Presenting a world class collection of musicians to set sail on a five night adventure filled with funky jams, special sets, sit-ins, super groups, and collaborations!
Unless otherwise noted with an *asterisk* all artists perform two shows.
With an ethos rooted in exploration, STS9 has been a sonic pioneer for two decades. Using electronic and acoustic means, the instrumental five-piece—comprised of Hunter Brown (guitar/keys), Jeffree Lerner (percussion), David Phipps (keyboards), Zach Velmer (drums), and Alana Rocklin (bass)—channels the primordial and celestial, producing a cutting edge sound that has forged a path for multiple generations of electronic dance music.
STS9’s innate sense of innovation is grounded by the group’s desire to forge universal connections. Seamlessly integrating their exploratory and improvisation-based music with a fully immersive light show, each performance is a transcendent celebration of humanity. The group continues to find ways to build community, consistently spearheading charitable efforts and founding its own independent record label, 1320 Records.
Having released twelve albums in the last twenty years, STS9’s legacy unfolds into the future. The group has been honored with induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and earns headlining slots at countless music festivals across the country. With the help of the group’s dedicated fanbase, STS9 has performed countless shows nationwide and consistently sells out legendary venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
After over a decade of relentless touring and recording in all but complete obscurity, the Texas-bred quasi-collective suddenly found itself held up by the press and public as one of the major figures in the jazz world. But as the category names for all five of the band’s Grammy awards would indicate (Best R&B Performance in 2014, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2023), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band, and it’s definitely not a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of the New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.”
Snarky Puppy is a collective of sorts with as many as 20 members in regular rotation. At its core, the band represents the convergence of both black and white American music culture with various accents from around the world. Japan, Argentina, Canada and the United Kingdom all have representation in the group’s membership. But more than the cultural diversity of the individual players, the defining characteristic of Snarky Puppy’s music is the joy of performing together in the perpetual push to grow creatively.
Their latest Grammy winning album – Empire Central – was released in September 2022. Its sound is big and bold, chill and laid back, rooted in its native culture while reaching outward, forward bound. With 16 new compositions, the group looks fondly at where it’s come from, confident in the polished power from which its members continue to build the unique Snarky Puppy sound.
Their sound now rises like a skyscraper from a 21st century orchestra comprising three guitarists, four keyboardists, two brass, two reeds, a violinist, multiple percussionists and drummers and the accomplished, yet modest, Michael League keeping it all together with his bass.
“Our soundscape has expanded dramatically over the years” says League. “When the band started, we were jazzier, brainy and music oriented. Moving into the Dallas scene we became groovier, more emotional, deeper in a sense. We focused more on communicating a clear message, understandable to a listener without dumbing things down”.
Always evolving in its musical output, each new record brings a new vision and progressive direction, “Snarky Puppy has always been a band that prioritizes the sound of music, our rule is that it can’t sound like it sounded before” comments League, he continues, “the music has to feel like it’s moving somewhere”.
And moving somewhere it most definitely has. The Empire Central World Tour, which started in the USA in April 2022, has taken the band to 30 US States and 33 countries around the world. It’s incredible, although not at all surprising, how far Snarky Puppy have come since ten friends got together at the University of North Texas in 2004. It also raises the question – where will Snarky Puppy go next? For Snarky Puppy fans, the answer to this question is a very exciting prospect.
Twenty-five years into their genre-defying electronic music career, Thievery Corporation’s founding principles of D.I.Y. and inclusion have become key themes in mainstream social conversation. After a dozen highly acclaimed full-length albums, remix LPs, concert recordings, and over two decades of incendiary live performances that have thrilled audiences worldwide, Thievery Corporation’s music and message is more relevant and important now than ever.
That lack of filter enabled Garza and Hilton to mine their musical inspirations and create one of the most unique bodies of work in electronic music, respectfully incorporating tastes of international cultural styles, without ever falling into the trap of cultural appropriation. “We always wondered: with so much incredible music in the world, why would anyone limit themselves to one genre? Well, we found out — it’s far easier to stay in one lane than to genre hop!” laughs Hilton. Garza elaborates: “When we started, we were influenced by music from all over the world, flipping through bins in second hand record stores for LP’s from Brazil, India, Iran, Jamaica, jazz records… we wanted to make music where you didn’t know whether it was recorded today or a decade ago.” Thievery Corporation’s music has always looked toward the future while paying homage to the past, starting with their groundbreaking debut LP, 1996’s “Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi,” which both introduced the world to Garza and Hilton as producers and set their course as pioneers of song-based electronic music with wildly diverse vocalists.
The band’s legendary D.C. headquarters, the Eighteenth Street Lounge, became an epicenter for a diverse group of people and staff from all over the world, which in turn had a profound influence on their musical output. “D.C. was very cosmopolitan, lots of places to see international live music and jazz,” says Garza. “We’d run into people from all over the world and invite them to play with us — so Thievery became an extension of that, both on our records and in our live performances.” Indeed, Hilton and Garza’s “Outernational” approach created a world reflected by the artist’s ideals of diversity and acceptance. “25 years after we started, it seems like the world is catching up,” Garza opines. “Social consciousness is more mainstream, awareness of the importance of inclusivity…it’s so encouraging to see so many people working towards these goals in America.” Hilton agrees. “Thievery is a reflection of who we are, it evolved from our musical tastes. Artists who were for the people, like The Clash, Fela Kuti, Manu Chao were so important to us, and engaging in social ideas has always been a part of what we’ve tried to do.” People don’t refer to Thievery Corporation as “World Music,” but it’s safe to say that their music and ethos is global in its scope and ahead of its time at every turn.
In a live setting, Thievery Corporation avoids any electronic dance music tropes. Yes, you’ll dance, sweat and put your hands in the air… but their concerts are true performances, with a killer band of players and an array of vocalists from diverse global cultures. No two shows feel the same. “Our shows are VERY live, lots of energy, the combination of multiple instruments and singers that take you on a musical journey,” says Garza. “We have a sitar player, songs are in different languages — it’s a multicultural experience, people connect to the band and to each other, it’s beautiful.” With a world cautiously beginning to emerge from isolation and towards communal events, Garza is eager to return Thievery Corporation to live performance. “I feel like people have been waiting to celebrate together after being forced apart for too long. We’re all craving that.”
History doesn’t stand still. It impacts, influences, and inspires the ebb and flow of the future by informing the present. Galactic draw on 25 years together in order to progress with each performance and subsequent record. After 10 albums, over 2,000 gigs, and tens of millions of streams, the proud New Orleans, LA quintet—Ben Ellman [saxophone, harmonica], Robert Mercurio [bass], Stanton Moore [drums, percussion], Jeffrey Raines [guitar], and Richard Vogal [keyboards]—have kept the torch burning through five U.S. presidential regimes, the turn-of-the-century, Hurricane Katrina, a Global Pandemic, and a much-anticipated recovery. They’re the rare collective who can support Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, contribute music to a blockbuster soundtrack such as Now You See Me, and light up the stages of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (a staggering 22 times).
Joined by vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, they continue to forge ahead.
“Jelly came to Fuji Rock in Japan with us to sing background with Macy Gray,” recalls Stanton. “We needed someone to sing one of our Galactic originals, and she stepped up. Since there was no time for rehearsal or soundcheck, she showed up prepared, knew the tune completely, and rocked it. When it came time to find someone new to sing with us, she was our first choice. She has such effortless stage presence and a very comfortable rapport with audiences. She also brings an element of unbridled fun!” That fun came across loud and clear on the 2020 single “Float.” Uplifted by Jelly’s powerhouse pipes, it hinted at the potential of their collective chemistry.
