IslandVibesIOP.com 29 Schmitt’s main instrument is bass guitar, but his reach stretches well beyond. Over the last eight or nine years, he has made a living performing with dozens of groups around Charleston. That flexibility has made him a familiar face in the city’s music community, where one night might call for folk, the next for rock and another for something harder to define. “Charleston’s music scene is a mixing pot,” he said. The rotating selection of featured artists is another part of what keeps The Almost Every Wednesday Band fresh. What began as a set lineup from late 2022 through 2025 has since evolved, with Schmitt now leading the project. The group usually performs as a three- or four-piece built around a core circle of longtime friends, but they often bring in other artists to perform with them as well. On the regular, you will find drummer Shelton Desaussure, a Charleston native, behind the kit. Guitarist David Sink adds another recordings with generations of great musicians left a lasting mark. This summer, Schmitt is focused on bringing something new into the world. A new song is expected in June, with more original music in the works. Follow @apeschmitt on Instagram for live dates and upcoming releases. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Almost Every Wednesday Band hit the ground running when bassist Alan Schmitt first started playing at The Dinghy in December 2022. In the beginning, the group performed every other Wednesday, but before long their popularity grew, the schedule shifted and they began performing on a weekly basis. For Schmitt, music has always been an important part of his life. Born in Connecticut, Schmitt moved to Charleston full-time in 2009. His love of music started earlier than he can remember, learning to play several instruments during his childhood. Little did he know, those would be his first steps toward a long and fulfilling musical career. As he entered adulthood, he came close to attending Berklee College of Music before ultimately joining the United States Army Reserve. Even then, music never drifted far from view, and today it’s his full-time career. Artist of the Month The Almost Every Wednesday Band By Allyah Harrar Winyah making waves Emerging indie band grew following at Windjammer By Ella Duane familiar voice, while guitarist and singer Malin Wagnon (the former bandleader) remains an important part of the group’s orbit. Schmitt is currently working on a range of original material, including a haunting folk EP. His last record leaned more folk-rock through his band Augie Whisko, a project named after an old roommate from the early days of house practice sessions. Schmitt highlights the importance of not limiting himself or trying to put his music style into a box and wherever the sound lands, his original music remains at the center of it. The Almost Every Wednesday Band often performs a mix of original music and covers. When asked about favorite songs to play live, Schmitt said his original music tops the list, but he also loves covering “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. His musical influences run wide, but one artist stands above the rest: D’Angelo. He also points to the late drummer James Gadson, whose Winyah Bay might ring a familiar tune for some: rivers rushing, vibrant sunsets dipping below the ocean view, teenagers laughing and sea breezes rustling through mossy live oak and cabbage palmetto trees. A new sound has emerged in recent years: Winyah the band, a Lowcountry quintet striving to become something bigger than themselves. Thomas Rowland, Luke Gordon, Stephen (Stevo) Russell, Robert Buffington Jr. (Rob) and Jacob Riley (Jake) embarked on their journey as an indie rock band with the goal of blending their talents with the nostalgia of home, Pawleys Island. “We hope in some of our music it reflects the feelings of where we come from; calm and beautiful, but also chaotic and forever changing,” said lead guitarist Gordon. The band draws on their experiences growing up in the Southeast as inspiration for their unique coastal rock sound. The band’s name, Winyah, is a tribute to their roots. “We all have respect for where we come from and deciding to name the band Winyah felt like we could bring home with us everywhere we go,” explained Gordon. Mount Pleasant and Charleston have been a close second as far as home goes. Lead singer Rowland and Scottie Frier, talent buyer from the iconic Windjammer, have a long history that significantly impacted the future of Winyah. In Rowland’s middle school days, he purchased the deal of a lifetime – a guitar, four free lessons and a lifelong friendship with Frier. In 2020, Frier recalled a drive when a random cover of Steve Lacy’s “Dark Red” came on his Spotify, sung by none other than Rowland himself. This moment rekindled Rowland and Frier’s connection and soon Frier became the person Rowland reached out to for business advice regarding Winyah. “Then he [Rowland] hits me up saying, ‘Hey, is there any way to get my band to play out there?’” recounted Frier. With the help of Frier, Winyah began playing late nights at The Windjammer, and at some point, Frier said, “We started noticing, those kids are selling tickets. Like it’s not just people walking up to listen to the band, like there was a line out the door on more than one show.” Frier connected Winyah to producer Matt Zutell at Coast Records in Charleston, where the group continues to record and produce music. Gordon commented, “The music scene in Charleston has been very influential and motivating.” In the past two years, Winyah has grown from an idea into a constantly evolving and beloved band with nearly 150,000 followers on Instagram and more than 715,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Frier recalled his realization that Winyah was gaining serious traction and attention while performing at The Windjammer, stating, “Okay, these kids are doing this.” Fast forward to 2026, Winyah has traveled the East Coast, selling out shows and making their way home to perform as an opening act at Credit One Stadium, something that once seemed unimaginable. Looking back, Gordon expressed awe at the times he would pass Credit One on the way to the Charleston International Airport. “I never would’ve quite guessed I’d be playing music with some of my best friends in there.”
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