A world class collection of musicians set sail for a six night adventure filled with funky jams, special sets, sit-ins, super groups, and collaborations!
All artists perform two shows unless noted with an *asterisk*
George Clinton is an American treasure. As one of the foremost innovators of Funk, Clinton is the mastermind behind the legendary Parliament/Funkadelic, creating a uniquely identifiable and timeless art which has lifted Funk to an internationally recognized and respected musical genre. His ingenuity has earned Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic a prominent seat in music history: Clinton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Clinton started his career with the Parliaments, a barbershop doo-wop ensemble, which scored a major hit with “I Wanna Testify” in 1967. Clinton developed a sound which merged the polish of Motown acts, the rawness of James Brown, the bohemian style of Sly Stone and the pop sensibility of the Beatles, and forever set himself apart from the Motown era. By the early ’70s, the group’s songs evolved into sprawling jams drenched in funky rhythms. They dropped the “s” from the band’s name and Parliament was born. Around the same time, Clinton spawned Funkadelic, a rock group which fused acid-rock guitar, bizarre sound effects and cosmological rants with danceable beats and booming bass lines. Funkadelic recorded a number of influential concept albums, including Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow, Maggot Brain and America Eats Its Young. Rolling Stone and Spin recently named Parliament/Funkadelic as one of the top bands of all time.
For Mihali, music behaves much like a living being. It grows, it matures, and it changes with a sentient consciousness and with whims of its own. And just like music, the Vermont-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of rock outfit Twiddle continues to evolve, using his gift as one of the strongest modern-day songwriters, guitarists and performers to bring healing vibes and unforgettable songs to the world.
His 2022 record, Effection [released via Ineffable Records], was a ten-track body of work that intertwines reggae spirit, fluid soundscape architecture, and invigorating mantras meant to be chanted aloud in a packed venue. With support from reggae and roots rock mainstays like Iration, Chadwick Stokes (of Dispatch), The Movement, The Elovaters, Jacob Hemphill (of SOJA), and Iya Terra, Effection effectively brought Mihali into the reggae spotlight, landing him on tour with SOJA and G. Love & Special Sauce in 2024.
Continually growing and transforming with his music, Mihali is now ready to release his 3rd studio record, Before The Dream [Expected May 2, 2025 via Ineffable Records], a 14-track journey that delves into his personal psyche and delivers messages about life and vibes meant for a day on the beach or a smoke sesh with friends. Before The Dream once again features numerous huge names in the worlds of reggae, rock and pop music including Little Stranger, Tropidelic, Lily Fangz, G. Love, Brett Dennen, Andy Frasco, Seven Suns, Satsang, and Moon Taxi, who’s guitarist/producer Spencer Thomson also produced the record (alongside contributions from DENM and Aurorawave’s Nathan Feinstein).
With a constant touring schedule and new music rolling out on a monthly basis – with more sure to come even after his new record – Mihali continues to expand his reach, touching the hearts and souls of anyone who takes the time to listen.
Eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning international recording artist, Stephen Marley is never one to limit his musical horizons. He lets inspiration set him free as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer – whether collaborating with his own illustrious musical family or with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Pitbull, Shaggy, Nas, Erykah Badu, amongst many others. His most recent album Old Soul was an acoustic revelation when it was released in September 2023 via Tuff Gong Collective/UMe/Ghetto Youths International. Old Soul explores a musical palette that spans a variety of cultures and genres alike, with hand-selected special guests including Bob Weir, Eric Clapton, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Buju Banton, and Slightly Stoopid, furthering the spiritual journey that encompasses the record’s 14 tracks. While Old Soul showcased Ragga’s versatility, the message within the music remains consistent. “We come to free the people’s minds,” says Stephen. “Only way you can free your soul is to free your mind. My father say, ‘No chains on my feet, but I’m not free.’ And then he come say,‘Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.’ Anywhere the music calls us, we are going to be there to spread the message of love and unity.”
Stephen Marley’s prolific touring schedule in 2024 encompassed an array of dates and configurations including his ‘Old Soul’ Unplugged Tour, a co-headline run on Michael Franti’s ‘Togetherness’ Tour and appearances at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival and Bottlerock Napa, ‘Traffic Jam’ with Damian Marley including Red Rocks with the Denver Symphony and The Hollywood Bowl, as well as premiering at the re-opening of Brooklyn’s famed Paramount Theatre. And most recently ‘Legacy 2024’ an unprecedented national shed tour with The Marley Brothers for the first time in 2 decades.
Stephen also served as the musical director for the acclaimed original motion picture ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ which premiered last year in theatres and released globally throughout the world and garnered the BET Award for Best Movie in 2024, in addition to the film’s soundtrack, “Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe),” won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2025. The film also received multiple nominations at the NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.
Thirty-five years ago, a posse of University of Buffalo-based musician-friends got together to play music. Out of freewheeling sessions bursting with bold, genre-defying creativity and tongue-in-cheek humor, a 6-headed monster named moe. emerged.
Decades later, moe.’s tireless work ethic, DIY resourcefulness, infectious songwriting, and highly-engaged fanbase—the Famoe.ly—have enabled the sextet to earn a successful career. Yet, the guys have never rested on their laurels as “jam band pioneers.” They average 100 shows per year, and regularly release vital new music, including the band’s latest album, Circle of Giants (ATO), its 13th release.
