Folly Porchfest returns for its 13th year with 30 musical acts
by Miranda Steadman | Contributing Writer
Hey kids, our music-loving Uncle Roger is planning one helluva hootenanny for Saturday, Nov. 7th. With 30 musical acts, Porchfest 2026 has plenty of live, local music to keep attendees happy. The five stages spread throughout Folly Island are located within walking distance, and the event is completely free.
Porchfest first started 13 years ago by former Folly songbird Teresa “Sweet T” Nelson and singer/songwriter Eddy “Boston” Sullivan. Six years ago, when Sweet T bought a campground with her husband and moved upstate, and Sullivan’s wife became pregnant, the two musicians approached local emcee extraordinaire and local music champion, Roger Rutledge, asking him to continue the annual Folly tradition.
”No one from the last two groups has taken any salary or pay from the event, and to top it off, you have roughly 30 musicians who play a 45-minute set for absolutely nothing. For the last few years, we’ve had five stages, and it’s just a great little time,” says Rutledge. “People call it the best little festival on Folly and it’s reached the point over the years where people actually schedule their vacations to come to Folly for Porchfest.
With three stages on the East side of Folly and two on the West side of the island, attendees cross Center Street, where they’re likely to support local businesses by enjoying local food, drinks, and merchandise.
Porchfest also raises funds for Waves for Women, a local nonprofit that empowers women to navigate life’s challenges and strengthen personal well-being through surf therapy, connection to the ocean, and a supportive community. Merchandise will be sold at every stage, and the Waves for Women lot, located at 111 East Cooper, will sell its own merch, plus the official 2026 PorchFest T-shirt, featuring a hand-drawn scene sketched live in Rutledge’s backyard during a past PorchFest performance.
“Porchfest is special to me because Waves for Women will have vendors in their lot selling shirts and hats, with the proceeds of sales going to surfboards, life jackets, first aid kits, etc. Last year, they raised close to $8,000,” says Rutledge.
At high noon, musicians Joe Wheaton and Josh Rowe take the Waves for Women stage at 111 East Cooper Ave., followed by Shagg Level Cider at 1 p.m. Local guitarist and ukulele player Charlie Stonecypher plays at two o’clock. New to the Folly music scene is duo Sludge Pony, who perform at 3 p.m.
“They are just off the hook,” says Rutledge.
Curt Watt closes down the Waves for Women stage at 4 p.m.
“This year, we’re going to bring a stage back to Chico Feo,” Rutledge said.
Tom Crowley kicks off music at the Chico Feo stage at noon, with local jam band Gator Food at 1 p.m. Singer-songwriter Thomas Champagne performs at 2 p.m., followed by Blues rocker Johnny Holliday at 3 p.m. Asheville jam band Pleasure Chest rocks the Chico stage at 4 p.m.
“We’re going to close off the street between East Cooper and East Ashley on that little, short strip of road because two years ago, there were probably a 100 people standing in the road,” Rutledge explained.
The stage at 120 East Huron Ave. will feature Hunter Feick and the Hightides at noon, followed by Burnt Ends at 1 p.m. Soapbox master George Fox will play with longtime friend Jesse Prichard as the Edge of Americans at 2 p.m. The Folly Lama will jam at 3 p.m., and The Out of Towners perform at 4 p.m.
On the West side, Terry Hayes kicks things off at noon at the 120 West Erie stage. Local icon, folk singer-songwriter Danielle Howle, graces the same stage at 1 p.m. Local musician Cosmo Kinsey of The Folly Pirates Over Forty strums and sings at 2 p.m., followed by Captain Phil at 3 p.m. Dr. T and The Side Effects close out the 120 West Erie stage at 4 p.m.
The stage at 206 West Cooper Ave. starts off with Ron Cook at 1 p.m., followed by Dan Marsh & The Cosmic Sailors at 2 p.m. High Water Honky kicks up dust at 3 p.m. with his band featuring bassist Matty Thompson and percussionist Jon Peace. Dan Lotti of the Folly-based, nationally touring band Dangermuffin plays at 4 p.m., followed by local country musician Macelyn Batten, who shuts down the party at 5 p.m.
“Porchfest is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Porchfest regular High Water Honky. “I love how Roger has created such a grassroots atmosphere around the festival and grown it to the level it’s at today. The event is a local favorite among Charleston musicians and a helluva time for anyone lucky enough to attend.”
For Rutledge, it’s a love of music and community that drives him to keep the Porchfest light on. But it’s also an appreciation for the local musicians, who play the Folly restaurant and bars year-round.
“These people who play out here a lot of times for nothing during the week because there’s no cover charge. They perform because they love music, and I bring those people back. There’s just so many excellent entertainers,” says Rutledge. “Also, a very special thanks to Access Events for the barricades and the port-a-johns”
Another Porchfest tradition returning this year: cheese balls. Tubs of the fluorescent orange orbs are to Porchfest what mint juleps are to the Kentucky Derby, pimento cheese sandwiches to the Masters, and milk is to the Indianapolis 500.
“We bought like ten tubs of cheese puffs and put them at every stage. People aren’t allowed to stick their hands in, so we walk around and dump cheese puffs on them,” says Rutledge. “The little kids adore it! They walk around with orange faces and orange hands. Cheese puffs are back!”
This year, security will be at each stage to ensure that festival attendees don’t stand in the street or walk between stages with open containers. This safety measure was put in place so Porchfest can continue, according to Rutledge. So, please do not stand in the roadway and no open containers on the street.
“What is unique about Porchfest is it’s family-oriented. There will be kids from 2 years old to 92 years old dancing in yards, people laughing, people smiling, everybody gets together, there’s no religion, there’s no politics, people are just enjoying the musi. And it is like that every single year,” said Rutledge.
With 30 acts stretching across five stages this year’s Porchfest is poised to be another classic. So come out, support live music on Folly, support a great local charity, and spend some time with your neighbors. From its humble beginnings, Porchfest has grown into a well-loved tradition here on Folly … I’m just saying.
The 13th annual Folly Beach Porchfest will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at noon. It’s free and open to the public, with proceeds from merchandise sales benefiting Waves4Women
