Meraki

Meraki, an indie-rock trio of Rowan Doran (guitar), Elijah Hindman (vocals) and Tate Ryan (drums) formed in the summer of 2024 at Music Resource Center’s song writing camp and are now rising juniors at Charlottesville High School. Meraki's sound is influenced by the soaring melodies and odd time signatures of Radiohead, and the songwriting of Modern Baseball and local favorites Work Wear. 2025 was a break-out year for Meraki. They won the Music Resource Center's Battle of the Bands and played at Fridays After Five and many other local stages like Firefly, The Southern, and WTJU. Meraki will be dropping their first album this August on all streaming platforms! You can follow them on Instagram @meraki.the.band and YouTube @MerakiSuperFanClub

Pulling at the dexterity and self-awareness of regional forebears Sparklehorse and David Berman, Work Wear offers style without reverence; country without the cowboy hat. They’ve released an album, two EPs, and a handful of singles since forming in Charlottesville in 2021. They’ve toured the east coast and opened for artists like Jeffrey Lewis, Sunflower Bean, and Golden Apples. Their latest EP Louisiana Rain features songwriter/collaborator Sally Rose, and approaches their characteristic introspection with a gentle psychedelia reminiscent of Red House Painters and Wildflowers-era Tom Petty. “Work Wear blends the charm of 90s slacker and garage rock like Pavement with classic alt-country elements that bring a soulful grit and wholesome nature, while also packing a rather anthemic uplifting crunch.” - We All Want Someone To Shout For