Sound Check: COASTAL ROOTS WITH WINYAH

Born from the salt air and small-town communities surrounding Winyah Bay in South Carolina, Winyah has quickly become one of the Lowcountry's fastest-rising bands. Formed in 2023, this five-piece group  (Thomas Rowland—lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Stephen Russell—bass; Luke Gordon—lead guitar; Robert Buffington Jr.—keyboards; and Jacob "Jake" Riley—drums) spent the last two years building a devoted following with its blend of indie rock, alternative influences, and Southern guitar-driven energy. Named after the bay that shaped their upbringing, the band's music carries the easy confidence of coastal South Carolina while embracing the momentum of a group with national ambitions.

Since releasing its debut album, “Lot to Learn,” Winyah has steadily expanded beyond the Carolinas, headlining larger venues and touring throughout the country. But the band's roots remain firmly planted in the Lowcountry. This September, Winyah returns to one of the venues that helped launch the band: The Windjammer on the Isle of Palms. We caught up with Winyah to talk about hometown inspiration, coming full circle at The Windjammer, and what's next.

Describe the band for readers just discovering Winyah. We're a five-piece indie rock and alternative band from coastal South Carolina. We started making the kind of music we wanted to hear ourselves, and it's grown into something much bigger than we ever expected.

How has location influenced your music? The Lowcountry is home for all of us. Whether it's Georgetown, Pawleys Island, or Charleston, coming home after being on the road gives us a fresh perspective and new inspiration. Our name comes from Winyah Bay, so our hometown is woven into everything we do.

Tell us about your two back-to-back hometown shows at The Windjammer this September? We're beyond excited! The September 18 performance is almost sold out, and adding a second night has made it even more special. The Windjammer has been part of our story from the very beginning. Some of our first gigs were on the inside stage after the main shows had ended, back when we barely had any original songs. It was one of the first places where people actually bought tickets to see us. There's another full-circle moment, too. Scottie Frier, who books talent at The Windjammer, was actually the person who taught Thomas how to play guitar. Now we're coming back to headline the venue ourselves. That means a lot.

What can fans expect from this year's hometown shows? These shows are going to feel different. We've grown a lot as a band, and that shows in every part of our performance. The production has gotten bigger, the set has evolved, and there will be plenty of new music. It's really a celebration of everything we've built over the last couple of years.

You're releasing your new album on September 18th. How does it feel to share that moment with a hometown crowd? It's hard to imagine a better way to release it. Charleston and the surrounding area have supported us from day one, so getting to celebrate a new record with the people who've been there since the beginning feels like the perfect way to start this next chapter.

After Charleston, what's next for Winyah? This fall is our biggest headline tour yet. We'll be playing venues across the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast before heading overseas for our first shows in the U.K. and Ireland. At the same time, we're already thinking ahead to writing the next record. It's about finding that balance between touring, writing, and continuing to grow. 

SOUND BITES:

• Favorite Charleston spots when you're not making music? The Royal American, Chico Feo, The Washout, Burt's Market, and Queen Street Grocery.

• What's one song that never leaves your setlist? "Lot to Learn." The title track from our first album and still one of our favorites to play.

• If someone has never heard Winyah before, what song should they start with? "Spinning."

•In three words, describe your live show. Explosive. Intentional. Rowdy.

•One thing you hope every fan leaves your show feeling? Like they just rocked out with their friends and let loose for a while.