Circle of Giants was nearly complete when bassist/vocalist Rob Derhak’s 25-year-old son tragically passed away. The album reflects the band’s resilience, channeling their grief into a collection that brims with grace, humor, and musical brilliance. Creatively invigorated by the addition of keyboardist Nate Wilson to the full-time lineup, moe. has created a milestone album while processing an unfathomable loss.
“Making this record started off very joyfully, but then we experienced a severely traumatic event. The way through the darkness was to do what we do—make music,” says guitarist/vocalist Al Schnier.
moe. is a brotherhood, featuring Derhak, Schnier, guitarist/vocalist Chuck Garvey, drummer Vinnie Amico, percussionist/vibraphonist Jim Loughlin, and keyboardist Nate Wilson. The six-piece band came up in the primordial pouch of the early jam band scene, alongside Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Widespread Panic, and Phish.
Lauded by American Songwriter for its “mind-bending musicality,” moe. is beloved for its sonic adventurousness, unbridled showmanship, and its witty and insightful songwriting. NYS Music has said: “moe. has redefined what’s possible within the genre, leaving a lasting impact and challenging listeners to rethink the limits of musical expression.”
Since releasing its foundational album, Fatboy, in 1992, moe. has issued a vast and varied series of now-classic records. Select studio album highlights include 1998’s Tin Cans & Car Tires; 2004’s Wormwood; 2007’s The Conch (which reached #1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart); and 2012’s critically-acclaimed What Happened To The La Las.
moe. has undertaken innumerable headline tours. Played international festival sets from Bonnaroo to Japan’s famed Fuji Rock. And performed on music-themed cruises, and at sold-out shows alongside the Allman Brothers Band, members of the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, and The Who, among others. In addition, moe. has both promoted and headlined at multiple festivals of its own, including snoe.down and moe.down.
In the past few years, the band’s mettle has been tested when two of its founding members battled life-threatening illnesses. Derhak triumphed over nasopharyngeal cancer, and Garvey bounded back from a stroke.
Much of Circle of Giants was written during COVID lockdown after the health scares, but before Derhak’s son’s passing. The recording sessions were enhanced by Wilson, the new guy, who initially came onboard to fill out the sound while Garvey recovered from his stroke. Wilson came to the sessions bursting with inspiration, savant-level musicianship, and a brace of songs.
With fresh blood and no shortage of new material, the guys went into Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, Vermont with longtime recording engineer Ben Collette (Phish, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Snarky Puppy). It was during those the sessions that Derhak’s son took his own life. “My wife and I made a decision to be honest and open up a dialogue about mental illness to benefit others who may be contemplating taking their lives,” Derhak says.
As a creative catharsis, moe. reconvened at Derhak’s barn studio after the Tank Studio sessions. There, they recorded more tracks, one being Wilson’s song “Giants.” A powerful series of synchronicities involving Garvey playing the New York Times’ Wordle, the song “Giants,” and a dream Derhak had about his late son inspired the album name, Circle of Giants.
The record brazenly opens, lunging forward with “Yellow Tigers,” a song brimming with swaggering, blues-rock riffs, and dazzling wah-wah drenched guitar solos. The slinky, Latin-flavored “Bat Country” comes complete with airy flute, a Santana-styled vamp, and dexterous guitar soloing. “Bat Country” was written before Derhak’s son’s passing, but it lyrically mixes fiction and true elements of Derhak’s son’s painfully complicated life.
The Schnier song, “Band In The Sky,” is an uplifting and expansive mid-tempo track with a fantastical escapist narrative inspired by Douglas Adams’ counterculture gem, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The breezy, harmony-laden “Ups And Downs” speaks directly to the band’s hardships over the past few years.
Circle of Giants concludes with the imaginatively-arranged, “Living Again,” a Schnier song with a fictionalized vignette about a single mom. “Living Again” was written around the time of the iconic album, The Conch, and this is the first time it has been officially recorded. The song’s back half features nuanced group improvisation which washes together into a huge tidal wave of sound.
Up next, moe. is finally able to enjoy its 35th anniversary, albeit a year late. “It feels good to celebrate after the amount of shit we’ve been through,” Dehrak says with a good-natured laugh. Schinier adds: “We have always found our way forward because we have each other.” Garvey concludes: “It’s this brotherhood and our extended moe. family that always gets us through.”
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 and Steve Winwood (with whom Karl has recorded and toured) to avant-garde luminaries Marc Ribot and 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, and Widespread Panic, very few concertgoers 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.
The album, Cook, isn’t just a nod to Lettuce’s musical heat; it’s an invitation to join the band at the table, where funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop come together in one rich, flavorful dish.
For these six lifelong partners—Adam Deitch (drums), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Erick “Maverick” Coomes (bass), Ryan “Zoid” Zoidis (saxophones, synths), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet), and Nigel Hall (vocals, keyboards)—Cook marks a bold expansion of their ever-widening musical palette.
Released on their own Lettuce Records label, the album arrives on the heels of tours with rap icon GZA of Wu-Tang Clan and reggae legend Ziggy Marley, as well as the release of their live album and concert film Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony. Still, there’s a generous dose of Lettuce’s signature funk throughout, paying homage to James Brown and the JB’s while honoring longtime mentors like Tower of Power and Maceo Parker.
More than just a figurative title, Cook debuts alongside Lettuce Red Crush and Orange Crush wines in collaboration with Aquila Cellars, plus a limited-edition recipe book of pairings included with the vinyl and digital release.
With Cook, the band feels like their concepts and ideas can come to fruition with an innovative team and devout fan base behind them—they’re in a fresh new headspace ready to savor a new chapter.
