In Episode 225 of Outside The Round, host Matt Burrill sits down with Thomas Rowland, Stephen Russell, and Luke Gordon, three-fifths of the South Carolina-born, Nashville-based band Winyah. From jamming in Charleston bars to rocking out at Bonnaroo, Winyah is making waves in indie rock, country, and beyond—blurring the genre lines while keeping their low-country roots intact.
Originally from Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the band takes its name from Winyah Bay, a historic waterway in their hometown. Their deep connection to the region seeps into their music, blending Southern rock, indie, and alternative influences into something fresh yet familiar.
Before making the leap to full-time musicians, the guys had their share of real-world jobs. Stephen was in finance, living the corporate life in Charlotte before realizing he’d regret not taking the plunge into music. That shift required some Jedi mind tricks and convincing phone calls, but ultimately, he knew this was what he had to do. Luke, aka “Butters,” was once a professional surfer, gaining his nickname from a group of Australians who saw his bleached hair and Southern drawl and decided it fit. Meanwhile, Thomas spearheaded the Nashville move, setting the stage for the band’s next chapter.
For Winyah, Bonnaroo 2024 was the turning point. When they got the call to play the festival, they had exactly three original songs and a tough decision—either figure it out, or miss the opportunity of a lifetime. So they locked themselves in a warehouse in Columbia, South Carolina, crashing on couches, writing and recording enough material to fill an entire set in just a month and a half. That music became the foundation of their upcoming debut album, Lot to Learn.
Bonnaroo wasn’t just their breakout performance—it was a wake-up call. Seeing bands like Parcels, Medium Build, and Dominic Fike reinforced their hunger to level up. Within a week of the festival, Winyah landed a deal with Atlas Touring, setting off a whirlwind year of touring. They quickly became road warriors, grinding through shows across Texas, New York, and the Carolinas, playing everything from college parties to major festivals.
Their ability to blend into different scenes sets them apart. One weekend, they’re opening for an alt-rock band like Stop Light Observations, the next, they’re supporting an indie-folk act like Evan Honer. Their sound fits everywhere because it’s not bound by genre—it’s driven by energy, storytelling, and connection. Whether they’re playing for three people at Greenville Country Music Fest (while Bailey Zimmerman rocked the main stage) or a packed-out club in Brooklyn, they bring the same fire every night.
Their hit “Feel It All Again” has become a crowd favorite, proving their songs resonate far beyond South Carolina. Another standout, “Lot to Learn,” embodies their journey—written during those warehouse songwriting sessions, it became the title track for their debut project, set to drop later this month. The album is a collection of everything they’ve experienced so far, bridging the past and future of Winyah.
As for 2025, they’re hitting even more new markets, including California, Portland, Maine, and Asbury Park, New Jersey—home to Springsteen’s legendary Stone Pony. They’re also rolling out the We Need A Van Tour—which is now ironic, because they finally bought one. Their new 2016 Mercedes Sprinter is a game-changer, helping them level up their touring operation.
Winyah isn’t just a band—it’s a movement. They’re part of Cloverdale, a tight-knit collective of Nashville artists that includes acts like Evan Honer, Low Gap, and Julia DiGrazia, all pushing boundaries while supporting one another. It’s the next wave of independent music, where good songs come first, and labels come second.
From sleeping on couches to sharing festival stages with Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith, Winyah has a lot to learn—but even more to prove.