They laid the groundwork for this future upon coming together in 1994. Two years later, the guys dropped their full-length debut, Coolin’ Off, and hopped in a Ford Econoline van (with trailer in tow) for their very first official tour. Along the way, they released seminal albums such as 2007’s From the Corner to the Block, boasting collabs with the likes of Chali 2na, Juvenile, Trombone Shorty, DJ Z-Trip, and Boots Riley. During 2015, Into The Deep marked their first debut in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 200 and second straight #1 bow on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart. Not to mention, it boasted the title track “Into The Deep” [feat. Macy Gray], racking up nearly 20 million streams and counting. Along the way, they performed alongside the likes of Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, Jack Johnson, Talib Kweli, the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Counting Crows, James Brown, and many more. They’ve also recorded and performed with the likes of Allen Toussaint [“Bacchus”] and Big Freedia “Double It”]. Most recently, 2019’s Already Ready Already garnered acclaim from New York Times, NPR Weekend Edition, Exclaim!, and many more, while they’ve appeared on the covers of Downbeat and Relix Magazine.
KDTU has electrified audiences around the world for over 25 years from the fields of Naeba in Japan at the infamous Fuji Rock Festival to the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden where they previously joined the Dave Matthews Band and The Godfather of Soul, James Brown. From performing as Sexual Chocolate (Karl was in the original band in the movie Coming To America and its sequel) at the Outside Lands Music festival in San Francisco, to being the first late night act at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival, KDTU have been a dominating force in music for the past 25 years.
All-night, sold-out concerts during Jazzfest in New Orleans have featured sit ins by everyone from Lenny Kravitz & Steve Winwood (with whom Karl has recorded and toured) to avant garde luminaries Marc Ribot & Boyfriend. Chuck Leavell and Bernard Fowler (Karl’s bandmates in The Rolling Stones where Karl replaced the great Bobby Keys as saxophonist in 2014) have joined onstage and on record, as have Lukas Nelson, John Oates, Michael Franti, Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Daddy Kane, Roy Hargrove, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Joshua Redman, Marcus King, and Bernie Worrell, among others.
Touring the country with the Allman Brothers, My Morning Jacket, D’Angelo, The Roots, Public Enemy, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Parliament Funkadelic, Slightly Stoopid, Widespread Panic, very few concert goers have been untouched by the Tiny Universe live. In addition to KDTU, Karl Denson aka “Diesel” is a founding member of the seminal groove act The Greyboy Allstars.
LETTUCE is (a) the prime ingredient in a salad, (b) a slang for cash, (c) a green herb that can be smoked, (d) a genre-busting six-member musical collective formed in 1992 by four alumni of the prestigious Berklee College Of Music, or (e) all of the above. If you answered “e,” then you’re in on the sheer magic of a band that both feeds the rich history of funk music and combines it with strains of hip-hop, rock, psychedelia, jazz, soul, jam, go-go, and the avant-garde.
The GRAMMY Award-nominated six-piece is comprised of Adam Deitch [drums, percussion], Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff [guitar], Erick “Jesus” Coomes [bass], Ryan Zoidis [alto, baritone, tenor sax, Korg X-911], Eric “Benny” Bloom [trumpet, horns], and Nigel Hall [vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards]. To date, their discography includes Outta Here [2002], Rage! [2008], Fly [2012], Crush [2015], the EP Mt. Crushmore [2016], the live album Witches Stew [2017], Elevate [2019], Resonate [2020], Unify [2022], and now VIBE – a single 48 minute continuous session of pure, free-flowing improvisation, available digitally for the first time.
With VIBE, Lettuce cement their status as boundary-pushing innovators over three decades into their lauded career, blurring lines and smashing up jazz chords, psychedelic passages, big horns, strains of soul and go-go, hip-hop elements for an uplifting, improvisational sound all their own. Ryan Zoidis explains, “we got into a vibe and hit record. 48 minutes went by like a blink of an eye. This is our first purely improvised recording. Nothing planned, nothing edited or overdubbed. This is a true spontaneous musical expression captured in its entirety.”
All together now… Lett us VIBE.
LP Giobbi is a multi-talented DJ, producer, jazz-trained pianist and activist who is quickly rising to superstar status. Since emerging in the dance scene in 2018, she has performed her “one-woman jam band” DJ sets blending her decks with her live piano plus sampler at high-profile festivals including Coachella, Playing in the Sand, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Tomorrowland and more. She played a string of sold out afterparties for Dead & Company’s final tour across New Orleans, Chicago, Philly, New York City, Boston, Boulder and San Francisco. She’s also supported iconic artists like Diplo, DJ Tennis, Sofi Tukker and Pete Tong (opening up for him two nights at London’s O2 Arena and then sitting in with the Ibiza Classics orchestra on a grand piano to play a song she wrote with them). LP Giobbi’s music has amassed over 150M streams across platforms and is hotly tipped as DJ Mag’s Best Producer of the Year, Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador, Spotify RADAR’s Artist to Watch, Amazon’s Artists to Watch and TIDAL’s Artist to Watch 2023.
As Giobbi’s profile continues to rise, she continues to grow and explore, improvising her way towards her own musical ideal. She began remixing Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead music in her sets and after seeing how much of her young fanbase gravitated towards it, she knew there was something there that she could do to bring in a younger generation to this music and culture. “I love the jam band ethos,” says Giobbi, the daughter of two devoted Deadheads, who often appears onstage in one of an arsenal of Dead t-shirts. The Garcia Family caught wind of what she was doing, and was asked to do an official remix album for Jerry Garcia’s first solo album, Garcia, for its 50th anniversary, “I wanted to show this beautiful world to my community”. Garcia (Remixed) has received incredible love from the existing community, electronic community and this younger generation.
Wanting to change the statistic that only 2% of producers are women, she has provided thousands of female and gender-expansive individuals access to production workshops, online courses, and scholarship programs for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC creators through her nonprofit FEMME HOUSE. They have also done stage takeovers at EDC and Hulaween Music Festival, as well as a Femme House Tour in partnership with Ableton that included in-person workshops during the day and booking all female/gender expansive lineups at night all across the US in 2022.
LP Giobbi’s debut album, Light Places, released on May 12, 2023 on Ninja Tune’s imprint Counter Records stands as a comprehensive declaration to who she is as an artist. Here, she brings an organic freedom found in improvised music (from long-standing inspirations Bill Evans and The Grateful Dead) and spontaneous collaboration to incorporate core principles of simplicity to often intricate structures of dance music, making for a set of songs that simply feel good. The process of creating complementary tracks coincidentally widened LP Giobbi’s artistic lens to expand her production abilities beyond the confines of crafting standalone singles. This broadened space gave LP Giobbi room to peel back multiple meanings contained in a simple phrase (“If Love is A Skill (feat. Sofi Tukker)”), wield dynamic tom fills and distorted bass with intent (“Georgia”) and harness the never-ending power of love from friends and family (“All I Need”). By the end, the album feels like something greater than itself and will leave anyone who comes across it feeling like anything is possible.
If you ever wondered what “seizing the moment” sounds like personified, look no further than Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, the four-piece musical powerhouse known for their head-turning high-energy psychedelic funk shows. Infectious energy is an understatement.
The Maryland quartet — “Scrambled Greg” Ormont [vocals, guitar], Jeremy Schon [guitar, vocals], Ben [bass, vocals], and Alex “Gator” Petropulos [drums, vocals]—not only squeezes the juice out of every second, but they harness life’s energy within their hypnotic hybrid of funk, rock and psychedelic groove.
“This album is a snapshot of our band as a group and as individuals,” notes Greg. “The title serves as a reminder that life moves fast, so we better make the most of each day, make each second count. 15 years as a band have flown by. We started in college and now we’re all growing up, most of us have even become dads recently, so we’re evolving both personally and musically, and we’re happily embracing those changes. That said, we still feel like kids when we’re getting wild on stage and know we always will.”
