Photography & Review by Thom Hooper
The idobi Radio Summer School Tour ’26, if you’re not familiar, is a traveling alternative, pop-punk, and rock festival returning for its third consecutive year. Its founders have described it as being “about music discovery and community. A traveling festival with rotating bills, where you show up early, stay all night, and hopefully leave with a new favorite band — all at a ticket price that’s actually affordable.”
That mission was definitely felt throughout the Charlotte stop at The Fillmore on June 28th, 2026.
This year’s lineup features Games We Play, Chase Petra, South Arcade, Winona Fighter, and headliner Honey Revenge on every date. For this show, Lacy Dooms opened as the local support, followed by Chase Petra. Led by vocalist and guitarist Hunter Allen, Chase Petra delivered an intimate indie rock and pop-punk set that felt both personal and accessible, drawing the room in early and setting the tone for the night.
Following Chase Petra, Games We Play were the next band in the Charlotte lineup. The band was featured on Warped Tour last year and brought a sense of fun to the stage that was immediately embraced by the crowd. Fans sang lyrics back throughout the set, and if the goal of Summer School is to build a community around music discovery, Games We Play felt like the moment where that idea fully clicked into place.
Winona Fighter, the band I was most familiar with going into the show, took the stage next. I don’t know if I’d classify them strictly as indie rock, alternative, pop, punk, or somewhere in between, but their sound is undeniably catchy. Their newest single, “Bombs Away,” highlights that quality well, blending alternative hooks with punk-inspired urgency in a way that never feels forced. Vocalist Coco Kino shined throughout the set, bringing a sharp, aggressive edge to her delivery while still landing the band’s bigger melodies. Their cover of Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” sounded better and larger than ever and look forward to new music from them.
South Arcade kept the momentum going following Winona Fighter, jumping right into the action. Vocalist Harmony Cavelle built a real connection with fans through the entirety of their set, making their set feel authentic and full of energy. That momentum carried over into the final performance of the night from Honey Revenge. Both Devin Papadol and Donny Lloyd exuded nothing but confidence as they took command of the room the moment they took the stage and finished the night on a high note.
In a time when organizers are constantly looking for ways to bring music discovery, community, and affordability together, the idobi Radio Summer School Tour feels like a welcome answer. It allows for a full night of live music with minimal downtime, a positive atmosphere, and a lineup designed to introduce people to something new.
The Summer School Tour runs through the end of the month and is worth checking out if it comes through your town. Whether you’re there to see a band you already love or hoping to leave with a new favorite, it’s an affordable and genuinely enjoyable way to spend a night surrounded by live music.
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