Vistors to Greenville and locals alike can expect another great season during Downtown Alive's 24 week run. The series begins in late March and ends in early September. This year's lineup features local, regional and national entertainers with sounds including rock, blues, funk, and cover bands. Downtown Alive is the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council each year.

For more information, visit http://www.mainstevents.com/downtownalive.html.

Downtown Alive is scheduled every Thursday night from 5:30 - 8:30PM. The weekly event is held at the Hyatt Regency Greenville Plaza Deck in downtown Greenville. Admission is free.

The 2008 Schedule is below:

March 27 - NATHAN ANGELO
Although a newcomer to the southeast music scene, Atlanta-based Nathan Angelo has been immersed in music for over a decade. The son of a practicing minister, Nathan was surrounded by a family of musicians who nudged him to learn piano at age six. Four years later, Nathan began leading his father’s congregation in music and was later appointed the volunteer Director of Music, a title which he held until he left for college. This experience proved significant in shaping his career path and honed his talent as a performer.

April 3 - THE SHANE PRUITT BAND
An extraordinary bluesman is raised in the suburbs; in the shadow of a Wal-Mart store... A youngster learns the depth and breadth of the blues without leaving his house... Living in Spartanburg, South Carolina, his style mimics neither the sprightly, acoustic - based Piedmont blues indigenous to his region nor the all- influential Texas sounds of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan... A gentle and shy young man becomes a FEROCIOUS and animated axe king the second he hits the stage...

April 10 - CIVIL TWILIGHT
It was in Cape Town, South Africa where Steven and Andrew McKellar and Richard Wouters bounded over mutual love for British and American rock music. All three boys were surrounded by music growing up, and in 1996, formed their rock band.
After moving to Los Angeles and spending time building a following in the Hollywood club scene, the band decided to move east to record their debut album entitled “Human”. The record has already begun to grab the attention of the media. Their song “Human” was recently featured in the Super Bowl edition of the Fox television show “House”, seen by 43 million people. Their song “Letters From The Sky” has also been featured in promos for the season finale of the Fox show “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”. The band is currently taking their record on the road and touring up and down the east coast where they hope to continue to grow their enthusiastic fan base.

April 17 -SIMPLIFIED
Simplified, a Charlotte NC based band, is an artistic mix of rock, jazz, reggae, funk and mild flavors of country.

April 24 - GEORGIA
Five Star Iris is an Atlanta-based quartet known for their soulful rock melodies, sharp songwriting, and searching lyrics. Winner of the prestigious United Kingdom songwriting contest in 2005, the lyrics comment on the everyday struggle to relate to one.

May 1 - RETROVERTIGO
Across the upstate and beyond, crowds are jumping to their feet, dancing in events whenever RetroVertigo hits the stage! Partygoers find this explosive, high-energy cover-band irresistible when they start playing favorites from the 1980’s and more. RetroVertigo taps into its member's history of quality musicianship and showmanship to bring the most colorful music from the 80’s back to life.

May 8 –SUN DOMINGO
Weighing in at a combined total of 505lbs. and hailing from Atlanta, GA, Sun Domingo is one of the Southeast’s most visible touring bands, playing over 200 shows a year throughout the eastern United States and beyond. Known for their melodic guitar arrangements, introspective lyrics, harmonies and driving bass.
"...some serious live musical muscle." Dave Matthews Band.com

May 15 - MIKE LOWRY BAND
The Empire State of the South has struck a resounding chord in the great American idiom Rock n’ Roll. Georgia has proven itself a showcase for the southern music scene, now the Peach State is sending another son into the world of American music, Mike Lowry. He’s breathed in the smoke-filled air of hole-in-the-wall rib joints and felt the clickety-clak of the freights driving straight thru to Atlanta and that influence shines through in the true-to-life stories he tells through his songwriting and his virtuosic guitarmanship.

May 22 - HOOTS & HELLMOUTH
At our core, Hoots & Hellmouth consists of Sean, Andrew and Rob, frequently augmented by Ramon Sender or Tim Celfo on bass, but the people at our shows really drive us to the point that we consider them all to be a part of what's going on. We wanna break away from the traditional roles of performer and audience...the exchange of music is a bond...a way to build community...an environment in which to share the experience of being human (ups, downs, all ways).

