This article comes to you from both a place of musical happiness and weather induced sadness. In it’s inaugural year, South Star Music Festival made a tremendous effort to bring a high quality musical experience to Huntsville, Alabama. This writer has been to numerous music festivals both on assignment and personal enjoyment. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly over the years, and South Star has all of the elements to be a yearly destination: amazing lineup, leadership that clearly wants to put on a great festival, and a setup that would make for a comfortable two days listing to music.
Unfortunately, and entirely out of the hands of the festival, the remaining bulk of Hurricane Helene came directly over the festival grounds and didn’t seem to get the hint that it was an unwelcome visitor. As rain poured down leading up to the event’s kick off and light rain persisting on Saturday, even though the weather app was sure that the rain was ending in 13 minutes all darn day, the festival, the artists and the attendees persevered–and had some amazing times in the process. However, the mud proved to be too much for the second day of the festival to take place and Sunday was cancelled to keep everyone safe. I feel like I have become adept at determining when a show cancellation is genuine or B.S., and I have every sense that if South Star could have safely proceeded, we would have been rocking out to blink 182 yesterday. 😢😢
So, instead of a two-part festival recap, you’re only getting one. However, I think you’ll see through our photos and coverage that we got some great shows packed into that one day!
CANDLEBOX
There was a lot of nostalgia packed into the 2024 South Star lineup and I can think of no better starting place than with Candlebox. After all, the Seattle Grunge rockers’ first, self-titled album was one of those albums that helped expand my mind from the country music influences I grew up with. While lead singer Kevin Martin may have reminded us a few times how many years ago many of the band’s hits came out, and he might have even joked about everything hurting a time or two, Martin’s voice hasn’t lost a step. (Even my Uber driver at the end of the night commented on how cool it was hearing Martin’s voice when he was picking up a ride earlier in the day.)
The band has also clearly maintained a loyal following and a special place in music lovers’ hearts. Due to the weather, a few earlier bands had to be cut from the lineup making Candlebox the first ever act to play South Star Music Festival. On social media, people discussed arriving early to get in line to make sure they got to the stage in time to see the grunge rockers. Sure enough, as the festival gates opened and folks passed through security, numerous groups immediately headed for the Camellia Stage where the band was scheduled to play.
The set was replete with classics. “Cover Me” served as the festivals first widespread singalong. However, the crowd’s voices were just getting warmed up as the volume rose for “You” and the band’s mega-hit “Far Behind” later in the set. Before starting the latter, Martin asked the crowd to raise their voices to the sky as the song is about people in our lives who have passed on but are still remembered. In a joyous tribute, the South Star crowd sang with determined energy and I witnessed several people around me getting emotional.
Yes, Candlebox’s set was full of nostalgia, but nostalgia is a powerful emotion. After thirty-four years the band’s music still connects to the listeners and made a memorable mark on this new festival.
GIN BLOSSOMS
Since I had been one of the first people through the gates of the festival I had not been able to get a good measure of how big of a crowd had come in early despite the rain. As I made my way towards the Supersonic Stage, I could see a large audience had already assembled to see the alternative rockers, the Gin Blossoms. Self-dubbed at the festival as “your favorite rock band from Tempe, Arizona,” the Gin Blossoms gave South Star a set that was full of the classics and lighthearted enough to raise spirits on that rainy day.
And about those hits…even though I religiously listened to alternative radio when they all came out…I somehow forgot just how many there were! From show-starter “Follow You Down” to show-closer “Til I Hear It From You” there was barely a moment for the crowd to collect its breath. One memory that will always stand out from this year’s South Star Festival was looking around the crowd as “Hey Jealousy” played, seeing 20,000 people all wearing huge nostalgic smiles. The mud and the rain were simply no match for the infectious vibes of the Gin Blossoms.
JUVENILE & THE 400 DEGREEZ BAND
Up until now, the festival lineup had featured 90’s rock. However, over on the Camellia Stage, the festival was ready to give us its first rap artist of the weekend. Candlebox into Gin Blossoms, into Juvenile on paper seems like an odd transition. However, South Star knew how eclectic most music fans’ playlists really are. Added to the mix is Juvenile’s 400 Degreez Band. Few rappers bring a full band–yes a full band including electric guitar, not just bass and a drum set–to a festival. And since Juvenile’s set, I have been trying and failing to think of another rap artist who brought a better band to a festival. Those guys were good!