This forward motion has only accelerated over the years for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Renowned as a live tour de force, PPPP has tallied tens of millions of streams and performed to impassioned crowds everywhere from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Capitol Theatre to festivals such as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Jam Cruise, and more. Most recently, they earned widespread acclaim for 2022’s Perspective, a 12-track “funk-filled odyssey” as described by Relix. However, Day In Time saw them realize another level of cohesion in the studio.
“This album is the most cohesive group of songs we’ve ever had in the studio,” says Jeremy. “On our previous albums, there were usually older songs mixed in with our newer material. However, all the tracks on ‘Day In Time’ really represent our current writing style and where we are as a band today.”
A bevy of friends also joined the party. On the boisterous “Let The Boogie Out,” Here Come The Mummies’ horn section added healthy doses of funk and “truly decided to let the boogie out,” according to Jeremy. Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (The Main Squeeze; Smile High) shines on the titular “Day In Time” with a raucous keyboard solo, while keyboardists Joey Porter (The Motet) and Alric “A.C.” Carter (Tauk) join forces on the soulful “Overtime.” Carter also adds rich depth with keys on “Beneath The Surface,” while Jon O’Hallaron (Chalk Dinosaur) infuses rhythmic keys and electronic flavor on the instrumental standout, “Skinner.” Another first, all four members of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong take inspired solos on the same record.
“With this being our seventh full-length album, we’re more comfortable in the studio than ever, which has given us the freedom to take some bigger swings reminiscent of our live shows.” notes Greg.
In the end, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are certainly making the most of the moment, and they might just inspire you to do the same.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. have long been the high-flying DIY renegades of the touring scene known and loved for their kaleidoscopic musical fusion and one-of-a-kind onstage audacity. Now celebrating their longevity, the band is shaking things up with L’Optimist (Fun Machine Records/Soundly), as its title suggests, Frasco’s most hopeful and enthusiastic collection thus far. A testament to Frasco’s wide-ranging influences and boundless energy, his band’s sixth released studio album sees the magnetic frontman continuing to chart his path of self-exploration and personal discovery through increasingly introspective lyricism and musical adventure. Songs like “Everything Bagel (Feat. Artikal Sound System)” and the deeply moving “Iowa Moon” touch on matters of the heart and mental health, emotional struggle and the sheer vulnerability of the human experience, all relayed through a wildly eclectic approach navigating funk, jazz, surf rock, blues, swing, gospel, reggae, exotica, and more with horn-blasted positivity and soulful power.
“I fight depression every single day,” Frasco says, “and the only way to fight depression is through optimism. I try to write optimistic songs because optimism keeps me going. As humans, I don’t think we’re all that much different. Everyone needs a little optimism to keep going.”
L’Optimist sees Frasco continuing to develop as a songwriter, band leader, and human being, his restless spirit giving way to something more firmly grounded yet no less adventurous. Having built a still-expanding career on forward motion, Andy Frasco remains positive in his determination to keep on keeping on, pushing himself and his music to grow and improve with every passing day.
Tank and The Bangas is a New Orleans-based band that blends various music styles such as funk, soul, hip hop, and spoken word to create a unique sound. The band is led by vocalist and songwriter Tarriona “Tank” Ball who commands every performance with her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence. Formed in 2011, they gained nationwide recognition after winning the NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 2017. The band consists of a varying number of musicians but is typically around five, including Tank herself. Their critically acclaimed live performances are energetic and highly emotive, making them a must-see act.
Summer Zen is a collaboration first formed at the 2021 Summerzend benefit concert, featuring Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr., Lebo (Dan Lebowitz), and John Morgan Kimock. Now joined by Robert Walter, they’re set to make their return for Jam Cruise 21!
ALO stands for Animal Liberation Orchestra—because music liberates the inner animal, of course. As liberated as they come, Zach Gill, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, and Steve Adams have certainly been at this a long time. The trio met while still pre-teens in Saratoga, California, where they quickly connected through their love of music and sound.
In junior high, they got the idea to put together a band for the eighth-grade talent show. Zach recounts the struggle of the emerging artist thusly:“It’s hard to get all the pieces right, you know, you’re chasing a dream and an abstract vision, and you’re going through puberty. It’s kind of a lot.” Lebo elaborates,“We met at a time in our lives where we were coming of age and craving identity. Music, and more specifically, our band, gave us a vessel with which we could “set sail” on the ocean of life”.
And the rest is history, but history is always a crooked path. You end up where you belong, but the journey is never quite what you expected when you took the first step. 25 years in, Gill (keyboards, vocals), Lebo (guitar, vocals), Adams (bass, vocals) and “new-guy”- Bay Area drum legend-in-training Ezra Lipp (drums, vocals) have recorded their greatest work to date. Quite simply, this is what happens when the band doesn’t break up–the culmination of a lifetime of shared effort and camaraderie. Four master collaborators at the peak of their craft individually and collectively with nothing left to prove–near-telepathic cohesion.
These guys have played with everybody. From royalty like Phil Lesh and members of the Grateful Dead to SoCal surf-troubadour Jack Johnson, if the show happened in California, you’ll almost always find one of them in the corner of the shot and, sometimes, even in the center.
But you don’t really hear it all until you hear them together. And it urges repeat listening, because it’s a rich stew that only fully reveals itself with time, attention, a few tears, and a lot of love.
ALO call their music “jam-pop,”and the description is apt.Meticulously crafted, hooky and accessible compositions laced with improvisational departures in which they function as a single organism at once voice and consciousness. They’re always exploring, but never wandering. There is always intention, momentum, and a patience and confidence that can only be wrought from a quarter century of collaboration and water under the bridge.
The band’s new full-length album “Silver Saturdays” is a celebration of that crooked path, of having lived through a turbulent phase of human history, and of the winding road still to come.
Dragon Smoke formed in 2003 as a “Superjam” – part of the New Orleans Jazz Fest tradition of putting together a band of musician who don’t normally play together and just see what happens. With the dual vocals of Neville and Lindell, matched with the Galactic rhythm section, the band quickly realized, “We are on to something!”. The band has played during every Jazz Fest since its inception. This inception took place at the tiny smokey Dragon’s Den Bar, hence the name – Dragon Smoke.
The music centers around Lindell’s blue eyed soul, Neville’s funk and R&B, and Galactic’s groove. Besides annual trips to the West Coast the past 10 years, and a 2013 trip to the East Coast, this band has been strictly playing around New Orleans. With everyone in the band being a leader in their own, it is rare to get this band together. And when it does, it shows that these guys are really having FUN! From the interplay and communication between the members, you would think that Dragon Smoke has been touring for years.
Dragon Smoke is looking towards the future, with plans to write and record an album and to do more touring outside of New Orleans. So be on the lookout for the Smoke — IF YOU SEE SMOKE, YOU KNOW YOU WILL SEE FIRE!
Eric Lindell: Vocals/Guitar
Ivan Neville: Vocals/Keyboards
Stanton Moore: Drums
Robert Mercurio: Bass
The sandy shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey are hallowed ground in the northeast; the rolling waves have ushered generations of venerated musicians to worldwide acclaim. Dogs in a Pile, an eclectic quintet, has emerged as the heir apparent to the town’s rich musical legacy. Merging funk, jazz, and rock and roll with psychedelia, the quintet presents a completely original vibe built on kaleidoscopic soundscapes eerily reminiscent of the days of yesteryear.
The Dogs employ a unified approach to performance and songwriting, crafting aural mosaics through adept instrumentation and humble precocity. As avid storytellers, they draw inspiration from personal experiences, balancing life’s foibles with ever-present youthful sanguinity.
Dogs began when Philadelphia University of the Arts guitar gun-slinger Jimmy Law began playing with young Joe Babick (drums), a student at the Count Basie Theater program in Red Bank, NJ. Lightning struck when they were introduced to Berklee School of Music student and bass player Sam Lucid, who immediately suggested fellow Berklee student and keyboard player Jeremy Kaplan. The addition of fellow Berklee student Brian Murray (guitar) in 2019 made for the quintessential final piece in the Dogs’ puzzle.
