Before shrimp and grits became a culinary favorite, it was a staple in Gullah Geechee kitchens! Before the world knew about blues, rock, and jazz, their rhythmic and melodic structures were heard in the fields and praise houses throughout the congressionally legislated Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor.
The Gullah Geechee culture is a unique African American culture spanning from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida. Due to the nature of their enslavement on isolated coastal plantations and sea islands, the Gullah people were able to retain many of their indigenous West African traditions. These traditions are reflected in their foodways, music, arts and crafts, spiritual traditions, and their Gullah creole language.
The Fish and Grits Music Festival (FGMF) is a family friendly one-day event, on picturesque Hilton Head Island, SC. FGMF‘s mission is to continue the awareness of the Gullah Geechee culture, highlight its evolution, and its connection to the African diaspora through entertainment, visual and performing arts and community engagement.
Most of our vendors will showcase the vibrant Gullah Geechee culture through art, food, clothing and more.
The Fish and Grits Music Festival (FGMF) gives attendees a taste of Gullah Geechee with a mix of international and local musical talent, unique crafts, and indigenous cuisine - not easily accessible outside of the Lowcountry. Fish and Grits Music Festival has become the place where diversity is celebrated, unity is cherished, and the soul of the Lowcountry comes alive!
Most of our vendors will showcase the vibrant Gullah Geechee culture through art, food, clothing and more.
Fish and Grits, Hoppin John, Oystas, Red Rice, Sweet Potata Pie and more!
Lowcountry Gullah Geechee vendors that showcase the vibrant culture through art, clothes and more.
The festival will include a diverse mix of acts from the African American, Gullah Geechee and diaspora including Folk, Funk, Jazz, Spoken Word, Afro La, R&B and more!
Thank you to all the amazing support for this year's Fish and Grits Music Festival!
Step into the heart of the Lowcountry at the Fish and Grits Music Festival (FGMF) — a vibrant celebration of Gullah Geechee culture with a flavorful twist! This FGMF brings together soulful sounds with performances ranging from R&B and jazz to funk, folk, and spoken word. Paired with authentic cuisine and handcrafted treasures, FGMF is a joyful mashup of culture, creativity, and community you won’t want to miss!
Recording Artist
Latrese Bush is an internationally acclaimed performing and recording artist whose original music has topped the UK Soul Chart and ranked high on the Jazz Billboard Charts. Her smooth, melodic range has also supported music legends including Grammy Award-winning Disco Queen Gloria Gaynor, Jazz icon Roy Ayers, and global pop star Justin Bieber. A proud native of Bluffton, SC, and a Gullah Geechee woman, Latrese is the founder of the Fish and Grits Music Festival (FGMF), which since its debut in 2023 has drawn thousands from across the country for an authentic taste of Gullah culture. Her sound is a rich blend of gospel, soul, jazz, and R&B—rooted deeply in the traditional Gullah Geechee gospel that shaped her. Get ready for a Gullah Geechee good time!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LatreseBush
IG: https://www.instagram.com/latresebush/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LatreseBushMusic/
Recording Artist
Recording Artists
Recording Artist
Latrese Bush is an internationally acclaimed performing and recording artist whose original music has topped the UK Soul Chart and ranked high on the Jazz Billboard Charts. Her smooth, melodic range has also supported music legends including Grammy Award-winning Disco Queen Gloria Gaynor, Jazz icon Roy Ayers, and global pop star Justin Bieber. A proud native of Bluffton, SC, and a Gullah Geechee woman, Latrese is the founder of the Fish and Grits Music Festival (FGMF), which since its debut in 2023 has drawn thousands from across the country for an authentic taste of Gullah culture. Her sound is a rich blend of gospel, soul, jazz, and R&B—rooted deeply in the traditional Gullah Geechee gospel that shaped her. Get ready for a Gullah Geechee good time!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LatreseBush
IG: https://www.instagram.com/latresebush/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LatreseBushMusic/
Grammy-nominated Recording Artist
Alvin Garrett is a rare talent who seamlessly blends masterful musicianship, electrifying performance—evoking legends like Sam Cooke and Al Green—and exceptional songwriting. A Grammy-nominated, Dove and Stellar Award-winning artist, he has penned hits for Joe, Kelly Rowland, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Deitrick Haddon, Trin-i-tee 5:7, and more. In 2023, Garrett earned national acclaim with his soulful single “’Til I Get Back To You,” which climbed to #15 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart, cementing his place as a powerful voice in contemporary soul. If you love great music and unforgettable performances, come see AG!
