The Vegabonds return to Athens with an eye toward supporting local artists like Wim Tapley

Getting their start at Auburn University playing sororities, fraternities, and local venues, The Vegabonds are no strangers to college towns. Since 2009, the alternative Southern rock band has grown, touring across the Southeast and playing with big acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gregg Allman, and Whiskey Myers.

“The good thing about playing college towns is if you do it enough, it’s like you start to be that band that every new class gets introduced to by the older classmen. So, you kind of build your own legacy in that scene,” said lead vocalist Daniel Allen. “It’s really cool to be passed down like that.”

Athens in particular is a college town that holds a special place in the band’s heart, as they owe a portion of their success to the city. “Georgia Fire,” written about the infamous fire that resulted in severe damage to Georgia Theatre in 2009, is one of their most successful songs, boasting almost 4 million streams on Spotify. Since then, the band has performed several times at the venue, calling it one of their favorites.

The Vegabonds will make their return to Georgia Theatre on Friday for a 9 p.m. show. When it came down to choosing their opener, the band knew that they wanted someone from the Athens music scene, with band manager Dustin Pet saying it’s all about giving back to the music communities that first helped them grow.

“We actually are big fans of supporting locals, but specifically locals who we see that are taking it really seriously,” said Pet.

This time around that local is Wim Tapley, a former University of Georgia student who is best known for his TikTok viral single “Sober.”

Tapley came to the university as a freshman in 2021 and quickly carved out his place in Athens music, booking gigs within a week of his arrival to the city. After encouragement from his mentors Dylan Keel, owner of Classic City Vintage Guitars, and David Barbe, director of the UGA Music Business Program, he decided to switch paths and pursue music full-time in May 2022.

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: The Vegabonds and Wim Tapley play Georgia Theatre in Athens on Friday