May 29 - [golden]
Combining the lyrical sincerity of David Gray, the musical sophistication of Steely Dan, and the dynamic energy of Maroon 5, GOLDEN is one of those rare bands that can move both the spirit and the body. For the past three years, GOLDEN has been honing their unique blend of rock and pop on the Southeast’s most prestigious stages – in Atlanta at The Roxy, Center Stage, The Cotton Club, Smith’s Olde Bar, and Eddie’s Attic, and on the road at venues from South Carolina to Texas.

June 5 – OCEAN STREET
Ocean Street’s “melodic collision of Southern-Soul and Songwiter-Rock” has seen radio success at the College Radio Level as well as in the AAA Commercial Format. Thus far, the band has seen action on over 200 college stations and on over 25 Commercial Radio stations around the country. All the while, Ocean Street has built grassroots support with its Waterfront 2007 Tour, hitting beach bars, college towns, and everything in between. The band was hand-selected by Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell to play a Conservation Fundraiser this fall at his ranch near Macon, GA. In addition to the radio and touring efforts, the band’s music has been licensed for use on six MTV shows while Ocean Street’s lead single, “Till I’m Gone” has been featured on a AAA Sampler CD alongside the iconic Paul McCartney and Marc Cohn and the recently hot Josh Ritter and KT Tunstall.

June 12 - BUCKTOWN KICKBACK
Americana + Jamgrass + Classic Country = Bucktown Kickback. Born five years ago, BUCKTOWN KICKBACK has blazed an impressive trail through the richly diverse Americana landscape with their Alt.Country/Bluegrass/Folk-Rock originals. Headlining concerts throughout the Midwest and Southeast as well as opening up for the likes of Alabama, Junior Brown, Railroad Earth, Todd Snider and Stacey Earle, the primary songwriter/band leader Adam Brooks Dudding and his amazingly talented band electrify listeners with their live performances and studio recordings.

June 19 - KELLIN WATSON
Kellin has been playing music and writing songs for the past 12 years. Releasing her first demo album, Little things in 1998, Kellin got her first taste of recording in a studio. Since then, she released her debut solo inde album, Paper Bird, in December 2003, at 22. After touring the east coast, Kellin recorded her second album with her band in 2005, Kellin Watson Band LIVE, Red Flag.

June 26 - THE EXPLORERS CLUB
The Explorers Club are a group of rock and roll good timin’ family guys. Think – The Beach Boys.

July 3 - NIGHTCRAWLERS
**THIS SHOW IS PART OF THE WELCOME PARTY FOR THE "GOLD WING RIDERS ASSOCIATION" CELEBRATION - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!
Whether young or old, you’ll find yourself moved by the tight rhythm section, dazzled by the harmonies and captivated by the scope of the material. Being raised on the classic music of the last four decades, the Nightcrawlers add the punch and clarity of top quality modern equipment and a full PA system. Whether the venue is a club, private party or large festival you can be sure of an electrifying performance and a memorable time!

July 10 - SPENCER DURHAM
Meet The Spencer Durham Group and their nineteen-year old front-man Spencer Durham. Take the spirit of Southern rock from the 70's, throw in some soulful blues and a little jam band influence and you have the Spencer Durham Group. The Spencer Durham Group sound has been described as a cross between early Allman Brothers Band and The Eagles. Strong rhythms, bluesy guitars, and stirring harmony vocals dripping with soul.

July 17 - SOL DRIVEN TRAIN
Sol Driven Train is a 5-headed musical monster emerging from the swampy South Carolina Lowcountry. Generally seen at night in clubs and bars around the Southeast, it can be identified by its distinctive call: a blend of fiery world-beat, southern funk, and melodic rock.