A string of successful local shows drove the development of a massive northeast fan base, affectionately known as the Dog Pound. The band’s astronomical growth culminated in an epic, sold-out performance at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park during the summer of 2021. Armed with a fresh batch of new material, Dogs in a Pile is taking its perpetually evolving testament to the Great American Songbook on tour in 2022, visiting plenty of new cities and spreading good music and good energy to good people along the way.
Since oozing onto the scene, Mildlife’s mellifluous mix of jazz, krautrock and demon grooves has fast become a word of mouth sensation among open-minded DJs and diggers searching for the perfect beat. The Australian 4-piece’s live show is built on the last 2 years of constant touring around the world, bolstered by legendary improvisational passages and encores extending into the wee hours. Their new album Chorus is harmonious in its togetherness and celebratory symbiosis. Prepare to be indoctrinated into Mildlife’s unified theory of groove.
on a mission to share the light. Formed during an impromptu late-night jam at Jazz Fest 2012 in New Orleans, the relentlessly funky and soulful band believes in music as a higher power tapping into an energy that is simultaneously sexy and spiritual, with songs that will inspire audiences to dance, groove, make love or just stand there with goosebumps.
The trio hails from diverse musical backgrounds, races, and creeds. Female powerhouse Nikki Glaspie was Beyonce’s world-touring drummer for five years before she joined Ivan Neville’s New Orleans funk outfit, Dumpstaphunk. Bassist Nate Edgar of Groovechild and John Brown’s Body perfectly complements singer and guitarist Nick Cassarino who came from the Jennifer Hartswick Band and toured with Big Daddy Kane.
“It’s my dream team,” said Glaspie, “each of us is a songwriter, so when we get together, everything becomes much stronger.” Beyond raw skill, Glaspie cites a deep spiritual connection as the glue that binds them together. “Music is what brought us together, but it’s the spiritual bond that makes us play so in touch with each other,” she explained. And at the core of their vibe is a deviously simple concept the healing power of love.
Although the band members are based across the East Coast, they maintain New Orleans as their spiritual home, and the celebratory essence of that city’s music culture is audible in each performance.
Simply put, something pretty magical is happening in this band, and they’re only just getting started. “We’re going as far as you can go on the planet Earth and playing music,” explains Glaspie, “I don’t know how many times we’ve said it we are so blessed.”
Together, The Nth Power wants to change lives through a message of musical love and understanding.
Southern Avenue, the high-voltage, roots-infused powerhouse hailing from the legendary musical haven of Memphis, Tennessee, has been setting stages ablaze since their explosive Stax Records debut in 2017. Boasting a magnetic energy and a soul-stirring repertoire, this dynamic ensemble has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their heart-pounding performances and emotionally charged compositions.
Their meteoric rise in the music industry is underscored by a coveted GRAMMY Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and multiple nods at the Blues Music Awards, where they are currently in the running for “Band of the Year” in the 2024 edition. In 2018, they clinched the title of “Best Emerging Artist,” solidifying their rapid trajectory to stardom.
The band, consisting of lead vocalist Tierinii Jackson, guitarist Ori Naftaly, keyboardist Jeremy Powell, drummer Tikyra Jackson, and the versatile Ava Jackson on vocals, percussion, and violin, forms a musical juggernaut. The harmonious blend of Tierinii, Tikyra, and Ava’s voices creates an unparalleled sound that resonates deeply with audiences, adding an extra layer of soulfulness to their performances. The familial bond within the band not only enhances their on-stage cohesion but infuses their music with an intimate authenticity that is unmistakable.
“Playing our music around the world, sharing our story through our own artistic expression is something that every artist dreams of…and there is no greater feeling as a family than making your dreams come true together,” says Tierinii. “Music is our inheritance, we are blessed and honored to uphold the tradition.”
Polyrhythmics sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.
Now on their 14th year as a recording project and touring ensemble, the band’s sound continues to evolve with the 2023 release of their seventh full length album Filter System. As journalist Bee Getz writes,“it feels something like a new beginning for these fellas; Filter System is filled with uptempo dance tunes, crunkadelic bangers, and dusty blunted safaris-in-sound”
Polyrhythmics virtuosic musicianship and musical conversation has been built on a relentless touring schedule of the previous decade which has led them to their current sound that fills a room with an impending mood where anything could happen – sometimes evoking their brighter and cinematic Fela-influences, but also a more sinister and darker turn toward a more a progressive sonic palette combining psych-funk with dub reggae, film noir “and galaxies beyond.”
According to guitarist/co-founder Ben Bloom, “We have a love affair with making people move their bodies, and the music we’ve been creating lately absolutely reflects that.”
Polyrhythmics are:
Ben Bloom: Guitars, Grant Schroff: Drums, Nathan Spicer: Keyboards, Jason Gray: Bass, Scott Morning: Trumpet, Elijah Clark: Trombone, Art Brown: Sax and Flute
lespecial is redefining the term “power trio”. The multi-instrumentalists from Connecticut continue to push the boundaries of what a three-piece band is capable of both live and in the studio ahead of their latest album, “Odd Times”. The band’s signature blend of “heavy future groove” combines headbanging metal riffage and surgical rhythmic precision with bone shaking 808s, sub synths and ethereal vocal stylings for a dance floor that welcomes moshing, dancing and hip swaying alike. Listeners are taken on a journey to the musical netherworld through esoteric soundscapes punctuated by raw, primal power.
Odd Times, lespecial’s darkest and heaviest record to date, is an enigmatic and compelling musical project that explores the ever-changing nature of time amidst isolation. With heavy riffs, tribal drumming, and hints of levity, it’s a captivating journey crafted in collaboration with Havok’s David Sanchez. An intriguing blend of old-school metal and modern djent-inspired riffage awaits in this haunting sonic experience.
MarchFourth is a joy-inducing force of entertainment, celebrating their 21st Anniversary this year. The colorful explosion of brassy funk, rock, and jazz is all about the groove. This larger-than-life group of 15 musicians, dancers and acrobats brings a spirit of celebration wherever they go. MarchFourth is, in a word, FUN!
With exceptional musical quality and a visual kaleidoscope of performers, MarchFourth is a spectacle of high-energy compositions, colorful costumes, and irresistible charisma! M4 has been seen on stages from ESPN’s Espy Awards to festivals like Wakarusa, Bumbershoot, and High Sierra Music Fest, to world-class venues like The Kennedy Center, Hollywood Bowl, The Fillmore, and even a cultural exchange tour to China, sponsored by the US State Department.
Pink Talking Fish is a Hybrid Tribute Fusion Act that takes the music from three of the world’s most beloved bands and creates a special treat for fans of the music.
Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish are all more than just bands… they are Phenomenons. Their creations have artistically inspired people and their mind-blowing live performances have brought people together to form a special sense of community around the love for their favorite band.
Although the music from each act is different, Pink Talking Fish has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd…. The funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads…. The multitude of styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish…. to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience.
Pink Talking Fish features Eric Gould on bass, Richard James on keyboards, Zack Burwick on drums and Cal Kehoe on guitar. This is a band created by musicians who love the music of these acts. It’s purpose is to heighten people’s passion for this music by creating something fresh and exciting for fans.
Discovering connections is part of the fun: Pink Floyd’s “On The Run” seamlessly fitting in the middle of the composition of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself”. Perfectly placing Phish’s “Sand” into the groove of The Talking Head’s “Slippery People”. Segued collections from all three acts such as Run Like Hell > Making Flippy Floppy > Piper > Run Like Hell or Mike’s Song > Have A Cigar > Once In A Lifetime > Weekapaug Groove. These ideas are the spirit behind Pink Talking Fish.
The story is ever evolving. The experience is always exciting. Come join Pink Talking Fish for the ultimate fusion tribute and celebrate the love of this music in unique fashion.
