Southwind formed in Manhattan, Kansas in early 2024 when vocalist Christian Shaffer put out a call for bandmates. Guitarist Cody Sundquist and bassist Logan Burr joined first; later Jonathan Contrell (guitar) and Stephen Peterson (drums) rounded out the lineup.

Their first gig together was Halloween 2024. Originally billed as Ad Astra, they rebranded to Southwind — a nod to Kansas roots and the idea that the sound “happens everywhere.”

The group’s songwriting is collaborative and organic. Songs like Meredith and Alpoca lean into lived-in emotion; the live show aims for presence over phones — dance, feel it, remember it later.

Sources: Kansas State Collegian · Spotify.