Marcus King Band Family Reunion (Gallery + Recap)
Marcus King Band, photo by Andy Hawkes (@andymhawkes) & Nick Leonard (@iamnickleonard)
Last weekend, Marcus King returned to South Carolina for the 2025 edition of his celebrated Marcus King Band Family Reunion. While inclement weather forced a venue change from North Charleston, S.C.’s Firefly Distillery to the North Charleston Coliseum, the fifth annual presentation of King’s raucous tribute to the down-home musical culture of his youth still perfectly captured the spirit of hot summer nights in the Palmetto State with an all-star lineup of his friends and resounding voices in the alt-country world.
Back in the bandleader’s old stomping grounds, King and his stacked ensemble offered a masterclass in torch-bearing Southern-rock, electric blues, bluegrass, and more. On Saturday, Aug. 23, early sets from Pearl and Leah Blevins primed the stadium for the guest-packed Marcus King & Friends set, which featured sit-ins from both the opening acts, as well as Hiss Golden Messenger, Tanner Adell, King’s father Marvin and more. While the star-studded showcase was a hard act to follow, bluegrass firebrand Molly Tuttle rose to the occasion before a headline set from outlaw country powerhouse Jamey Johnson.
On Sunday, afternoon engagements from Henry’s Pocket and Joshua Ray Walker set the stage for the return of indie folk combo Hiss Golden Messenger, who cycled through favorites from their two-decade discography before closing on a treatment of 2015’s “Lucia,” complete with an extended foray into the Grateful Dead’s classic “Franklin’s Tower.” Self-described “Death Cab for Country” pathbreaker Stephen Wilson Jr. brought one last blast of energy before a grand finale from the Marcus King Band.
“When I was growing up in South Carolina, once a year we’d pack the family car up and head to my great grandparents’ home for some front porch pickin’, covered dishes, lots of love, and plenty of leftovers,” King said of the event’s inspiration in an announcement release. “This is where I learned about the joy music could bring and how it’s a powerful force that brings us all together. I want to bring that same joy to all of you folks this year with the return of the annual Marcus King Band Family Reunion.”
Get an inside look at the 2025 Marus King Band Family reunion in the gallery below, courtesy of photographers Andy Hawkes and Nick Leonard. Find more information on the Marcus King Band’s current album cycle for Darling Blue and upcoming tour dates at marcuskingofficial.com.