There are a lot of musical influences and sources that Daniel Donato has drawn on during his career and that inform his latest album, Reflector (Retrace Music), his first all-original album. But within those, Donato has carved out a unique and individualized spot for himself, one that speaks to the deep American music heritage that inspires him — and that he’s pushing towards the future with inspired, intentional vigor.
He calls it Cosmic Country, a moniker that’s both self-descriptive and a statement of purpose. It’s an organic rock band aesthetic with plenty of roadhouse twang; a showcase for Donato’s instrumental virtuosity and facility for melodically infectious songcraft. Bridging Nashville and the Great West, Kentucky and mid-60s northern California, tie-dye and plaid, it’s a world of his own, and a wide world of musical adventure at that.
For Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, music is a living flame—one demanding relentless tending, fresh kindling, and the collective breath of community to sustain it.
On their eighth studio album, Feed The Fire (No Coincidence Records), the Baltimore quartet—Greg Ormont (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Schon (guitar, vocals), Ben Carrey (bass, vocals), and Alex “Gator” Petropulos (drums, vocals)—push their psychedelic funk odyssey into its most expansive incarnation yet.
Across 17 years, eight albums, and countless sweat-soaked performances, Pigeons have mastered transformation, deepening their connection with their devoted fanbase and channeling life’s seismic shifts into fuel for their unquenchable fire.
For more than 15 years, Andy Frasco & The U.N. have built a reputation as one of the most electrifying live acts on the road, touring 200+ days a year and turning every stage—from festival fields to sold-out clubs—into a whirlwind of sweat-soaked celebration. A larger-than-life bandleader with a fearless DIY ethos, Frasco blends Americana, indie rock, jam, folk, funk, soul, punk, and gospel into a kaleidoscopic sound that’s as unfiltered as his onstage antics. But beneath the party-starting chaos lies a deeply introspective songwriter. From the hopeful anthems of L’Optimist to the hard-earned reflections of Growing Pains, Frasco has evolved into one of the scene’s most candid voices—in the studio, on stage, and off.
Produced by Frasco himself, Growing Pains marks a creative milestone, featuring collaborations with artists like Billy Strings, G. Love, and JJ Grey, and showcasing Frasco’s growth as both tunesmith and producer. Offstage, he connects with audiences worldwide through his popular World Saving Podcast, hosting conversations with musicians, comedians, athletes, and more, further amplifying his mission to fight darkness with connection and optimism.
Kitchen Dwellers continue to carve out their own lane in the world of progressive roots music, blending bluegrass, folk, and psychedelic grit into a sound as expansive as their Montana home.
The Bozeman-born quartet of Shawn Swain (mandolin), Torrin Daniels (banjo), Joe Funk (upright bass), and Max Davies (acoustic guitar) has grown from regional upstarts into one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking bands in modern string music. Their catalog pairs instrumental virtuosity with emotional storytelling, an exploratory spirit, and a deep connection to the American West.
In 2024, Kitchen Dwellers released their latest full-length studio album, Seven Devils, which arrived on March 1 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart. The record expanded the band’s creative reach and reinforced their place at the forefront of progressive roots and bluegrass.
The band’s newest release, The Katabatic EP, highlights another side of their creative arc. Recorded in late November 2021 at Mighty Fine Studios in Denver and Peach Street Studios in Bozeman, the three-song EP captures a vivid snapshot of wintertime inspiration in Montana. Rooted in sweeping landscapes and natural contrasts, the EP blends mythic lyricism, atmospheric instrumental interplay, and a progressive blend of bluegrass, folk, and Americana that has become the group’s signature.
The song “Madison” tells the story of a mystified angler on the Madison River, drawing parallels between love and the unpredictable rhythms of fishing. The instrumentals “Mimas and Ida” and “Katabatic” broaden the sonic palette with guest trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom of Lettuce, whose brass textures add lift, spark, and momentum. Shifting grooves, evolving tempos, and evocative melodies evoke mountain valleys, windswept terrain, and orbiting moons.
The EP was produced by Kitchen Dwellers, mixed by Stephan Gueguen and Max Davies, and mastered by Stephan Gueguen.
Kitchen Dwellers have continued to earn national attention through consistent touring, acclaimed studio work, and an expanding grassroots following. Their studio album discography includes Ghost in the Bottle (2017), Muir Maid (2019), Wise River (2022), and Seven Devils (2024). Collectively, these releases have amassed more than 15 million streams across platforms, with recent NOCO releases accounting for more than 8 million.
Their vibrant live show has taken them to major festivals and iconic stages across the country. The band has performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass, Under The Big Sky, WinterWonderGrass, Northwest String Summit, and more. They have also achieved career milestones by headlining Red Rocks Amphitheatre and headlining the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Along the way, Kitchen Dwellers have received praise from outlets such as Bluegrass Today, Huffington Post, Relix, American Songwriter, and additional national publications.
Kitchen Dwellers continue to evolve while staying rooted in the landscapes and creative curiosity that shaped them. With Seven Devils marking a major milestone and The Katabatic EP offering a distilled burst of artistic expression, the band remains committed to pushing the boundaries of modern bluegrass and exploring new musical terrain.
