Tom Mackell takes the stage at Bounty Bar on August 11
by Miranda Steadman | Contributing Writer
After recording two albums in Nashville, singer-songwriter Tom Mackell’s has returned to the Lowcountry where his soulful roots music has found a home. A regular performer at The Royal American downtown, Mackell has recently begun rocking the stage at Royal’s sister bar on Folly Beach, Bounty Bar. On Monday, Aug. 11, he returns to Bounty Bar to share his music, which encompasses rock, pop, Americana, and soul.
Mackell, who was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, started songwriting at a young age. He moved to South Carolina in 2010 to attend The College of Charleston. Shortly after, he began traveling the East Coast playing his music. In 2015, Mackell migrated to Nashville, where he dove into the live music scene. He recorded his debut album A Life I Once Knew in 2018.
Amidst Coronavirus quarantine, Mackell recorded his second album Hearts Wide Open in Nashville. Tom wrote the track “Strange Times,” which was a fitting title for that moment. It was during those strange times that Mackell moved back to Charleston, bringing his songs, sound, and easy demeanor with him. He began performing his music at The Music Farm, Royal, Taco Boy, BLU, Pier 101, and Bounty Bar.
“I have enjoyed playing there the last few summers in a row since Bounty Bar opened,” says Mackell. He has shared the stage with everyone from Sister Hazel, Pat Benatar, and Ryan Montbleau, to Charlie Mars, Tony Lucca and local band SUSTO, just to name a few.
Mackell’s most recently released EP titled Unplugged is a mix of acoustic versions of songs from his previous two albums A Life I Once Knew and Hearts Wide Open as well as an unreleased song “Restless Heart.”
Early this month, Mackell is travelling to Appleton, Wis. to perform at Mile of Music Festival where more than forty venues throughout downtown Appleton host homegrown and visiting talent. More than 700 cover-free shows of strictly original roots music will be played over the music-filled weekend, ranging from folk and indie rock to Americana and bluegrass.
A week after playing Mile of Music, Mackell returns home to the Lowcountry to play the Bounty Bar on Folly Beach.