Club d’Elf has been helping audiences lose track of time for twenty five years with its mesmerizing synthesis of Moroccan traditional music and electronic, dubbed-out funk. Circling about bassist/composer Mike Rivard and drummer Dean Johnston, each Club d’Elf performance features a different line-up, drawn from a constellation of some of the most creative improvisers from the jazz, DJ, rock & world music scenes of Boston, NYC and beyond. The band’s music draws from a startlingly wide spectrum of styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, avant-garde, prog-rock and dub. Under the tutelage of member Brahim Fribgane (who hails from Casablanca), the band has absorbed Moroccan trance music which is now an essential part of the mix. Diverse audiences are drawn to Fribgane’s mesmerizing oud stylings, and Rivard’s commanding playing of the Moroccan sintir. Trance forms the central core of the Club d’Elf aesthetic, weaving together the band’s various influences.
In April 2022, the band released its latest album, ‘You Never Know’, which rose to #2 on the Relix chart. The record unfurls upon kaleidoscopic clouds of spiced smoke, shifting from chopped dub-jazz through trance epics that reimagine Boston as a city of bazaars. Club d’Elf pays tribute to the music and musicians who have been primary influences, with half the album being covers of Gnawa, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Moroccan band Nass el-Ghiwane, and Frank Zappa. The other half consists of original music inspired by Rivard’s personal journey into darkness following a near death experience in the remote jungle of the Peruvian Amazon.
Hot Buttered Rum, a souped-up, left-coast string band, is the brainchild of uniquely gifted musicians who weave their love of bluegrass, folk, jazz and soul into a riveting strain of Americana. String bass and five-alarm fiddle merge with guitar, banjo, mandolin, drums and keyboards to frame the voices of its two contrasting writers, fueling a dance party with roots in Appalachia and its branches in California. It’s a sound that’s as tough to describe as it is easy to love. Twenty years into its journey, HBR’s music, dreamed up in the backcountry of the High Sierra and the basements of San Francisco, has found its way into the hearts, minds and bodies of fans nationwide. The band continues to tour year-round in support of its many albums and social causes.
Neville Jacobs is the convergence of two well-worn paths of two diverse and singular artists. This unlikely connection between Ivan Neville of New Orleans’ first family of funk’s deep musical bloodline, and Cris Jacobs, the soulful Baltimore-bred bandleader and songwriter, began at an even unlikelier place. One day during the great celebration and intermingling of music and culture known as New Orleans Jazz Fest, Neville and Jacobs found themselves killing time between gigs, seated next to each other at a poker table. After a few hours of tossing cards and chatting about music, a friendship was formed with a plan to one day create some music together. When the stars finally aligned, the undeniable synergy between the two created a fresh and timeless sound – equal parts soulful, funky, sweet, and dirty. This batch of well crafted songs, with some written by Ivan, some by Cris, and several co-written by the two, feature their two distinct voices and grooves complementing the other perfectly. This first chapter of Neville Jacobs is the beginning of what is sure to be a long lasting and fruitful collaboration between two truly unique talents.
The world’s first Grateful Drag band, BERTHA is an all-star collective of queer and allied East Nashville talent coming together in wigs and full face for a good cause. Fronted by a harmony trio of Berthas and backed by a rocking all-Bertha band, BERTHA has captured the heart and imagination of Deadheads everywhere, with coast-to-coast demand for their electrifying live show. BERTHA: Grateful Drag has only begun to make her impact on the world.
The Sweet Lillies’ music is, first and foremost, heartfelt and collaborative. Those defining traits are given life by the quartet of musicians who make up the Lillies. Together they have combined their individual strengths to deliver powerful narratives of life in song. With their lineup of guitar, viola, upright bass, drums and ethereal vocal harmonies that float like a dream, the Sweet Lillies’ music has a hard hitting original flavor with a forward-looking eye. They have incorporated all of their cumulative life-experiences into their music, song-writing, and artistry, crafting an uncommonly-beautiful style they have christened “String-Americana”-a nod to the band’s all encompassing musical tastes and willingness to experiment with genres ranging from folk and rock all the way to hip-hop.
“The Psycodelics” features Cameron ‘Caminator’ Wescott (bass, vocals), Sean Bing (drums, vocals), Noah Jones (keys), Whitt Burn (guitar, vocals), Jim Rubush (guitar), and Demario Kitt (drums). By both blending foundations of blues and jazz with fresh funk and rock and having a stage presence as multifaceted and emotive as its lineup, the already-potent sound retains even greater magic to make you get up and dance!
Best friends since 1st grade, sharing the groove one beat at a time. Sneezy brings the funk and soul
from Chicago!
Sneezy’s sound is the perfect culmination of all things good in music. It fuses the genres of pop,
reggae, hip-hop, and rock, and it has a natural, summery sunshine feel to every track. Their neo-soul
undertone provides a little something extra to their music and creates an infectious, addicting rhythm
that you’ll be glad to have stuck in your head.
Like James Brown, Sneezy turns in a killer show and leaves it all on the stage, every time. Hailing from
Chicago, Illinois, Sneezy’s catchy, cascading rhythms spiral onwards, leading scores of carousing fans
dancing & singing along with songs they know by heart. From frontman Brett O’Connor: “We’re always
having fun on stage, and you really get our music when you see us live. Our mission is to create an
ever-growing community through our music.”
Kanika Moore is an undeniable force! With all of the different genres and influences that have shaped Moore, there has always been one thing about music that has stood out to her the most. “Most of all, I love the different ways music makes me feel,” says Moore. Not only does Moore enjoy the way music makes her feel, but she wants the crowd to be moved as well. As the frontwoman for electro-pop powerhouse, Doom Flamingo, she has captured the moving rhythms of music and intertwined them with her own unique voice. Her original tone and seamless effort is impossible to ignore. Kanika Moore is the type of entertainer that walks onto a stage with an abundance of talent, glowing front and center, and her path to the spotlight has been honest and well-deserved.
Everyone Orchestra is a masterfully conducted, fully spontaneous explosion of live music created by a rotating cast of world renowned musicians and led by conductor Matt Butler. Each show is 100% unique, as a carefully curated lineup of performers is guided through high energy, creative and beautiful songs that you won’t believe are created on the fly under the creative leadership of Matt’s cues and improvised directives.
Over 20 years, with more than 1,000 different musicians joining Butler, EO continues to create in completely unique ways. Unlike other one-off “super jams”, Everyone Orchestra does not borrow from other artists’ song lists, but rather draws on the funky, jazzy, soulful, electronic, and Americana roots of the musicians who come together in a consistently stunning display of raw talent and imaginative improvisation. Having conducted members of bands ranging from the Grateful Dead to The Meters, Ween, King Crimson, Phish, Jane’s Addiction, String Cheese Incident and hundreds more, Matt Butler has mastered the art of drawing the best and most multi-dimensional talents of performers from all genres and backgrounds, pulling the sounds together in an extraordinary cohesive music experience that you don’t want to miss.
Mark Farina is a name that rings out across the entire global dance music industry. His non-stop touring, constant content creation, partnerships with legendary venues and record labels as well as his total commitment to showcasing the best new and old school producers in his sets have made him a living legend to lovers of house and Mushroom Jazz everywhere.
With a passion for playing extended all night long shows as well as his recent foray into streaming exemplified by his highly successful YouTube series with Defected Records, Farina continues to tirelessly entertain his incredible fans all over the globe online and by performing over 100 shows per year.
The last few years have been an incredible new era of creativity, outreach, and recognition for one of the most original and consistent voices in the business. Mark continues to connect with new fans without losing those who have been loyal supporters from day one. Fans, promoters, and industry insiders all know that no matter what changes come along, Mark Farina always delivers.
