AP & Soulful Touche' Gumbo Festival Serves Up a New Genre in Columbia
- CUBNSC
- Aug 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 25
By Javar Juarez | Columbia Urban Broadcast Network
Columbia, SC — AP and Soulful Touche’ brought a fresh taste to Columbia on Saturday, August 9, 2025, with the inaugural Gumbo Festival—and yes, it was every bit as flavorful as it sounds.
AP and Soulful Touche' Divine Inspiration
Drawing from both cultural tradition and personal revelation, AP, the Florence, South Carolina native behind the festival, explained that GUMBO is more than a dish—it’s an acronym: Giving Unique Melodies, Beats, Omnipotent. For AP, it represents an original music genre he says God placed on his heart: a mix of sounds layered with the same richness, warmth, and satisfaction you get from a hearty bowl of gumbo.
“It’s not just about the music, but the experience,” AP told the Columbia Urban Broadcast Network. “G stands for giving—that’s what we do. Unique because of different melodies—everything from singing and lyricism to horn lines and bass. Omnipotent is our power, our faith, our God.”
The event took place at the GWYNN Center in Columbia’s Northeast, a lively and welcoming venue that hosted a crowd eager to witness this new blend of sound. The festival lineup reflected AP’s wide-ranging influences—country, R&B, gospel—mirroring his own journey from growing up in a church-filled Florence community to becoming a multi-genre performer.
Though music wasn’t always his path—AP once pursued football—his early exposure to church harmonies and the ability to play music by ear shaped the performer he is today. He recalls drawing inspiration from everything he heard, from quartet gospel to Brian McKnight ballads, creating a personal style that defies category.
This isn’t AP’s first time lighting up Columbia’s stages. Locals may remember his high-energy performances at the Juneteenth Freedom Fest and the Auntie Karen Foundation’s February show with PJ Morton. But the Gumbo Festival, he says, is special—because it’s the start of something bigger.
“We’ve been working since February, and I’m ready for everybody to see what we’ve been doing,” AP said. “It’s about to be a blessing. We’re gonna let God have His way.”
If the inaugural Gumbo Festival is any indication, Columbia may have just found its newest signature sound—one that’s as soulful and layered as its namesake dish..
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