Fans who go out for live music regularly in the Carolinas inevitably end up at a Big Something show. That's where they're hooked like the rest of us. Big Something played their last show at the Windjammer in Charleston, SC, on August 7 before taking a well-deserved month-long break. Next up for them is their two-night campout September 11-12 at Van Hoy Farms in Harmony, NC.
I first saw Big Something in 2021 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre in Wilmington, North Carolina. They played a three-night Halloween show that included a tribute to the Talking Heads, one of Big Something's foundational influences. It was exhilarating. Their shows are loud, energetic, positive, and unifying. I got the sense that everyone at the show already knew each other. The connection they have with their audience is what makes Big Something one of the most beloved bands in the Carolinas. The Big Something community has continued to grow for over 15 years. That's the word frontman Nick MacDaniels uses: community.
Big Something has always been a six-piece band. The four remaining founding members are Nick MacDaniels on guitar and lead vocals, Jesse Hensley on lead guitar and vocals, Ben Vinograd on drums, and Casey Cranford, their "secret sauce," on sax and EWI (electronic wind instrument). Big Something's young bassist, Matt Laird, joined the band when their original bassist, Doug Marshall, retired around 2022. Lately, they've been rotating players in on keys after founding member Josh Kagel also retired from touring in 2023. Nick's artistic process includes collaborating and bringing other artists "into the mix."
Each member of Big Something fills their space on stage completely. They know their roles and are always ready to slay their respective solos. They embrace each other's individual influences, backgrounds, and tastes. There's no ego. There's no agenda. Hidden in pulsating party jams are Nick's introspective, humorous, imaginative, and often sensitive lyrics about coping with loss, embracing loved ones, and staying positive in an unpredictable world with an uncertain future. The respect they have for each other and for their audience is undeniable.
Many fans in the Carolina music scene are asking about the 2026 Big What?. Big Something's annual 3-day outdoor festival celebrated its 11th year in 2025. Nick said the last couple of years of the event have been incredible. But they began to realize that pulling off a festival of The Big What?'s size and scope is especially challenging right now. They decided to focus their time and energy on their next album. So far, they have no regrets.
"It's honestly been so nice to focus on our next album." - Nick MacDaniels
Partnering with North Carolina concert promoter Jay Stevens of Ziggy's, Big Something kicks off their fall regional tour with two nights at Van Hoy Farms in Harmony, NC, September 11-12, where they will host several well-known NC bands for the first time. Members of the Big Something community are playfully referring to it as "The Little Huh." Asheville will be well represented on Friday night with Fireside Collective and Coyote Rodeo. From Greensboro, Keith Allen's long-time band, The Mantras, and The Hypnotic Conquest will play Saturday night. Both nights will have late sets featuring EDM spinners, Late Night Radio, and DJ Brownie from The Disco Biscuits. Although it's not replacing the annual Big What? festival, it's a good way for the community to get together while Big Something continues to work on their new music.
Big Something's weekend in Harmony kicks off their fall tour. Tickets for Van Hoy Farms and all Big Something shows are available on their website, bigsomething.com. Follow the band for more show updates, including their recently announced Fall Tour dates.
- Devon Drake