With the band laying out a tight groove and his DJ adding the beats, Juvenile gave the South Star crowd something to dance about. Of course all camera phones were out when he did “Back That Azz Up,” a song that still plays in every club and party in America. However, the more memorable takeaway was the crowd getting down and dirty to the colorfully-worded hit, “Hood Bitch.” Yes, I even saw you Mr. Police Officers dancing just a little bit…
LUDACRIS
Too fast and just the right amount of furious. That’s how I would sum up the high energy, hit-loaded set Ludacris brought the inaugural South Star Music Festival. Even though we got an intense amount of the songs we know, everyone certainly would have let him play for twice his set time.
Throughout the set, Ludacris’s DJ tried to stump the crowd by picking songs from the rap star’s lengthy career. Every time, the crowd was ready to go crazy and sing every word. Huntsville definitely proved it was full of the rapper’s OG fans.
This was one of those sets where everyone showed up–where you see the staff sneaking peaks over the fence, vendors dancing along while pouring drinks, and even the emergency personnel ‘just happen’ to be in the area to catch a few songs from the famous actor. And, whether rapping every word to “What’s Your Fantasy,” shouting out the words to “All I Do Is Win,” or dancing along to Ludacris’s part in “Glamourous” the whole audience did their part by bringing the energy.
SHINEDOWN
This set was the surprise of the weekend (for me, not for the thousands of Shinedown fans filling the festival.) While I knew some Shinedown, I was not prepared for how good of a show the band was bringing to South Star. The word “show” is important here because Shinedown clearly goes big.
Guitar riffs were massive, rock vocals were howling, and pyrotechnics were plentiful. As with many of the South Star sets, there was also plenty of singalong moments. “Second Chance” was of course the loudest, bringing thousands of voices across multiple generations together. The band also led the crowd with a powerful cover of Lynard Skynrd’s “Simple Man.” Later, as the lyrics were belted out by my neighbors in the crowd, I finally understood why so many people around the festival had on sweatshirts that said “My monsters are real.”
GWEN STEFANI
Watching Gwen Sefani close out (what was supposed to be the first day of) the South Star Music Festival felt like things had come full circle. Just as Candlebox’s self-titled album served as a personal gateway for me into rock music as a teenager, No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom expanded my musical tastes in directions I had never thought possible. Who else remembers thinking ‘what in the world is ska?’
Stefani’s set at South Star was massive and career-spanning. It was the kind of set that reminds you of just how big of a superstar you are watching. Big production, elaborate choreography, and an ultra-talented band serving as the glue bringing it all together.
Through the mud, the rain, and after a full day of music, the South Star crowd seemed to have a reserve of energy it had saved just for this set. Whether dressed in banana costumes, going back for one last Tito’s drink, or simply watching the spectacle from the back, everyone was hyped in their own way.
On stage, Stefani went through a setlist that was sure to please all of her fans. “Don’t Speak” was just as emotionally powerful all of these years later as it was the day it came out. “Hey Baby” inspired dancing throughout the crowd. “Spiderwebs” brought all of the nostalgic vibes.
Making sure everyone was able to burn their remaining energy, Stefani ended the set with her super hit, “Hollaback Girl.” For some, phones came out to record one last memory of the day. For others, it was a chance to sing one more time. For others, it put in perspective how big of a day of music we had just witnessed. Whether its one of your favorite songs or not, its clearly one of the most known songs of our time. And for those who went to the inaugural South Star Music Festival, it will be a lasting memory.
Final Thoughts About South Star Music Festival:
As noted in the beginning of this article, I go to a lot of music festivals. Some people close to me might argue too many music festivals. So what is my unbiased* take on South Star? (*we do get a media pass for review purposes, but never predicated on any certain result)
South Star did an incredible job in so many ways. The lineup was diverse, the sound at the stages was top-notch, they had a sports bar so people didn’t miss SEC football, the bars and free water stations were plentiful, the staff and local first responders were friendly, they had a partnership with NASA to link the fest to local interests, there was an impressively diverse food lineup, and…it just felt good.
Could there have been a few more bathrooms? Yes. Could they add a shuttle running between the free parking and the festival because it was a little far away? Yes, please. Could they adjust the schedule so there’s more than 30 minutes between doors and showtime, and so there’s a small break between sets? Yes please for next year x3. However, these are small things for a first-year festival trying to get its footing. At the end of the day, and unfortunately the early end of the weekend, I truly believe 99.9% of people had an utter blast at South Star.
In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at South Star and can’t wait to see what they put together for next year! Everything about this festival told me that it was created by people who wanted fans to have a great experience. Watch our page for a lineup preview as soon as it’s announced!
Hey agreed 100% with everything you wrote. I was one of the many in shinedown shirt. One other thing they could have done is played the other stage on opposite screen
I hadn’t thought about the festival streaming the other stage’s show during downtimes. That would make a lot of sense at South Star since the shows don’t conflict. Hopefully they send out surveys like other festivals so everyone can add these suggestions!