Carolina Indie Fest returns to downtown Sanford on May 15 and 16 at Hugger Mugger Brewing, bringing 10 unique musical acts over two days, a long list of food trucks, and a host of craft vendors.
Half of the acts scheduled to perform at the festival are holdovers who had been slated to play the fall 2025 iteration of the festival in September, which was called off due to the threat of rain. They are:
Jack the Radio: Raleigh, North Carolina roots-rockers blending rock and blues sensibility with Americana, folk, and country to create a tapestry of swampy southern-tinged sounds. (Performs 6:15 p.m. Friday)
The Dapper Conspiracy: High energy southern rock from Raleigh, infused with bluegrass, funk and blues. Inspired by the eerie gothic vibes of Fleetwood Mac, the virtuosity of Andrew Bird, and the creative energy of Spoon. (Performs 7:30 p.m. Friday)
Pageant: High Point-based four piece rock band “built to revive and redefine rock ‘n’ roll for a new generation.” Inspired by guitar-driven sounds of the 1980s, while adding new and modern elements. (Performs 8:15 p.m. Friday)
The Boom Unit Brass Band: The North Carolina Triangle’s “local version of a New Orleans Second Line jazz band.” (Performs 5:45 p.m. Saturday)
Ol’ Joey Scrums: A Triangle-based blend of folk, rock, and bluegrass influence that adds up to a genre-defying sonic experience, conveying personal stories of authentic emotion and the essence of Americana. (Performs 2 p.m. Saturday)
Filling out the lineup are:
Eduardo De Rosamaria: Raleigh-based flamenco ensemble designed to transport audiences to Spain’s Andalusia region. (Performs 4:30 p.m. Saturday)
Whoop: Raleigh based quartet traversing indie-pop, rock, reggae, and jazzy hip hop “with instinctive musicality, rare chemistry, and palpable joy.” Whoop performed at Carolina Indie Fest in 2022. (Performs 5 p.m. Friday)
The Southern Brothas: A Carolina-based collective playing something they call the New Funk: “a deliberate, soulful reinvention of the southern sound – romantic R&B with real soul depth sitting naturally alongside Americana that reclaims Black heritage the way it was always meant to sound.” (Performs 7 p.m. Saturday)
Jo Gore: Singer and songwriter from southeastern North Carolina blending R&B and gospel with a voice “often described as both sanctified and sultry – a voice that can stir the soul and still the room.” (Performs 3:15 p.m. Saturday)
Goddamn Wolves: Indie rock from Raleigh, carrying influences from classic alt rock acts such as the Pixies and the Replacements to current acts like the Beths and Bully. GW has been called “the sound of the rock genre being polished, tweaked and brought up to sonic speed.” (Performs 8:15 p.m. Saturday)
Carolina Indie Fest runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on May 15 and 2 to 9 p.m. on May 16 in the beer garden at Hugger Mugger Brewing, 229 Wicker St. in downtown Sanford. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.