Dumpstaphunk has cemented its reputation as one of the most respected New Orleans musical institutions. Ivan Neville (keyboards/vocals) and Ian Neville (guitar), the sons of Aaron Neville and Art “Poppa Funk” Neville respectively, alongside original member Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), have built upon their iconic NOLA legacy as they’ve transformed Dumpstaphunk into the city’s pre-eminent 21st-century funk-fusion export. Both in the studio and on the stage, their performances have attracted sit-ins from the likes of Carlos Santana, Flea, Bob Weir, George Clinton, Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, Trombone Shorty, and members of Phish amongst many others.
With the 2024 passing of elder statesman, local legend bassist/vocalist and co-founder of the band Nick Daniels III, the group continues its latest genesis with next generation additions including Deven Trusclair (drums), Alex Wasily (trombone), Ashlin Parker (trumpet), John Michael Bradford (trumpet), Ari Teitel (guitar), special guest vocalist Rebekkah Todd, and others along the way.
Critical acclaim and undeniable musicality permeate their four studio albums and opening slots for The Rolling Stones on their home turf at the New Orleans Mercedes-Benz Superdome (2019) and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2024). Modernizing and reinvigorating the influential Neville/Meters family groove has been one of the driving forces of Dumpstaphunk since the band spontaneously formed during JazzFest in 2003. Their original music and prolific live performances combine ingenious musicianship exercised within complex funk, rock, and R&B arrangements accompanied by soulful quadruple harmonies and Big Easy traditions.
Something organic has been blooming from Asbury Park, New Jersey, and is now making its way around the world. Dogs In A Pile, a band of five twenty somethings with old souls and limitless chops, is waking people up to the timeless and ineffable joys of psychedelic-tinged jazz-funk rock n’ roll.
This is one of the busiest touring bands of today, averaging 130 live shows per year since 2022. The road has become their creative engine, generating a rapidly growing catalog of original tunes. Distroid, the band’s newest album, is a 10-song collection featuring long-awaited studio versions of some of the Dogs’ most beloved repertoire.
Dogs In A Pile is guitarist Jimmy Law, guitarist Brian Murray, keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan, bassist Sam Lucid, and drummer Joe Babick. In addition, the Dogs In A Pile community includes the Dog Pound, the group’s extended family of fans across the country.
Besides being a lyric from the Grateful Dead song, “He’s Gone,” the name “Dogs In A Pile” is an apt description of the five-piece band’s stylistic breadth. The sonic image it conjures is a heap of storyteller Americana, bluegrass, jazz improvisation, eccentric instrumental excursions, pop-rock sophistication, and deep-pocket grooves, ranging from funk to Latin to reggae and beyond.
Distroid features material that has already become staples of the band’s live show. These studio renditions have afforded the group a chance to present the compositions just how they envision them. Distroid offers a cross-section of the Dogs In A Pile essence, tight and tuneful four-minute funk and jazz-informed psych-rock songs, and then sprawling 15-minute compositions with intricate unison lines, agile genre-jumping, and dazzling improvisation.
Midnight Generation is a retro-pop-funk-electronic band from Chihuahua, a border city in north of Mexico. Known for their distinctive style, their lyrics in English, and their delicate music, they gained popularity over the last four years and became one of the most captivating and innovative artists in the Mexican music scene, earning widespread recognition for their distinctive style that blends nostalgic influences with modern energy.
The band’s live performances have catapulted them to some of the most iconic stages across Mexico and Latin America. Led by frontman Fernando Mares, the band has collaborated with and opened for some of the most recognized artists such as ZHU, Polo & Pan, Sticky Fingers, Chromeo, among several others, further solidifying their position as a rising star in the international music landscape.
In just a few short years, Midnight Generation has racked up a series of remarkable achievements. They’ve sold out key venues in Mexico, including two back-to-back shows at Foro Indie Rocks (1,000 capacity), the Teatro Metropolitan (2,800 capacity), and the iconic Auditorio BB (3,200 capacity). These sold-out performances are a testament to the band’s explosive popularity and dedicated fanbase.
They have also become a fixture at some of Mexico’s largest and most prestigious music festivals, including Festival Pal Norte (Monterrey), Festival Trópico (Acapulco), Coordenada (Guadalajara), and the highly anticipated Vive Latino (Mexico City).
Internationally, Midnight Generation’s captivating performances have taken them to renowned festivals such as Estéreo Picnic (Colombia), Timeless Festival (Barranquilla), Corona Sunsets (Dominican Republic), Quito Fest (Ecuador), Veltrac Festival (Peru), SoloFest (Dominican Republic), LAMC, and many others, expanding their global reach and earning them an enthusiastic international following.
The band’s current lineup includes Fernando Mares (vocals, keyboards, and guitar), Luis Carlos “Bica” Valderrama (keyboards and backing vocals), Carlos Amaya (bass and keyboards), Samuel Marquez (drums and backing vocals), and their new addition, Diego Bustillos on percussion, who turns on the vibe of dance floors and stages.
Prolific New Orleans bassist George Porter Jr. released a brand new instrumental album entitled Porter’s Pocket with his longstanding quartet, the Runnin’ Pardners, available now via Color Red. Porter Jr. is joined by his longtime collaborator keyboardist Michael Lemmler (Jubilation, TriFunctA), drummer Terrence Houston (The Funky Meters, Toubab Krewe), and newest member Chris Adkins (Raphael Saadiq, Mark Broussard) on guitar.
Porter was a founding member of The Meters and a lifelong session musician, notably acting as Allen Toussaint’s go-to bass player throughout the 60s and 70s. Declared by Pitchfork as “one of the greatest bass players who has ever lived,” and consistently finding himself atop Bass Player Magazine and Rolling Stone’s “Top 50 Bassists of All Time,” Porter was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for his influential work with New Orleans funk progenitors The Meters.