July 24 - GARY PFAFF & OBSESSION DAY
In an era when most band's records are better than their live show and when it's image over quality, Obsession Day stands a step above the rest, proving over and over again that they are the "total package". It is no surprise that the number of "obsessed" fans grows daily with the release of their self titled debut featuring 10 emotional, yet rocking tracks that have drawn comparisons to Coldplay, early U2, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and to newer bands like Switchfoot, The Killers and The Fray. The bands energetic liveshows turn O Day newbies into instant fans with a single run of their set. The easy, laid back manner in which the band presents itself is probably due to the fact that every member of Obsession Day is a seasoned pro. Frontman, Gary Pfaff, started as a singer/songwriter that toured with Edwin McCain and other platinum selling artists in the late 90's. Drummer, Kevin Caldwell, has performed in numerous bands including Wil's Drama and most recently he toured with Sugarland in support of their smash debut. Jon Brown, who shares the songwriting duties in the band settles in on guitar with accomplishments ranging from rock to hip hop and everything in between. O Day bassist, Samm Darden, is the most recent addition to the band providing the perfect accompaniament with his rich and innovative approach.

July 31 - GEOFF ACHISON & THE SOULDIGGERS
Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, Geoff Achison he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Geoff possesses a soulful voice that has evoked favorable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes. An award winning songwriter to boot, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of catchy original tunes, improvised jamming and inspired versions of blues & soul classics.

August 7 - ANALOG MOON
Analog Moon was formed in 2004 when guitarist, Todd Britton, enlisted the help of keyboardist, Rusty Ginn, to create a band that would draw from the great rock artists of six decades while continuing to forge a path toward something new and unheard. With Britton on guitar and vocals and Ginn on piano, keyboards, and the occasional rhythm guitar, the instrumentation is grounded in the gritty palette of early 70s rock and roll.

August 14 - WORMSLOEW
The Savannah Low country is fast becoming a hotbed for some of Georgia’s best up and coming young rock bands. WormsLoew, behind the honest lyrics and strong vocals of Andrew Gill and Matt Wesley, is one such band. For the past three years the band has been honing its sound; writing and playing with the determination, conviction, and desperation that only a young band screaming to be heard possess. Their music is melodic and catchy, touching on pop, rock, alt, and even a little jamband.

August 21 - SIX CHASING SEVEN
Since their inception in 2003, Six Chasing Seven has been proving over and over again that soul-crunching, rock-infused reggae funk has a new place to call home. In a musical world that increasingly views passion as a commodity to be bought and sold, the raw energy of Six Chasing Seven has carried them to the forefront and demanded they be in the spotlight. Rising from crowds of 50 to crowds of more than 5,000, their momentum continues to build. Fueling that momentum is the adrenaline laced live show that has become their trademark. Crisscrossing the east coast from NYC to Atlanta, this band is no stranger to the road and is showing no signs of slowing down. A lineup change in 2006 brought the attention of Bruce Flohr (RCA, ATO). They have recorded with such great talents as Boyd Tinsley (Dave Matthews Band), Robert Randolph and John D’Earth. Tinsley was quoted as saying, “This band has so much talent it inspires me.” With the inspired groove of James Brown, the musical drive of the Allman Brothers, and the tenacious hope of Bob Marley, Six Chasing Seven is here to remind people what it feels like to be swept away in a musical tidal wave that never lets up.

August 28 - THE WORK
Originally conceived as an informal improv ensemble, The Work, the horn-driven funky band from Greenville, SC, have grown into a cohesive and formidable unit of gifted musicians who have brought their diverse talents together to make for a unique experience that keeps the feet moving, faces smiling, and fans guessing what’s next. Drawing on influences that range from Curtis Mayfield to Miles Davis, with a micro-dose of the Grateful Dead in the mix, The Work’s material is upbeat and uplifting with a sound that picks up where 70’s funk and R & B left off.

September 4 - TIM BRANTLEY
When describing Brantley's blend of piano and acoustic rock, adjectives like familiar, comforting and honest immediately come to mind. The overall sound resembles a Pete Yorn-meets-Keane sort of style. The music blends subtle hints of pop with Brit-rock stylings of bands like Coldplay and Travis.

(Image provided by Hyatt Greenville and Downtown Alive.)

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