DJ Brownie, aka Marc Brownstein bassist of the Disco Biscuits, has been honing his DJ skills over a successful 10 year run of playing clubs and festivals in North America. As he enters his second decade as a DJ, Brownie prepares to release his first tracks as a producer. This evolution has been natural and organic. With high profile slots at Electric Forest, Solshine, Jam Cruise and North Beach Music fests on the schedule, the sky is the limit during this next phase for DJ Brownie.
Perhaps the only thing tighter than the three-part harmonies and masterful arrangements from Chris Brouwers (trumpet), Greg Sanderson (tenor saxophone), and Josh Schwartz (baritone saxophone), is the chemistry between The Horn Section.
Together for more than a decade, this trio brings a palpable energy to the live music scene. Whether performing at renowned festivals such as Bonnaroo and Peach Fest, or legendary venues along the likes of Red Rocks Amphitheater and The Fillmore, The Horn Section commands the stage and adds that ‘je ne sais quoi’ to each and every artist they join.
At their origin, The Horn Section were founding members of Turkuaz, a nine-piece funk outfit that released five studio albums and toured internationally during their tenure. It was during that time Josh, Greg and Chris honed their skills and built the teamwork and cooperation they became known for. As a horn section, they have performed across a wide range of musical genres, with artists such as Zac Brown Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Greensky Bluegrass, Big Gigantic, Galactic, Mike Gordon, and many more.
The Horn Section performs live and in-studio, including sit-ins, artist-at-large billings, custom horn arrangements, and anywhere else horns are needed. Call out a song onstage, or work with them to craft the perfect horn arrangement – they can handle either with poise and prowess. These three have a camaraderie that translates beyond their music, and they’re just getting started.
Mike Dillon is a Texas Bred and Spread percussionist who spends most of his time in New Orleans hitting on percussion instruments with savory characters like Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton, Stanton Moore, Brad Walker and Brian Haas. He spends way too much time on tour in his Chevy van and the Kansas City based artist Peregrine Honig calls him Suitcase Man. Coincidentally, they are married and make lots of art together. Lately, Mike has been playing with Rickie Lee Jones, Les Claypool’s Bastard jazz, Punkadelick, and Nolatet.
Forever defying categories & notions of the standard human work ethic, Skerik has been brewing worldwide jazz/rock/funk/electronic/avant-saxophonic mayhem since his emergence from Seattle in the late 1980s, carving out an enormous & stupefyingly diverse body of work that remains in restless development (day by day, hour by hour, second by second). A saxophonist by trade & border-destroyer by nature, absorbing anything that carries the whiff of inspiration & sincerity, ensuring that all aspects of his output reflect that same good faith. It is the Skerik way, and it has served him (and us) well.
A founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois, Tuatara, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Crack Sabbath, The Dead Kenny Gs & countless other legendary ensembles, his extraordinary career has also seen live & recorded appearances with Roger Waters, Mad Season, Pearl Jam, Primus, REM, Fred Wesley, The Headhunters, The Meters, Ani DiFranco & many many more.
All totaled, Skerik has contributed to more than 200 records as a saxophonist and/or keyboardist. His music has seen worldwide placement in feature films, independent films, TV shows, theater & dance pieces. He continues to make Seattle his primary home (now owning & operating his own studio in the city), and he continues to regularly tour around the world with his ever-expanding cast of collaborators & new things to do.
Known for her mesmerizing stage presence and powerhouse vocals, Shira Elias is one of the most captivating vocalists on the scene today.
Formerly of the 9 piece power funk group, Turkuaz, Shira currently tours with the newly formed Cool Cool Cool, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew of the Talking Heads. She recently released her sophomore work, SERVICES the EP.
At the forefront of a Shira Elias show is her remarkable ability to make people connect with themselves and their joy. Shira’s mission with her music is to marry the familiar with the new, the past with the future, to create a beautiful grooving world.
Sammi Garett is often recognized as the pink-donned prominent member of the Brooklyn, NY-based Power-Funk band Turkuaz (2012-2021). Her dynamic stage presence and powerful vocals were a major part of the band’s live shows and recordings. She contributed to many of the band’s albums, including “Digitonium,” “Life In The City,” and “Kuadrochrome.” The group headlined all over the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, playing festivals like Bonnaroo, Bottlerock, Lockn’, Jam Cruise and Jazz Aspen Snowmass and stages such as Red Rocks, Terminal 5, The Fillmore and The Capitol Theatre.
Sammi is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where she majored in Vocal Performance. She graduated from Berklee cum laude, an achievement that reflects her strong academic performance and commitment to excellence.
After graduating, she continued to pursue her passion for music and established herself as a talented and versatile musician, collaborating with a wide range of artists. In addition to her musical pursuits, Sammi has also studied improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. A renowned comedy theater and school that has trained many of the top comedians and actors in the industry.
Currently, Sammi is on tour with her band Cool Cool Cool. A septet that formed in 2022 after performing together with the international touring act Turkuaz over the last 10+ years. Cool Cool Cool blends the best of Pop, Funk, House, Disco, and R&B to create a sound that is truly unique. With dynamic female-led vocals, a horn section that is tight and precise, animated synths that add texture and depth, and a rhythm section that lays down a wicked groove, this band knows how to deliver an electrifying performance.
Thanks to their strong connection and collaborative spirit, Cool Cool Cool delivers a truly unforgettable experience and sound. Cool Cool Cool will be touring the U.S. both as a headlining act as well as the supporting band for Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads and Adrian Belew (David Bowie, King Crimson) on their “Remain In Light” tour.
Although currently a New Yorker, Grammy nominated guitarist Will Bernard’s unique voice was formed fro the most part from the rich cultural roots of the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way he studied classical music, jazz, played in basements and coliseums, and absorbed the Bay Area Multi-Kultii, the New York downtown edge, and the loose funk of New Orleans. He has performed or recorded with Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, John Medeski, Dr Lonnie Smith, Ben Sidran, Peter Apfelbaum, Jai Uttal, Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Dr. John and a lot of other known and unknowns. Will can be seen working in a chameleon-like way to fit into his current habitat. His 2007 CD “Party Hats” as well as his 1997 collaborative project T.J. Kirk’s If Four Was One were both nominated for Grammys, and he is nominated yearly in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll for “Best Rising Star” Guitar Player. Will is a regular fixture at New Orleans Jazz fest, Jam Cruise and other similar events, and has toured extensively in the US and Europe. Currently, Will performs with John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, Peter Apfelbaum’s Sparkler, Frequinox with Stanton Moore and Robert Walter, Club D’Elf, Brian Charette’s Mighty Grinders, Club Foot Orchestra, TJ Kirk spinoff Damn Skippy and the Will Bernard ’s Freelance Subversives and Pond Life. Will’s 11th record as a leader was released in 2022 on Dreck to Disk records and was on many best of 2022 lists. In 2023 Will released a duo record with SF clarinetist Beth Custer.
To watch Allie Kral perform is to witness a passionate mixture of musical styles, from J. S. Bach to Pink Floyd. Allie has a classical background of violin playing that began in 1988 when she was just 5 years old. Controversial to Allie’s roots, her true passion is rocking out and improvising. In 2000, Allie went to University of Illinois for violin performance, and found a new love for bluegrass music while frequenting The Canopy Club. A 2-year stint with band Green Mountain Grass took her to stage with improvised solos, touring the country and never looking back. A decade with Chicago-based bluegrass jam band, Cornmeal, taught Allie to solo with ears open, with endlessly changing musical styles and a team-player attitude.
