By Greg Rickabaugh
For Aidan and Bennett Donovan, performing at the Fort Mill Fall Festival is about more than playing music. It is a chance to return to the town where their musical journey began and share what they have built since leaving home.
The fraternal twin brothers, both 24, grew up in Fort Mill and graduated from Nation Ford High School. Now based in Columbia, they have spent more than a decade developing The Donovan Twins, a folk-rock and Americana band that combines acoustic guitar, banjo, original songs and close vocal harmonies.
They will return to their hometown Saturday, Oct. 17, for the Fort Mill Fall Festival at the Fort Mill Amphitheater at Walter Elisha Park.
“Since we went to high school in Fort Mill, we love being able to perform in front of people who watched us grow up,” Bennett Donovan said. “Many of them saw the beginning of what is now The Donovan Twins.”
Music was part of the brothers’ lives long before they began performing. Their parents introduced them to artists such as Paul Simon, Billy Joel, R.E.M. and The Beatles, while their father regularly pulled out his guitar to sing at home.
The brothers eventually joined in, first singing along and then picking up instruments. Aidan gravitated toward guitar, while Bennett started on drums before switching to banjo so he could sing while playing.
They have been making music together since they were 12, building a sound rooted in the artists they grew up listening to while developing their own songwriting and style.
The group began releasing original music in 2024, including the singles “10 & 4” and “Thieves (Demo).” More recently, the brothers expanded beyond their original acoustic duo, adding Preston Hage on drums, Sutton Jenkins on bass and David Meade on guitar.
The larger lineup brings more energy and depth to their performances. Their single “Teary-Eyed Troubadour,” released in September, marks the first recording to feature the full band.
Bennett said audiences can expect a mix of high-energy rock, upbeat songs and more emotional material, along with a mix of original music and cover songs. The brothers’ close harmonies and the backing band’s fuller sound give their performances a range that can appeal to different musical tastes.
“The band has just kind of filled out that sound,” he said, adding that the additional musicians bring more texture to the music that began with two brothers, an acoustic guitar and a banjo.
The Donovan Twins have performed across South Carolina and shared stages with established acts including Sister Hazel and Shovels & Rope. They also have played at events connected to University of South Carolina athletics.
Still, the brothers have not treated music as a guaranteed career path. Even after graduating and taking day jobs, they continued writing songs, booking performances and refining their sound.
“For us, as we have done post-grad and got day jobs, we have grown closer in our music and really started tapping into more gigs and more songwriting,” Bennett said.
They continue to pursue those opportunities, hoping their persistence eventually leads to something bigger.
“The universe has not forced us to give up yet,” he said.
Their return to Fort Mill offers a chance to reconnect with familiar faces while introducing new listeners to their music. Bennett said he hopes audiences leave with more than a memory of a good performance.
The brothers aim to write songs people can relate to, whether through an upbeat number or a song that speaks to something more personal.
“Usually, there is always one song that is going to resonate with someone,” Bennett said. “We want it to be relatable.”
The festival will also feature The Bailey Road Band, another South Carolina group known for its mix of country, rock and crowd-pleasing favorites.
The Donovan Twins are expected to hit the stage at 2 p.m. Saturday, with The Bailey Road Band performing at 3:30 p.m.
For the Donovan brothers, however, the day will have a special hometown significance: an opportunity to bring the music they have spent years developing back to the community where it all started.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
