SAVANNAH STOPOVER weekend is studded with one-of-a-kind experiences that meld music, art, culture, and good food and drink. Mix up your schedule with a special event!
Opening Night Event
Thursday, March 10, 6 p.m., Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum North Garden
Jumpstart your Stopover with a strong dose of visual art and music in the picturesque Ships of the Sea Museum.
The fest begins with headliner Ra Ra Riot, Stopover alums Sun Club, and SAV-based Breakers.
Syracuse’s Ra Ra Riot’s tunes have been coursing through the earbuds of tastemakers and indie kids since 2006. Catching on early with catchy baroque-pop stylings, fueled by Rebecca Zeller’s violin, the band’s evolved into a synth-pop force to be reckoned with. Fans of Architecture in Helsinki, Tokyo Police Club and Vampire Weekend will find something to cause a riot about. And speaking of Vampire Weekend, former member Rostam Batmanglij is responsible for mixing a couple of tracks on Ra Ra Riot’s latest, Need Your Light, released February 19, 2016.
Sun Club will light up the garden’s greenery with their super-fun, weirdo layered dance-pop.
Fresh Savannah band Breakers just released a self-titled EP, recorded by Peter Mavrogeorgis at Dollhouse Productions, in late February; it’s a great mix of the band’s refined ‘70s and ‘80s post-punk-meets-Strokes-style throwback sound.
Food trucks will be on location ready to sate, and there will be beverages aplenty from sponsors Deep Eddy Vodka, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, and Lagunitas Brewing Co beer. As you sip and nosh, scope out the finalists from the annual Stopover Band Poster Competition, a collaboration with Art Rise Savannah.
Band Poster Exhibition
Friday, March 11, 5 p.m., Jepson Atrium
Miss your chance to see the array of Stopover posters on Thursday? Hit the Jepson for drinks from the Art Bar (Lagunitas and cocktails will be served), vinyl, and the top poster contest finalists. Out-of-towners: this is a great chance to experience the contemporary edge and sleek design of the Jepson Center!
David Bowie Tribute with Capsula
Friday, March 11, 11 p.m., Trinity UMC
If there’s anyone we trust to recreate the holy sounds of The Thin White Duke, it’s returning Stopover favorites Capsula. The glitzy rock ‘n’ roll trio recorded their version of Ziggy Stardust in 2012 to honor a record that has deep influenced Capsula as a band. Don’t miss their original material at The Jinx on Saturday, too: it’s one of the best live shows you’ll catch.
Furious Hooves/Graveface Records/Noisy Ghost Showcase
Saturday, March 12, Congress St. Social Club
Savannah’s own Furious Hooves and Graveface Records labels, in conjunction with Noisy Ghost PR (another Ryan Graveface endeavor), have teamed up to create a killer roster of rock ‘n’ roll kicking off at 2 p.m.
Check out locals curbdogs, the excellent Grand Vapids from Athens, Dear Tracks, Ancient Warfare, Stargazer Lilies, Hospital Ships, and Des Ark.
Stopover in the Yard
Saturday, March 12, 12 p.m., The Grey
If you caught the first few Stopover in the Yard afternoons in 2015, you know you’re in for a treat, and if you missed ‘em, there’s no better time than festival week to get in on the action.
If you’re into good Southern cookin’, live music, and dining al fresco, this event’s made for you. The High Divers provide the tunes while award-winning chef Mashama Bailey dishes out the good stuff. Admittance is first-come, first-serve, so get there early to nab a good spot and nom to your heart’s content.
Secret Shows
Throughout the weekend, Abe’s On Lincoln
This weekend, Savannah received sad news of the passing of Lola Collins, proprietor of iconic tavern Jim Collins Bar. Abe’s on Lincoln now occupies the original site of the beloved watering hole,and will play host to a number of secret shows throughout Savannah Stopover. The fact that cozy, historic spot is the place to be for impromptu, intimidate concerts during festival weekend just solidifies the place’s special history in unique Savannah nightlife culture.
Keep a sharp eye on Twitter, as that’s where the pop-up shows will be announced just an hour before the show. If you’ve never been to Abe’s, know that the lovely wood-paneled establishment is also one of our smaller pubs in town: when you get your Twitter push notification, head to the corner of Lincoln and Bryan Street! The place fills up quickly, and space is limited; secure your spot, and raise a glass for Mrs. Collins.
Dosti Music Project
Saturday, March 12, 3 p.m., Trinity UMC
With Savannah being one of only four scheduled performances, the Dosti Music Project brings ten musicians together from the United States, Pakistan, and India to compose together and create a melting pot of sound. Expect to hear Appalachian mountain music intertwined with traditional Sufi Qawwali and electronic experimentations.
