Inaugural Songbird Festival at Finlay Park set for May 30th & May 31st

Two-day festival brings nationally touring acts and regional favorites to downtown Columbia, with a free kickoff show Friday night

 A new music festival is taking flight in the heart of downtown Columbia. The inaugural Songbird Festival 26 will debut Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, at Finlay Park, bringing a two-day lineup of nationally touring artists, regional favorites, and local acts across two stages. Songbird 26 is presented in part by the City of Columbia.

Headlined by Old Crow Medicine Show and Sam Bush, Songbird leans into a weekend rooted in songwriting, string bands, and the kind of live music that thrives outdoors. The lineup blends songs of the biggest names in bluegrass and Americana with acts including The Creekers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Shadowgrass, Futurebirds, Susto String Band, The Blue Dogs, Sam Burchfield, and more.

Programming begins each day at 11 a.m. across the park’s main stage and a Greenway stage, with continuous music throughout the day leading into nightly headlining performances. In total, 18 artists will perform across the two-day event.

The festival weekend will kick off Friday evening with a free concert as part of the Finlay Fridays series with The Water Kickers, offering an early start to the weekend and an open invitation for the community to experience the park ahead of the full festival.

Saturday’s lineup features performances from Ashley Wright & the Vance Gap Ramblers, The Runout, The Donovan Twins, Susto Stringband, Sam Burchfield, The Creekers, and more, leading into sets from The Infamous Stringdusters and headliners Old Crow Medicine Show.

Sunday continues with Podunk Ramblers, Tounds, Ben Chapman, Blue Dogs, the B. Wrights – featuring Mark Bryan & Jim “Soni” Sonefeld from Hootie and the Blowfish, Shadowgrass, and Futurebirds, before closing the weekend with a headlining performance from Sam Bush.

Tickets are on sale now, with one-day and two-day general admission and VIP options available.

Special ticket sales events will be held at Finlay Park for discounted tickets for Military, First Responders, college and university students, and kids aged 5-12. Sales event dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

VIP tickets include:

• Access to an exclusive viewing area at each stage
• Entry to the VIP Lounge at The Nest with shaded seating and space to relax
• Food catered by Home Team BBQ
• Exclusive drink options available for purchase
• Exclusive festival memento

Songbird: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Finlay Park has become a regular destination for live music in Columbia, and Songbird 26 builds on that momentum, expanding the experience into a full weekend celebration in the heart of downtown.

For more information about Finlay Park, please visit finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/.

Additional details regarding parking and other Songbird 26 information will be announced in the coming weeks.