“Tito’s Dumpling Machine” has all the qualities that rare-groove vinyl crate diggers have always looked for from Porter. Drum breaks galore, a syncopated New Orleans pocket, and a funky Hammond organ lead will more than scratch the old-school Meters itch. Porter Jr. allows his Runnin’ Pardners band to really drive the track while George does what he does best: holding down the rhythm.
The song starts with a drum groove straight out of Uptown New Orleans circa 1970, which would appear an odd choice for the lead single off a record, but as Porter puts it, “my attitude has always been that the drummer defines where the song goes and so I really enjoy letting a drummer set up the tune.”
Along with leading his own band and collaborating with superstars such as Robert Palmer, Patti LaBelle, Tori Amos, and members of the Grateful Dead, among others, Porter’s career could also be tracked by a lineage of great drummers that he has played with, including The Meters’ Zigaboo Modeliste, Russell Batiste Jr., and most recently, Terrence Houston.
Interstate jammers LaMP – featuring Russ Lawton (drums), Ray Paczkowski (keys), and Scott Metzger (guitar) – distill road-honed improv instincts as seen with their time with Trey Anastasio Band (TAB) and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) into taut, instrumental epics. The trio has hewn their own path behind their latest release, One Of Us, with kaleidoscopic interplay and club-shifting grooves, serving as a pure distillation of the LaMP sound and a mission statement of improvisational group-think.
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.
Super Sonic Shorties is an all-female, big band ensemble featuring a rotating collective of funky, world-class musicians founded by powerhouse drummer Nikki Glaspie. Recent lineups include guitarist Kat Dyson (Prince), bassist Tonya “Sweets” Dobbs (Lizzo), guitarist Angie Swan (Kylie Minogue), percussionist Marcie Chapa (Alicia Keys), trombonist Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), keyboardist Amy Bellamy (Chaka Kahn), vocalist Shira Elias (Turkuaz), and vocalist Kanika Moore (Doom Flamingo).
Members of Super Sonic Shorties have tour and/or recording credits with many artists, including Prince, Beyonce, Jay-Z, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Bruno Mars, Klymaxxx, JLo, Phish, Stephanie Mills, George Michael, Kanye West, Milton Nascimento, Cyndi Lauper, Maceo Parker, Snarky Puppy, Nicholas Payton, Stephen Marley, The Neville Brothers, Eric Benet, Sam Kinninger Band and Erykah Badu.
Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. In doing so, she has garnered rare attention and avid listenership. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form.
Born & raised in New York City, Karina Rykman’s musical path began in her early teens playing in bands whenever she could while attending a veritable ton of live music as a fan. By the end of her senior year at NYU, Rykman’s virtuoso talent & infectious spirit saw her invited to join pianist Marco Benevento’s band (as recommended by Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz), with whom she’s performed countless shows including dates with Vulfpeck, Dispatch, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, & many more.
Rykman soon formed her own namesake band, accompanied by Adam November (guitar, loopers, effects) and Chris Corsico (drums). She quickly earned a reputation as an unmissable live act—a bombastic exposition that floats freely between dreamy indie pop and thick, distorted rock—with “fun” as its guiding light. Tearing up sold-out headline performances to ravenous fans, show-stealing festival performances (including Bonnaroo, Peach Music Festival, and Sweetwater 420 Fest), opening for Khruangbin, My Morning Jacket, the Tedeschi Trucks Band (+ many more), plus recent appearances in the house band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, Karina stays busy.
Rykman released her debut album, JOYRIDE via AWAL in August 2023. Written & recorded with childhood friend and producer Gabe Monro, the album serves as a vivid canvas for Rykman’s vibrant expression & chameleonic songcraft. JOYRIDE features Trey Anastasio as co-producer & featured musician, contributing guitar on five of the album’s nine tracks.
The bassist/vocalist’s concerts are often packed with fans who feel more like friends—a testament to her undeniable charisma and her embrace of the live music community—and that circle continues to expand at alarming rates.
On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you’ll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line, known as “the rumble”. Featuring seven GRAMMY-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band — it’s an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Young Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers — but updated, modern and vibrant befitting the next generation — with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.
Cosmic exploration. Spiritual transformation. Unbridled spontaneity. These are the guiding principles of Pigeon, a psychedelic five-piece rooted in the English seaside town of Margate, yet making music that transcends borders.
Their debut album, OUTTANATIONAL, is a thrilling collection of party songs without limits: think William Onyeabor in outer space or early Hot Chip making motorik afrobeat in a 70s New York loft.
Building on a string of acclaimed EPs that have been playlisted on BBC 6 Music and led to coveted live slots at UK festivals like Glastonbury, Pigeon have evolved out of Afro-disco territory into something moodier.
It’s an expansive record laced with heady krautrock, post-punk, and punk-funk, indebted to the power of the groove and questing to find the meaning of home.
Pigeon must fly.
Dirtwire stands poised between ancient Mother Earth and modern technology, a blend of ethnomusicology and the psychedelic trance state, gut-bucket delta blues and what the band variously dubs “back-porch space cowboy blues, swamptronica, and electro-twang.”
It’s a sound informed by Dirtwire’s travels and performances around the globe, where East meets West and North joins South. From the favelas in Brazil, Femi Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos, Tokyo’s bluegrass clubs, Ayahuasca ceremonies in Central America, Gamelan performances in Bali, desert festivals in the Australian Outback, and the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s modernized new capital Astana, the band spreads its message by building bridges across musical cultures in their own unique way.
