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Join Musicians and Music Lovers from Around the Globe in Historic Savannah

Home to cobblestone streets, historic antebellum buildings, and lush greenery around every corner, Savannah is a charming destination for any traveler. The city was founded in 1733, making it the oldest city in Georgia. Visitors can experience the area’s rich history firsthand on a variety of walking tours, which highlight sites such as Bonaventure Cemetery, Forsyth Park, and Mercer-Williams House. No trip to the Hostess City of the South can be complete without sampling the local cuisine. Travelers will find a variety of delicious meals at B’s Cracklin’ BBQ, Husk Savannah, and The Olde Pink House.  

 

The Savannah Stopover Music Festival has been a can’t miss music experience for thousands of people over the past eight years, and it will take place March 8-10 in Downtown Savannah. This year’s event will feature more than 80 performers and groups from across the country and the world including top acts such as of Montreal, Nikki Lane, and Wild Child. Participating musicians regularly use the event as a “stopover” on the way to play at Austin’s South by Southwest event. Attendees will encounter performances for everyone, from all ages shows at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, to 21+ shows at The Jinx (live music bar). Purchase of a VIP ticket grants access to the Artists Lounge, which includes direct access to musicians, free drinks, and more. Patrons can also enjoy a variety of foods at the shows that range from meals by favorite local food trucks to the venues themselves serving up their signature dishes. ResortsandLodges.com interviewed Sponsor Coordinator, Sarah Weitman, to learn about this all-ages music extravaganza.

 

RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.

SW: Savannah Stopover Music Festival is a three-day music festival taking place in downtown Savannah, Georgia’s historic district. By capitalizing on the logistical good fortune of Savannah’s proximity to Interstates 95 and 10, Savannah Stopover provides traveling musicians a place to “stopover” on their way to play South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, which takes place the following week.

 

RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?

SW: We’re not lying when we say — EVERYONE! In 2017 we hosted over 5,000 attendees, including families, couples, and people just looking to have a great time listening to music. We have venues that are 21+ and all-ages.

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

SW: Savannah Stopover has an incredible track record for booking some of the brightest up and coming talent. Grimes, The War On Drugs, Future Islands, Mac Demarco, Margo Price, Julien Baker, St. Lucia, DIIV, Ra Ra Riot, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and countless others have played Stopover before "breaking out" of the pack. We put a premium on musical discovery in an intimate setting at a price unrivaled by any similar music festival ($34 for a single day, $59 for two days, $79 for three days).

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event. What can I expect as an attendee?

SW: Just one day at the festival? We’ve got too much fun to have!

 

Our Opening Night (Thursday, March 8th) begins at 6:00 pm at the North Garden of Ships of the Sea Museum. This all-Georgia, all-ages spectacular will feature Larkin Poe, Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, and Savannah’s own Payne Bridges. Music will start at venues across the historic district immediately after that, and rock hard until 1:00 am.

 

Music begins at 4:00 pm on Friday, March 9th. For those who didn’t take the day off, clock out of work early and catch one of our afternoon sets at Congress Street Social Club or The Jinx, Savannah’s favorite happy hour hangouts. In addition to 30+ bands throughout the day, you won’t want to miss the New West Records Showcase at Ships of the Sea Museum featuring Cicada Rhythm, Lilly Hiatt, Caroline Rose, and Nikki Lane.

 

Saturday, March 10th, is a long day, so come well-rested! Beginning with Becca Mancari at Stopover in the Yard at The Grey at 12:30 pm, this year’s outdoor event will benefit the Savannah LGBT Center and feature amazing food from Chef Mashama Bailey. 35+ bands will play throughout the day, including a Normaltown Records & Friends Showcase and Sleep Well Records Showcase. And you won’t want to miss our closing night all-ages event at Ships of the Sea Museum, featuring Athens’ glam rockers of Montreal, Gus Dapperton, and TWEN. Costumes are encouraged!

 

Four venues are all ages with a total of 25 all ages shows. Each day has at least one Secret Show where we announce the location ahead of time, but the artist playing is announced an hour before the show on Twitter (@SavStopover).

 

RAL: What dining options will attendees encounter?

SW: Where do we begin? One of the best things to do in Savannah is to eat, and we’ve locked in some of our favorites to staff the Food Truck Court at Ships of the Sea Museum all three nights. Some of the venues, like Congress Street Social Club and Barrelhouse South, offer quick bites if you don’t want to miss a second of music.

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

SW: Staybridge Suites, The Desoto, and The Westin Savannah Harbor all work with Savannah Stopover to provide top-notch accommodations for the music-filled getaway (more information on our website). You may even see one of your favorite new bands on the same floor! We also recommend attendees check out VisitSavannah.com to find other places to stay, from hotels to historic inns and B&Bs.

 

RAL: What does this event mean to the community?

SW: Savannah Stopover is a unique chance for people to see 85+ bands in their favorite venues around town. Many of these bands, like of Montreal, regularly play larger markets like New York, Philadelphia, and Nashville, so we’re happy to bring them to our city for the weekend. For our Savannah-based attendees, these are the bands they rave about — and for our venues, these are the bands they continue to book for years to come!

 

RAL: Does the event support a particular cause in the community?

SW: It does! Stopover in the Yard at The Grey will take place on Saturday, March 10th beginning at 12:30 pm. Stopover in the Yard is a year-long collaboration between Savannah Stopover and The Grey to combine food, music and charity fundraising. The Yard at The Grey is an expansive, family-friendly outdoor area where chef Mashama Bailey serves enticing Southern fare including grilled meats, seafood, and vegetable dishes. This year’s event will also feature artist Becca Mancari and benefit the Savannah LGBT Center.

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

SW: This is a one of a kind festival. The small, vibrant coastal community of Savannah is rife with a unique brand of low country hospitality and southern gothic ambiance, not to mention home to a burgeoning music scene, music-hungry demographic, and an established arts community.

 

For more information about the Savannah Stopover Music Festival, please visit the event website.

Photography Credit: Geoff L. Johnson