that’s unmistakably his own.
When JD takes the stage at AMF for the first time, he’s bringing all original material: songs written about life in South Carolina, about the Palmetto State’s landscapes, and about the colorful characters he’s crossed paths with along the way. Don’t expect covers. DO expect honesty.
JD’s solo shows are equally funny and thoughtful, each song accompanied with the story behind it–where it came from, who it’s about, what he was feeling when he wrote it. It’s this connection that turns a JD set into something closer to a conversation.
“I’m excited to hear The Experiment and Happy Bones Jones,” he told us. Truly a man with good taste.
OPENER
HAPPY BONES JONES
Happy Bones Jones hails from Augusta, Georgia, hometown of James Brown–and that little fact isn’t incidental. There’s just something about the way Bones works a crowd: the call-and-response, the rhythm of the build, the sense that something real is happening (not just jokes being delivered).
His style is hard to categorize and that’s exactly the point. Rapid-fire storytelling meets Southern charm meets social satire. One minute he’s “channeling a ghost named Reggie” and the next he’s recounting “getting arrested and falling for a lady copy” –somehow making them both profound. He works clean or dirty, weird or wise, feeding on the vibes the audience brings.
Happy Bone Jones doesn’t just perform. He holds court. And you’ll definitely want to be in the “room” with him.
THE MAIN EVENT
THE EXPERIMENT & THE I-20 HORNS
The Experiment & The I-20 Horns are what happens when a rock-and-roll band decides the only rule is that there are no rules. Classic rock is the foundation, but the horn section can push to the front at any moment, leading with riffs that belong as much to big band as they do to backyard jams.
The band rotates the spotlight deliberately. Stephen takes the lead for a few songs, then Tom steps up with vocals and harmonica. Then someone else takes a crack. It keeps things moving, the audience engaged, and signals that this is a group effort, not a showcase.
Their set is mostly covers, but don’t expect it to be tired. They pull material apart. Rebuild it. Shift the feel. A classic oldie might take a Latin turn. A blues number could slide into Louisiana Jambalaya territory. The vibe, they say, is whatever gets the crowd going.
For their first headlining event at Aiken Music Fest, they’re coming ready to show exactly what they’ve got. “We’re just looking forward to putting on a good show and showing fans our diversity and talent,” the band said.
Given their range, that’s a lot of show to look forward to.
Three artists. Three different worlds. One stage. Whether you’re there for the stories, the laughs, or the horns, you won’t leave disappointed.