Allie’s excitement for music was nothing short of contagious and her passionate energy never-ending as she joined Colorado jamgrass pioneers, Yonder Mountain String Band, from 2014- 2022. Embracing her aural skills and heart-forward demeanor, Allie has now recorded on dozens of albums, and has played live with the most well-known bluegrass players out there and just about every jam band on the scene, including Widespread Panic, The Dead, String Cheese Incident, Moe, Umphrey’s McGee, Government Mule, Billy Strings, Dark Star Orchestra, Melvin Seals, Greensky Bluegrass, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Glenn Tilbrook, Big Head Todd, G. Love, The Travelin’ McCourys, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Peter Rowan, Bela Fleck, Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush. While moving her entire body with her playing, Allie’s mastered the ability to use her instrument as a voice. She sings melodies with her bow, mimicking an electric guitar with distortion and delay, and utilizes the space in her solos – claiming to be what she calls the sexiest part of playing music. No matter which genre Allie is playing, she continues to innovate ways to blend her violin seamlessly. Allie Kral is indeed a thrill to witness!
Besides being a top call on trombone in North America for pop/arena shows and productions, Alex Wasily regularly performs and tours the world with Dumpstaphunk and is Neal Francis’ horn arranger when the 11-piece goes on the road. he also throws the funkiest party in Los Angeles every Monday at Gold-Diggers at his series called Very Good Mondays.
Alex has performed, toured, or recorded with:
The Isley Brothers, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Tower of Power, Dave Matthews Band, Lenny Kravitz, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Bob Weir, Tower of Power, Ghost-Note, Christina Aguilera, Andra Day, Yungblud, Greg Errico, Jerry Harrison, Anders Osborne, Carlos Santana, Cyril Neville, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and David Duchovny, just to name a few.
He goes by many names. Alex Wasily. A-Waz. Waz. My Dawg. Ya Boy. The Forever Hang. Egyptian born, American raised, all soul, and all hang. Alex was born in Alexandria, Egypt and raised in Savannah, Georgia. performing music is Alex’s way of taking you out of what may have been a depressing day and into what might be the wildest night of your life.
Embarking on his twelfth journey aboard Jam Cruise, Brock Butler, the guitarist and vocalist of the Georgia-based ensemble Perpetual Groove, has navigated musical waters for nearly a quarter-century. Whether commanding the stage with his bandmates or charting solo courses, he seamlessly transitions between roles, infusing each performance with his distinctive energy. Renowned for his exceptional sit-ins and spontaneous collaborations, he’s a fixture in the legendary Jam Room, where he elevates impromptu sessions to unforgettable heights. Beyond the confines of the band, he also lends his talents to accompanying yoga sessions, providing the rhythmic backdrop for serenity seekers. With an unwavering commitment to spreading positivity, Brock eagerly secures passage on the vessel, assuming the mantle of a dedicated purveyor of good vibes, employing every available means to ensure a memorable voyage for all aboard.
Reflecting on his experiences, Brock shares, “I’ve made more of my worldwide dearest friends and continued musical collaborations than any other event in my life on the boat! It’s the greatest that you cannot truly explain to anyone that hasn’t had the true pleasure of being onboard.”
A Professional guitar player since 1985, Luther formed North Mississippi Allstars with Brother Cody in 1996 and has been nominated for 10 Grammys, either as a solo artist, producer or with NmA. Luther has Recorded and toured with Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, The Replacements, John Hiatt, Mavis Staples, Black Crowes, John Medeski, Robert Randolph and many others. As a founding instructor of Roots Rock Revival Luther has been teaching rock n roll survival for 10 years.
Soul provider Nigel Hall is an artist who needs no introduction. Throughout his career, he’s built a mighty foundation of funk, onstage and in the studio, proving himself to be a true student of the music. His unique sound, built upon pages torn out of the golden-ages of R&B, funk and soul, have made him the musician he is today; an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, studio musician, disc jockey, and member of the GRAMMY-nominated funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop-psychedelic-jam-experimental titans Lettuce. Legions of fans are already well in the know about Hall’s copious keyboard chops and powerful vocal style.
Nigel Hall grew up in Washington, D.C., in a highly musical family. His fingers touched the keys before he was even five years old and his ears were always wide open. “I grew up with records,” he said. “That’s why I’m obsessed. My father had a vast collection. I’d be in third grade with my Walkman and everyone’s listening to Ace of Base, and I’m listening to Return to Forever, Chick Corea’s fusion project with Stanley Clarke.
Since relocating to New Orleans in late 2013, Nigel Hall has quickly made a name for himself among the city’s world-class music community. Offbeat enthusiastically welcomed Hall as “a perfect fit” for the vibrant city and its singular culture. The Times-Picayune’s review of his solo debut at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival the same year crowned him with a comparison to Southern funk godfather Art Neville.
“It’s the best decision I ever made for myself in my life and musically,” Hall said of the move. “I’m surrounded by the most amazing, incredible musicians in the world at all times. The big picture, the sincerity is very present here at all times. It’s a breath of fresh air. Everybody’s in the vibe. Everybody’s feeling something.”
“I like to sing songs that reflect my being and who I am as a person,” he said.
Sorceress. Alchemist. Beat Conductor. Funk Philosopher. Seneshal of Style. Purveyor of Pocket. Child of God. Agent of Love.
Nikki Glaspie is many things to many people, not least of which being among the premier drummers in music today. She has touched countless lives, laying down the groove for us to live our lives. Glaspie has played behind and alongside musical luminaries amid an array of genres, cities and scenes. As a founding member of The Nth Power, she continues blazing a path of light behind the kit, leaving a trail of fire behind her, and rolling waves of love in her wake. Nikki is already a living legend, and her name rings out among an impressive array of collaborators, calling to all corners of the globe.
Vaylor grew up knowing his picture is on the cover of one of the best selling southern rock albums of all time. Rather than let that fact set his musical course, Vaylor has spent decades establishing his own voice, studying and performing jazz, progressive, experimental, and avant-garde music with greats such as Pat Martino, Dweezil Zappa, Mike Keneally, Bernard Purdie, Johnny Vidacovich, and Col. Bruce Hampton, as well as establishing The Yeti Trio, an experimental fusion powerhouse for more than 20 years. But the music his family made with The Allman Brothers Band stayed with him. Now, with Brother & Sister, Vaylor is embracing his roots.
Nate Edgar came up playing bass in Boston’s underground music scene in the early 2000’s. Steeped in a multitude of styles, he became known for holding down weekly reggae, funk and jazz gigs. Nate’s love of reggae and dedication to the genre from a young age led him to perform and record with seminal reggae artists such as Stephen Marley, Matisyahu, Koffee, Wyclef Jean, The Skatalites, Bushman, John Brown’s Body, 10 ft. Ganja Plant, The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, Wanito etc.
He’s also toured the world with blues, soul and funk greats such as the rapper and actor Common, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Herring, Nicholas Payton, John Sebastian, Ivan & Cyril Neville, Melissa Etheridge, Duane Betts, Brasstracks, Steve Kimock, Rubblebucket, DJ Logic, Son Little, Deva Mahal, The New Mastersounds, Roscoe Gordon, etc.
In 2009, Nate moved to New York City and formed his original project The Nth Power with acclaimed drummer Nikki Glaspie and guitarist Nick Cassarino. Together they tour around the globe performing their signature style of transcendent music.
Kanika Moore is an undeniable force! With all of the different genres and influences that have shaped Moore, there has always been one thing about music that has stood out to her the most. “Most of all, I love the different ways music makes me feel,” says Moore. Not only does Moore enjoy the way music makes her feel, but she wants the crowd to be moved as well. As the frontwoman for electro-pop powerhouse, Doom Flamingo, she has captured the moving rhythms of music and intertwined them with her own unique voice. Her original tone and seamless effort is impossible to ignore. Kanika Moore is the type of entertainer that walks onto a stage with an abundance of talent, glowing front and center, and her path to the spotlight has been honest and well-deserved.
For better or worse, Andy Frasco has been married to the music industry since before he could grow facial hair. At just sixteen, Frasco worked for labels like Drive-Thru Records and Capitol, booking nationwide tours for his pop-punk heroes and wheeling and dealing on calls he’d take on the sly during lunch. He’s been on road since he was 19 with his band Andy Frasco & the U.N., played over 250 shows per year for more than decade, lived on bad bar food, and slept in vans, and now, after more than a decade on the musical grind, he’s finally finding himself.
