The 502s

In the organizer's words:

The 502s hail from Orlando, FL, bringing the energy of the Florida sun wherever they go. The band was formed in college when lead singer Ed Isola (banjo, guitar) bought a $100 banjo and started writing songs. Childhood friends Matt Tonner (keys, guitar, vocals) and Joe Capati (saxophone, trumpet, melodica, vocals) rounded out the 502s' now distinctive sound, and Sean Froehlich (drums, vocals) and Nick Melashenko (bass, vocals) completed the lineup. Ed's brother and cousin also played guitar in the band. So it's a real family affair, which leads to the name of the band. No, it's not the Louisville area code, but the street where Isola grew up and where his friends and family gathered to meet.

After winning a contest to perform at the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival before they had even recorded any music, they released "The 502s EP," which was followed by their debut album, "Because We Had To." The band experienced their proverbial sunrise when their song "Just A Little While" became a viral TikTok sensation in December 2021. "Just A Little While" came from their second album, "Could It Get Any Better Than This," which featured songs like "Magdalene" and "I Keep Rolling" and helped the Orlando-based indie folk band gain worldwide popularity.

"Just A Little While" reached No. 4 on Spotify's worldwide charts and stayed in the Top 10 for several months, and the tidal wave the song created on social media also propelled it onto Billboard's Hot Rock and Alternative charts and to No. 3 on Spotify's Top Viral 50. Although the band was thrust into the spotlight overnight, they are anything but a flash in the pan. Their exuberant, energetic live shows make it clear what the 502s are: the happiest band in the world. With one of the most energetic and joyful live shows on the planet, the 502s' unique sound (some call it ska-folk) shows that everyone belongs at a 502s show. Sold out tours across the US and Europe confirm that once you see the band, you're a fan forever!