By CLTure
October 14, 2025
Photo: Daniel Coston / CLTure
Charleston, South Carolina’s High Water Festival returns for its eighth edition on April 18-19, 2026, at Riverfront Park, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Cooper River. The festival will showcase 20 acts across two stages, headlined by Alabama Shakes, Caamp, My Morning Jacket, and Sheryl Crow, alongside Lake Street Dive, Jesse Welles, Maren Morris, Peach Pit, Watchhouse, Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers, Jensen McRae, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, Arcy Drive, Chance Peña, Trousdale, Penny & Sparrow, The Runarounds, hey, nothing, Winyah, and Alice Phoebe Lou.
Beyond the music, High Water Festival has long been celebrated for its culinary offerings and craft beverages. Festival-goers can explore local and regional flavors at The Refuge, sip craft beers and cocktails. Since its inception in 2017, the festival has been known for its scenic riverside setting for music lovers, food enthusiasts, and local artisans.
Alabama Shakes, led by the extraordinary Brittany Howard, are a highlight of this year’s lineup. The band reunited in December 2024 for their first performance together since 2017 and announced their first tour in eight years, releasing “Another Life,” their first new song in a decade, in August 2025. The band’s 2015 album Sound & Color debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned three Grammy Awards.
During the hiatus, Howard pursued a solo career, releasing Jaime (2019) and What Now (2024), further establishing herself as one of modern music’s most compelling voices. The annual music festival lays the route for many tours that route through Charlotte. Alabama Shakes last performed in Charlotte at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre in 2016.
Presale for High Water Festival tickets begins Thursday, October 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. Fans can register to receive a presale passcode for guaranteed access to 2-Day GA passes at the lowest price for one hour, with remaining tickets going on public sale at 2 p.m.
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