Matt Butler has been the Conductor of Everyone Orchestra for over two decades, blending his skills as a drummer with the art of conducted improvisation. With over 1,000 musicians having joined him on stage, each performance features a new lineup, often meeting for the first time, to create spontaneous music without prior rehearsals. As a natural connector and creative leader, Butler excels in crafting unique live music experiences that not only showcase communication among musicians but also engage the audience in a dynamic process of creative exploration. Join in to learn about his innovative approach and experience the magic of live, conducted improvised music firsthand.
Originally from Bristol, RI, Eric Bloom has become one of the most diverse trumpet players in the country.
He has attended William Paterson University(1999), New England Conservatory of Music(2001), and City College of New York(2004). Throughout his professional career, Eric has toured in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia with various artists. He has also appeared on many T.V. shows, including the Craig Ferguson Show, the Carson Daly Show, Jimmy Kimmel Show, the Today Show, the David Letterman Show, and the Conan O’Brien Show.
In 2011 Eric joined “Lettuce”, one of the most critically-acclaimed funk bands in the world today. Their last album “Crush”, released in 2015 was widely received amongst musicians and fans alike. In 2014, EBB moved to New Orleans and quickly made a name for himself in the Crescent City. In 2016, he played trumpet on Aaron Neville’s newest album, “Apache” and also won a Grammy for playing trumpet on Jon Cleary’s latest album, “Go-Go Juice”. When Eric is not on the road with “Lettuce”, he can be seen performing around New Orleans with a number of artists ranging from the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Preservation Hall, Stanton Moore Trio, or his own groups Sonic Bloom and Eric Benny Bloom & The Melodies.
Some of the artists Bloom has played & recorded with are: Redman, Method Man, Chad Hugo, Schoolboy Q, RZA, Dave Matthews Band, Dr. John, Pharohe Monch, Meshell Ndegeocello, Talib Kweli, Questlove, Mark Whitfield, Ledisi, Solange Knowles, Ghostface Killa, David Hidalgo, Thievery Corporation, Booker T, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Herring, Warren Haynes, James Poyser, Derek Trucks, Diane Birch, Christian McBride, Lonnie Smith, Karl Denson, Butch Trucks, Taj Mahal, Galactic, Avishai Cohen, Bill Evans, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley, Alan Bernstein, John Medeski, Charles Bradley, Billy Martin, Slightly Stoopid, Doyle Bramhall II, Chaka Kahn, James Gadson, Willie Weeks, Jon Cleary, Gary Clark Jr., Jeff Bradshaw, Bob Weir, Skrillex, Griz, John Scofield, Govt Mule, Bill Kreutzman, G. Love, Ben Folds, Aaron Neville, Beats Antique, The Meters, Matisyahu, Chris Robinson, Umphrey’s McGee, Craig Robinson, MC Hammer, Kool & the Gang, Preservation Hall, Bonobo, Rikki Lee Jones, & Tedeschi Trucks Band.
GRAMMY Award-winning saxophonist Ryan Zoidis grew up in Portland, Maine as a prodigy of sorts, improvising in his second year of playing saxophone. As a teen, he attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music five-week summer program after junior year in High School, and returned the following summer where he connected with the guys who would go on to form the band Lettuce. After a year at Berklee, he joined rising Portland band, Rustic Overtones with whom he toured extensively. Soon after, they signed with the iconic Clive Davis at Arista Records, and made a record with longtime David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti, with two songs contributed by Bowie and another by British singer Imogen Heap.
In 2002, Lettuce released their debut full length LP Outta Here, followed by the live record Live in Tokyo in 2004. The realities of the music industry’s digital revolution then motivated Zoidis to seek different challenges, so he moved to NYC and began touring with organ trio Soulive (featuring Lettuce co-founder Eric Krasno). In addition to recording on Krasno’s record Blood from a Stone, Zoidis gigged with Soulive in various combos for several years, having the opportunity to perform with Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, and dozens of other legendary artists. Meanwhile, Zoidis appeared on New Orleans’ pianist Jon Cleary’s Grammy Award-winning LP Go Go Juice, as well as critically acclaimed releases from the likes of J-Live, Aaron Neville, Talib Kweli, and The New Mastersounds. Zoidis continued to sporadically record and tour with Rustic Overtones and did session work out of New York City – including recording and mixing Royal Hammer’s My Bubble.
Zoidis’ focus then returned to Lettuce as they prepared their sophomore LP RAGE, released in 2008, on which Zoidis plays a Korg synth in addition to the saxophone. On the heels of that album’s success, Lettuce hit the road in support of RAGE, and haven’t looked back. The GRAMMY Award-nominated six-piece is comprised of Adam Deitch [drums, percussion], Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff [guitar], Erick “Jesus” Coomes [bass], Ryan Zoidis [alto, baritone, tenor sax, Korg X-911], Eric “Benny” Bloom [trumpet, horns], and Nigel Hall [vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards]. To date, their discography includes Outta Here [2002], Rage! [2008], Fly [2012], Crush [2015], the EP Mt. Crushmore [2016], the live album Witches Stew [2017], Elevate [2019], Resonate [2020], Unify [2022], and VIBE [2023]– a single 48 minute continuous session of pure, free-flowing improvisation. As an engineer and producer, Zoidis also has credits for mixing Resonate, Unify, and Live in Amsterdam by Lettuce. As the saxophonist of Lettuce bandmate Adam Deitch’s Quartet side project, 2019’s Egyptian Secrets and 2023’s Roll The Tape round out his recorded catalog.
Besides being a top call on trombone in North America for pop/arena shows and productions, Alex Wasily regularly performs and tours the world with Dumpstaphunk and is Neal Francis’ horn arranger when the 11-piece goes on the road. he also throws the funkiest party in Los Angeles every Monday at Gold-Diggers at his series called Very Good Mondays.
Alex has performed, toured, or recorded with:
The Isley Brothers, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Tower of Power, Dave Matthews Band, Lenny Kravitz, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Bob Weir, Tower of Power, Ghost-Note, Christina Aguilera, Andra Day, Yungblud, Greg Errico, Jerry Harrison, Anders Osborne, Carlos Santana, Cyril Neville, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and David Duchovny, just to name a few.
He goes by many names. Alex Wasily. A-Waz. Waz. My Dawg. Ya Boy. The Forever Hang. Egyptian born, American raised, all soul, and all hang. Alex was born in Alexandria, Egypt and raised in Savannah, Georgia. performing music is Alex’s way of taking you out of what may have been a depressing day and into what might be the wildest night of your life.
Melody Trucks, a talented percussionist and vocalist, has performed in front of thousands at major music festivals such as The Peach Music Festival, Suwannee Rising, and Hulaween. As the daughter of the late Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks, Melody has continued her family’s legacy in the world of Southern rock and jam band music. Her skillful percussion work and dynamic stage presence have earned her a devoted following among music fans.
Cliff Porter started as and still is a drummer. He’s been playing drums since he was 4, And has been playing professionally for the past 30+ years.
Cliff Porter’s singing career started later on around 17. He was producing music and began singing background for friends, and a few California artists. Porter’s inspiration for singing comes from his Father, watching him in a Gospel musical drama night in and night out, lighting the fire in him to really want to sing.
He was able to open for many famous artists in the early 2000’s, singing and rapping for thousands of people. Cliff toured the country for a while playing drums for a Vegas based band before moving to Arizona to play and also be the musical director for Showstoppers Live.
For nearly 15 years Cliff has been playing drums while holding down duties as one of the lead vocalist in the Reno based, National Touring band, Jelly Bread, and most recently joined forces with Brandon Dolph and “Tha Exchange”, playing festivals and Clubs across the United States. He has also been a frequent fan favorite singing the National Anthem for the Nevada Wolf Pack basketball games.
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