Dirtwire plays an array of instruments both ancient and modern, including West African kamale ngonis, jaw harps, space fiddles, whamola basses, Rickenbacher electric 12-string guitars, bowed banjos, and mouth harps from around the globe, all interwoven into modern laptop beat creation.
Hailing from the underground West Coast electronic bass music scene, Dirtwire finds itself at the forefront of experimental electronic music production, mixing in their wide array of world instruments with sampled beats and 808s.
Dirtwire’s live shows are a communal psychedelic journey, ranging from down-home boot-stomping get-downs, to bass and blues electronic mashups, to ethereal cinematic beat-driven soundscapes.
Woven into each is the exploration of where live instruments meet computer production, and where tradition meets experimentation.
When their instrumental prowess earned them a vast following on social media, childhood friends turned all-star act Shadowgrass found sudden success. But as a young band, the expectations that went along with a large audience proved daunting.
“We felt a lot of pressure to make something uniquely us, because we had such a big following, and we felt that they deserved more than what we had given them as of yet,” explains the band.
The group dug deep into their own musicality and tried to block out the noise for their sophomore release, All That Will (release date: October 4, 2024).
“It turned out that dropping those self-imposed expectations and just writing/making music for our own enjoyment was the key to finding our collective voice and making a record we are all proud of.”
Shadowgrass began in 2014 when Clay Russell (banjo), Luke Morris (mandolin), and Kyser George (guitar) were jamming at the Grayson County Fiddler’s Convention in Elk Creek, Virginia. Sometime before their first real show, the name Shadowgrass was suggested simply because they thought it sounded “cool.”
Kyser, Clay, and Luke were 9, 13, and 14 years old at the time.
Now in their early twenties, their influences and listening habits have changed drastically, but the group has always grown in the same direction musically. They have welcomed fiddle player Madison Morris, who also lends vocals and songwriting prowess, and bass player Evan Campfield.
Luke and Madison trade off lead vocals and harmonies seamlessly with one another. Their commitment to and keen interest in songwriting brings additional dimensions to the band, allowing the group to appeal to listeners outside of the expected jam-band community.
As a very young band that has already been playing together for a decade, Shadowgrass has a unique bond.
“We’ve grown up together and have watched each other evolve into the people we are today,” they say. “It sounds cliche but we definitely act more like siblings than bandmates.”
On All That Will, the group explores themes of anxiety and uncertainty, and questions the people they want to become. Luckily, they’ve had each other to share these experiences with, and it seems that their companionship has only pushed their artistic and musical abilities to new heights.
Vincent Antone is a producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Austin, Texas. His music blends funk, hip hop, soul, and bass music into a sound that feels both nostalgic and modern.
Before producing, Vincent spent years playing guitar, drums, piano, and bass, and that musical background still shapes the way he writes and performs today. His songs are built around groove. Funky guitar lines, soulful melodies, and hip hop rhythms sit alongside bass-heavy electronic production. The result is music that works just as well in headphones as it does on a packed dance floor.
Vincent has performed at festivals and venues across the country including Austin City Limits, Hulaween, Envision, Wakarusa, Breakaway, Utopiafest, Offbeat, and Elements. He has also shared the stage with artists like Griz, Clozee, Levity, Pretty Lights, Gramatik, Opiuo, Cherub, and many others.
His music has accumulated millions of streams across platforms, and his remixes have become fan favorites within the electro hip hop and funk bass scene.
Vincent regularly tours across the United States and has also brought his music to international audiences with performances in Canada, Australia, South America, and beyond.
With a focus on musicianship and feel, Vincent Antone continues to build a reputation for groove-driven electronic music and energetic live shows.
Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz is thrilled to bring two fan favorite sets to Jam Cruise – Lebo’s All Star Yacht Rock at Sea and Dead at Sea – celebrating the timeless songbook of the Grateful Dead. Lebo is a six-string slinger and singer known for his one of a kind versatility, deft songcraft, and irresistible charm. Inherently committed to an improvisational approach, Lebo embodies the realm of melodic and soulful sounds. When not touring with his bands ALO and Lebo & Friends, he is digging deep producing in his studio, Leboland.
Deadtronica is keyboardist Aron Magner (the Disco Biscuits, Billy and the Kids) & Emmy winning guitarist / producer Cloudchord.
The duo merges the improvisational spirit of the Grateful Dead with the pulsating energy of electronic dance music.
From the acid test ethos to dance floor bangers, hear the legendary compositions re-imagined through a new lens. Experience the Dead, wired for the future.
The Seattle-based, original instrumental funk & soul group True Loves began in 2014 as a jam session between drummer David McGraw, bassist Bryant Moore and guitarist Jimmy James, and has since blossomed into a global force featuring percussionist Iván Galvez, trombonist Greg Kramer, and saxophonists Gordon Brown and Skerik. Together, the group’s live performances and albums have garnered them much acclaim and millions of streams on YouTube.
In 2017, True Loves recorded their debut instrumental album, Famous Last Words, receiving worldwide adulation. The band released their sophomore album, Sunday Afternoon, in 2021. 2024 saw the release of the single “Good Weed and Red Wine” featuring keyboardist Nigel Hall (Lettuce) followed by a second European tour. Another single, “Dopus no. 1,” was released as the B-side on a vinyl 7 inch. True Loves returned to Europe in the fall of 2025 and supported legendary band Ghost Note on their return to the US. The band is at work on their next album with US and European tours planned.