Web: https://www.alvingarrett.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thealvingarrett
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thealvingarrett
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlvinGarrett
Recording Artist
Having toured throughout the South, Midwest, and even internationally, Live in the Flesh Experience is a dynamic band of young singers and musicians you don’t want to miss. With their signature sound—quartet soul, a vibrant fusion of gospel and R&B—they deliver high-energy performances that span top 40 hits, old and new school R&B, country, pop, and more. They’ve shared the stage with stars like King George, Dru Hill, Doug E. Fresh, and Tucka, and are sure to get you moving and grooving with the unmistakable flair of one of the Carolinas’ finest.
FB : https://www.facebook.com/share/1BJHKsmohe/?mibextid=wwXIfr
IG : https://www.instagram.com/liveinthefleshexperienceband?igsh=MWx4bDk2bTdmaTIz&utm_source=qr
Tik tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@liveinthefleshexperience?_t=ZT-8trUh5VVelK&_r=1FB:
Gullah Ring Shouters - NEA National Heritage Fellow
The Gullah ring shout is a powerful and deeply spiritual ancestral ritual birthed among enslaved Africans that traces its roots to 18th-century West and Central Africa. The ring shout is one of the oldest known surviving African traditions in North America and laid the foundation for nearly every major genre of American popular music—from gospel and blues to jazz, soul, rock, hip-hop, and even modern dance. The McIntosh County Shouters are one of the nation’s leading practitioners of this sacred tradition. Since 1980, they have performed across the U.S. and internationally, preserving this vital piece of American history. In recognition of their cultural importance, they were awarded the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1993. When you witness the McIntosh County Shouters, you’re not just watching a performance—you’re experiencing a living, breathing thread of African American history and its transformative influence on the rhythm and soul of American music and dance.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mcintoshcountyshouters
Website: https://mcintoshcountyshouters.com/
DJ/Producer
DJ Prince Ice is South Carolina’s living legend, rocking crowds for over three decades. A multitalented artist, he’s toured, recorded, and shared the stage with some of music’s biggest names while keeping fans moving as a radio staple on 101.3 The Big DM (WWDM). From breaking hits to blending classics, he embodies the slogan: “DJ Prince Ice is MY DJ!”
Most Beloved Hip-Hop Memory:
“Being on BET’s Rap City and 106 & Park, representing South Carolina!”
IG: https://www.instagram.com/djprinceice/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mydjprinceice/
Line Dance
Get ready to move and groove with our special guest line dancer, Romeo! Known for lighting up the floor with his energy and smooth moves, Romeo will be performing and leading the crowd through today’s hottest line dances. Whether you're a seasoned stepper or just ready to have some fun, this is your chance to join in, feel the rhythm, and dance the night away!
FB: https://www.facebook.com/romeodanceclass
IG: https://www.instagram.com/romeodanceclass912
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@romeodanceclass912savannah3/featured
Founder, Cards
World is committed to making participation in the event a harass ment free experience for everyone, regardless of level experience gender, gender identity and expression
Developer Expert
World is committed to making participation in the event a harass ment free experience for everyone, regardless of level experience gender, gender identity and expression
Most of our vendors will showcase the vibrant Gullah Geechee culture through art, food, clothing and more.
Fish and Grits, Hoppin John, Oystas, Red Rice, Sweet Potata Pie and more!
The festival will include a diverse mix of acts including folk, funk, jazz, spoken word, R&B and more!
Tenki Tenki (thank you) to all the Binyas (natives) and Comyas (non-natives) that join us at Fish and Grits!
Thank you to all the amazing support at this year's Fish and Grits Music Festival!
Thank you to all the amazing support for this year's Fish and Grits Music Festival!
Bronze Level Sponsor
Gold Level Sponsor
Official Website: https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org/
Bronze Level Sponsor
Bronze Level Sponsor
Bronze Level Sponsor
Gold Level Sponsor
Official Website: https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org/
Bronze Level Sponsor
This year, the Exhibz International Food Festival will be upgraded with lots of activities and sub-programs
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
12:00 – 6:00pm EST (Doors open at 11am)
Saturday, October 7th, 2023
1:00 – 7:00pm EST (Doors open at 12pm)
All of our initial spots for vendors have been filled. Please fill in the form below and our team will be happy to assist you if spots become available.
