When the SouthSounds Music Festival returned to downtown Mobile in April 2014, no band had a longer history with the event than the Underhill Family Orchestra — and the hometown favorites earned a headlining slot once again.
The band arrived at this year’s festival with fresh material. Its sophomore album, “Stories of Appalachia Proper,” had just been released, giving longtime fans a first live listen to the new songs alongside familiar material.
Fans got an early preview before festival weekend: the group performed a song from the new album at its official release party at the Alabama Music Box, offering a taste of what the SouthSounds set would hold.
The festival itself ran April 11-13 across downtown Mobile venues, closing out a fourth year of bringing up-and-coming southern acts to the city — with one of its own leading the way.