Solo pianist Holly Bowling is an artist who repeatedly defies convention, breaks ceilings, and eludes simplistic labels, while bringing virtuosic playing, emotional immersion, and a thirst for invention to everything that she does. Acclaimed by Rolling Stone and having jammed with a long list of impressive company (Bob Weir, Jim James, Warren Haynes, John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, and many more), Holly has established herself as a virtuoso pianist with her own musical voice and, simultaneously, an in-demand “artist-at-large” that can jam with any band, from being featured in full-show, all-star lineups (often helmed by Grahame Lesh) to festival sit-ins with the likes of String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee and Eggy.
Holly has fostered a strong sense of identity while musically shapeshifting to the task at hand. She’s improvised on extended explorations of “Dark Star” with the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and has recorded dance tracks with LP Giobbi. She continues to be a frequent guest of Greensky Bluegrass, with whom she recorded The Iceland Sessions EP in 2023 as well as appearing on the previous year’s Stress Dreams. Her solo piano arrangements span across genres, featuring songs from The National and Nine Inch Nails to Phish and the Grateful Dead, and have been featured in several independent films in addition to opening the door to performances at storied venues from Carnegie Hall to Red Rocks.
Holly co-founded improvisational rock outfit Ghost Light in 2018 with JRAD’s Tom Hamilton with whom she also released an instrumental duo album, Lacuna, in 2022.
After a releasing a pair of limited-edition albums on Relix Vinyl in 2026 — Walking with Giants, featuring live explorations of the Grateful Dead (Vol. 1) and Phish (Vol. 2), Holly looks to flip the script once more with an upcoming album of original compositions.
In the meantime, you can catch Holly’s solo piano performances in curated venues across the country and at select shows with collaborators Greensky Bluegrass, Grahame Lesh & Friends, Lebo & Friends, and Everyone Orchestra. Fans can count on her musical shapeshifting adventure to continue to cover new ground while she takes listeners with her into the unknown.
Jammy Buffet is where Jimmy Buffett’s coastal storytelling meets jam-band improvisation.
Fronted by singer-songwriter Bob Barrick with Brendan Mayer, Mickey Lenny, Tyler Gwynn, and Zeb Briskovich, the Colorado–Tennessee group revives Buffett’s “Gulf & Western” sound with fresh energy and musicianship.
Their shows blend greatest-hit singalongs, deep-cut gems, and cosmic grooves—sun-soaked, high-spirited, and always a party.
Featuring regular collaborations with members of Jimmy’s Coral Reefer Band, Jammy Buffet is redefining paradise for a new generation.
Denver’s electrifying Indie-Jam Band, Sqwerv is on a meteoric rise. This nationally touring quartet commands the stage with elements of classic rock, psychedelic funk, and indie-jam fusion for an experience like no other. Shimmering 4 part harmonies, improvisational virtuosity, and a passion for well crafted songs set this group apart in their scene.
“A man walks down the street… it’s a street in a strange world.”
Playfully known as “The JRAD of Paul Simon,” Bone Diggers have been an underground Bay Area sensation since 2017, performing just a handful of concerts per year, packing ballrooms and dancehalls with almost no online presence, opting for organic word-of-mouth and a knowing wink instead.
Even though they take their name from a Paul Simon lyric and they build their setlist from Simon’s catalog, Bone Diggers are NOT a museum-piece “tribute” act — they’re an ever-evolving testament to how a group of songs can live, breathe, grow, and transform in the jam world’s ecosphere.
“After changes upon changes / we are more or less the same.”
Bone Diggers’ rotating lineups have featured members of Trey Anastasio Band, Thievery Corp., Dawes, Counting Crowes, Mother Hips, Billy & the Kids, ALO, and Tea Leaf Green but the only two constants have always been collaborators and frontmen Reed Mathis and Lebo.
They will be appearing on Jam Cruise in a first-time duo format. But don’t assume that means that what traditionally has been a dance party will instead become a Simon & Garfunkel nostalgia walk. After all… nothing with Bone Diggers has ever been traditional.
“We come in the age’s most uncertain hour and sing an American tune.”
Colorado-based electronic music producer Late Night Radio introduces his latest album, Pocket Full of Dreams [Philos Records], an introspective masterpiece skillfully merging reflective rhythms and soul-inspired hip-hop beats. A testament to Late Night Radio’s musical prowess, the new album also contemplates the thematic depth of life’s pursuits and dreams, tracing the poignant highs and lows of such journeys.
A consistent force in the evolving electronic music landscape, Alex Medellin (Late Night Radio) consistently crafts authentic sounds brought to life through his deep-rooted passion and diverse musical explorations. Pocket Full of Dreams stands as a testament to Medellin’s life experiences, both in the realm of music and beyond.
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 electric 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, songwriting, and artistry, crafting an uncommonly beautiful style which is 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.
With a name and image that pays tribute to the Cimarrons – Cubans of African descent that resisted slavery – and music and showmanship that re-embodies funk legends from the last century, the medical-school student turned funk artist has developed into a musical force crafting the sonic future of the island and a global, cultural phenomenon that unites and celebrates blackness across borders, oceans and languages. Performing with La Tribu (The Tribe), his 9-piece band from Havana, Cimafunk has electrified global audiences on massive stages and worldwide temples of music, making a name for himself as one of the great showmen of today. After three consecutive Grammy nominations, a Latin Grammy nomination for “Record of the Year” and becoming the first Cuban born artist to play Coachella, you can find Cimafunk at New Orleans Jazz Fest, performing at the Kennedy Center Honors, lighting up NPR’s Tiny Desk, rocking stages in Japan or Australia, or hanging with the Godfather of Funk George Clinton.
