Sign up to win prizes and for exclusive updates about this year’s festival

April 24-26, 2026

Word of South

The Funky Taters

Based out of Tallahassee, Florida, The Funky Taters play music that will “make a dead man dance.” Their unique style of Southern Gulf Coast music is based on jazz and blues, distinguished by a funky second-line beat similar to that of many New Orleans bands. In addition to a funky bass and inspired lead guitar, […]

Read More…

Yaniv Dinur

Yaniv Dinur

Newly appointed Music Director of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Yaniv Dinur is lauded for his insightful interpretations and unique ability to connect with concertgoers of all ages and backgrounds. Season 25/26 marks the beginning of Dinur’s ninth season with the New Bedford Symphony. Under his leadership, […]

Read More…

Stephanie Burt

Stephanie Burt is a poet, literary critic, and professor with nine published books, including two critical books on poetry and three poetry collections. Burt’s essay collection Close Calls with Nonsense was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In her book Taylor’s Version: The Poetic and Musical Genius of Taylor Swift, Burt offers […]

Read More…

Stop Light Observations

Stop Light Observations is a dynamic four-piece group hailing from Charleston, South Carolina. Their versatile sound is a unique blend of blues, pop, and indie rock infused with electronic beats and the soulful vocals of Will Blackburn. From songs like “2young” to “Security,” their music is a true reflection of their unique personalities, and their […]

Read More…

Steph Post

Steph Post is the author of the novels A Tree Born Crooked, Lightwood, Walk in the Fire, Holding Smoke, Miraculum and Terra Incognita—gold medal winner of the 2024 Florida Book Award. She graduated from Davidson College as a recipient of the Patricia Cornwell Scholarship for Creative Writing and a winner of the Vereen Bell Writing […]

Read More…

Sean Dietrich

Sean Dietrich or ‘Sean of the South’ is a columnist, humorist, multi-instrumentalist, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared on The Today Show and in Newsweek, Southern Living, Garden and Gun and Reader’s Digest. His column appears weekly in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has […]

Read More…

Sandra Simonds

Sandra Simonds, an award-winning writer and professor, is the author of ten books. Sandra has taught at Thomas University, Bennington College, Florida State University, and the University of Montana. Much of her writing focuses on capitalism, class, ecology, and gender through avant-garde experiments with genre and form. She is the author of nine collections of […]

Read More…

Robert Boone, Jr.

Robert Boone

Robert Boone Jr. is a Grammy-winning drummer/percussionist from Augusta, Georgia, currently performing with The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra and serving on the jazz faculty at Georgia State University. Deeply committed to music education and community outreach, he also teaches at various middle and high schools throughout Metro Atlanta. Boone has toured internationally across Japan, Africa, […]

Read More…

River Selby

River Selby was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Their debut memoir, Hotshot: A Life of Fire, was published in 2025 by Grove Atlantic. They worked as a wildland firefighter for seven years, stationed out of Oregon, California, Colorado, and Alaska. River is pursuing their PhD in Nonfiction with an emphasis in […]

Read More…