5 must-see bands at Panoply Arts Festival this weekend in Huntsville

National bands like The War and Treaty, Indigo Girls and Secret Sisters used to headline each night at Panoply Arts Festival. In recent years, Panoply increased focus on emerging local musicians.

True, it costs less to book locals. But it also makes the visual-arts-centric Panoply, a family-friendly local fave since the ’80s, even more uniquely Huntsville. In my opinion, Panoply, held at downtown’s Big Spring Park and organized by non-profit Arts Huntsville, has never been cooler.

Below are five must-see up-and-coming acts at Panoply 2025. One of them might turn out to be your next favorite band.

Camacho

6:15 – 7 p.m. Saturday, Showcase Stage

Camacho plays radio-ready alt-rock with classic-rock chops. This Huntsville quintet’s songs, like 2024 single “What’s A Memory?”, are likely to appeal to fans of Stone Temple Pilots and Queen alike. Singer/keyboardist Joe Canada is a talented uninhibited live performer. Born to rock big stages. There’s strong band chemistry too, with guitarists Andrew “AC” Segler and Mac McDonald, Mac McDonald bassist Heath Brister and drummer Alex Powell.

Billy Allen + The Pollies

7:45 – 9 p.m. Friday

Add a special R&B singer who excelled on TV’s “The X Factor” to a power-pop band that’s backed acclaimed singer/songwriters on recordings and international tours. Voila, you have Shoals-based supergroup Billy Allen + The Pollies. The group plays rock and soul with a modern indie feel. Their long-awaited debut album, “Black Noise,” comes out this summer. Already released originals like “If You Want Me To Stay” and “All Of Me” are likely to groove Alabama Shakes enthusiasts. Last year, Billy Allen + The Pollies contributed the theme song, “It’s Okay,” for No. 1 Netflix hit series “The Madness.”

a. jené and the naturals

2:30 – 4:15 p.m. Sunday

Many local/regional artists can only dream of getting nearly 150,000 Spotify streams on one of their songs. Huntsville-via-California songbird a. jené reached those numbers with her 2019 single “Bout It,” a collab with rapper Erik Cain. Her neo-soul skills are legit. See a. jené’s latest single “Frank Ocean” and 2020’s “Like That” for further evidence.

Common Man

6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Friday

Folk-pop duo Common Man was one of the first artists to receive a grant from City of Huntsville’s Music Ambassador Program, which pays local musicians to tour. Married singer/songwriters Meredith Johnson and Compton McMurry started Common Man in 2022. Touring has taken them from Nashville to Houston to Oklahoma City to Washington D.C. In 2023, Common Man released the nifty single “Threadbare.” They follow that up with five-song EP “Only One.” Common Man’s latest single, “Lay Down” features haunting piano and composer Zachary Horner.

Carver Commodore

7:45 – 9 p.m. Saturday

Carver Commodore’s poppy blues rock is in tune with Jack White and Black Keys algorithms. The band’s well-made albums include 2024’s “Carver,” 2021’s “Welcome to the Modern World” and 2019’s “Tell Me What You Want.” In 2023, they dropped “Live at the Shoals Theatre,” recorded in the band’s hometown and featuring standout song “Too Late To Get Out.”

Panoply 2025 weekend passes are $20 and available online only through 4 p.m. Friday at artshuntsville.org. Single day passes are $15 at the gate and online. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Entire music schedule listed here. Festival hours: 5 – 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday (Art Marketplace closes at 7:30 p.m.), 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.