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Meredith Foster: Unplugged from Charleston to Nashville
Published: August 4, 2024

Meredith Foster will perform at Extra Chill Fest 2024 on Saturday, August 10th.

Meredith Foster has become a notable name in the Charleston music community, both for her songwriting and as the curator of the “Dear Dive Bar” series held at Charleston’s historic Elliotborough Mini Bar. This ticketed, intimate live concert series focuses solely on songwriters and their original songs in their purest form – completely unplugged. 

The Dear Dive Bar Series was inspired by Foster’s time spent at the infamous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, where she was invited to play alongside illustrated songwriter Buddy Cannon, who is also a longtime producer for Willie Nelson. After relishing in such a historic venue, known for its dedication to providing a platform for songwriters, and some of the biggest names in country music. Foster noticed an element of that showcasing that was missing in the Charleston, and wanted to bring that to the music scene here. 

Meredith stumbled upon the quaint establishment of Elliotborough Mini Bar not long after moving to Charleston from Ole Miss, where she studied and discovered her passion for songwriting.

After maintaining consistent trips to the bar, Foster naturally began to form friendships at the small-circled establishment. Eventually, she proposed the idea to owner Jeff Schultz, with the support of her friend and allied bartender of the neighborhood hotspot, Amanda Russell.

Initially, Schultz was hesitant about the idea of a ticketed event, as previous attempts had been unsuccessful. However, Meredith proposed a low-risk business plan—a six-month trial with 100% of ticket proceeds going to the artists, while the bar retained 100% of bar sales. Schultz decided to take a chance.

A year and a half later, the series is a success and continues to attract songwriters and listeners to the tiny 35-capacity bar. The people who attend Dear Dive Bar are uniquely there for the songwriters—a rare phenomenon in music venues across the country.

Foster describes the series as a “living room environment” where artists play their songs completely acoustic—no amplifiers in sight—and share the stories behind their work. It’s like a Q&A for musicians, enhanced by the chic neighborhood vibe of Elliotborough Mini Bar. This niche series has become something special for both the artists and the regulars who are creatively and emotionally invested in the project.

Meredith was excited to share that the series has been renewed for a third season and is booked through the end of the year. The series has evolved to include various spin-offs, such as the “Nashville Takeover” round, which brings musicians from Nashville to perform. She hinted at some very well-known special guests coming up, though their identities remain undisclosed.

Although Meredith Foster now resides in Nashville, she will be splitting her time between there and Charleston—focusing on her songwriting in Nashville and prioritizing live performances in Charleston. Foster emphasized that she still very much identifies as a Charleston artist.

Catch Meredith Foster performing with a full band on Saturday. August 10th at the Charleston Pour House for Extra Chill Fest 2024.

Don’t miss the next Dear Dive Bar showcase on September 22nd at Elliotborough Mini Bar in Downtown Charleston! Tickets available for purchase at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.