Everyone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Butler, has become a beloved Jam Cruise tradition—an ever-evolving, fully improvised celebration of community, creativity, and connection. Each performance brings together a fresh lineup of world-class musicians to co-create original music in the moment, guided by Matt’s dynamic cues and collaborative spirit.
With over 20+ years of shows and 1,000+ artists in the mix, Everyone Orchestra is more than a “super jam”—it’s a genre-defying experience rooted in spontaneity, trust, and shared intention. On Jam Cruise, the Everyone Orchestra performance is also a celeberation of Positive Legacy’s mission of integrating music and service to benefit people and the planet.
Don’t miss this once in a lifetime performance! 1,2,3,4…YES!
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 they 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 Umphrey’s McGee, Greensky Bluegrass, Big Gigantic, moe., Mike Gordon, and many, many more.
You can also catch them touring with their own band, Cool Cool Cool.
With his unmistakable baritone voice and 6-and-a-half-foot charm, Chali 2na has established himself as one of hip-hop’s most celebrated and charismatic personalities. Most well-known for co-founding music groups, Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli, Chali released his debut solo album Fish Outta Water in 2009. Since then, he has toured the world ten times over with his band known as House of Vibe and has collaborated with some of the industry’s most recognized and respected DJs and musicians.
Breathing visual life into his musical past, Chali embarked on a 6-year journey to produce Against the Current, a multi-media project that combines a 5-part series of genre-bending EPs with a coffee table artbook featuring his own original paintings, drawings, and photography.
After relocating from Chicago to LA in the early 80’s when he was entering his teens, he was instantly engulfed by the worlds of hip hop and graffiti. Instinctively successful at marrying the two together, as his music career began to flourish, his artistic talents also expanded past the walls of city streets and onto canvases and into galleries.
Now, as Chali’s catalogues continue to grow, he is finding unique ways to share his art with the world, and demand for it is rapidly growing.
Mike Dillon is a percussionist, composer and band leader. He has released over 40 records in his various projects. Dillon has toured and recorded extensively with artists such as Les Claypool, The Revivalists, Dean Ween, and Ani Difranco. He currently leads the Mike Dillon Band, Nolatet and plays percussion with Rickie Lee Jones. He also finds time to play marimba with Les Claypool. Dillon most recently was the percussionist in the “Claypool Gold” tour.
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 and the Super Sonic Shorties.
Sammi Garett is best known as the pink-donned powerhouse from Brooklyn, NY’s Power-Funk band Turkuaz (2012–2021). A driving force behind the group’s live shows and recordings, she appeared on albums including Digitonium, Life In The City, and Kuadrochrome. During her tenure, Turkuaz toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia, performing at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, BottleRock, Lockn’, Jam Cruise, and Jazz Aspen Snowmass, as well as iconic venues including Red Rocks, The Fillmore, and The Capitol Theatre.
A cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Vocal Performance, Sammi has built a career as a versatile performer and collaborator. She also studied improv comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City.
Today, Sammi tours year-round with her band Cool Cool Cool, a band formed in 2022 by former Turkuaz members. Blending pop, funk, house, disco, and R&B, the group delivers dynamic performances driven by powerful female vocals, tight horn arrangements, and infectious grooves.
In addition to headlining their own shows, Sammi and Cool Cool Cool serve as the backing band for Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew on their acclaimed Remain In Light tour. Sammi also performs with Jerry Harrison as part of Jerry Harrison’s 50 Years of Talking Heads, celebrating five decades of the groundbreaking music and legacy of Talking Heads.
Reed Mathis is a doorway into a hidden world of music. His name means different things to different people — he even plays different instruments in different bands, exploring entirely different catalogs in entirely different ways. But it all comes from the same place; an endless stream of music flowing from the present tense into a cascade of collective shared experience.
It’s a celebration of the “here” and a sanctifying of the “now,” inviting everyone in the room to energetically participate.
Reed has his own distinct artistic voice whether he is on guitar or bass, whether he is performing live with a member of the Grateful Dead (Billy & The Kids, 7 Walkers, Mickey Hart Band, Rhythm Devils), conducting rock versions of entire symphonies (Electric Beethoven), pushing original compositions to their outer reaches (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey), or even taking Paul Simon’s catalog out for simple joyrides (Bone Diggers).
The list of legends that Mathis has collaborated with is insane and you’d have to be insane to try to list all the projects he’s involved with. But it all comes down to the same thing: Reed Mathis is one of America’s premiere live improvisors and one of jam nation’s top guns. No matter what it says on the marquee on that particular night, Reed’s shows are always just another opportunity to go cliff diving with fellow gravity-defying artists.
The setlist may be loaded with songs we know by heart — but, at heart, Reed Mathis remains a true American original.
Sarah Elaz is an electric breakout artist in the jam scene, celebrated for her magnetic stage presence, instinctive bass playing, and bold style. She picked up the bass during the pandemic and quickly built a following by documenting her journey online. A classically trained dancer turned multi-instrumentalist, her playing is physical, emotional, and deeply rhythmic, rooted in her lifelong connection to movement, improvisation, and feel.
Sarah is a founding member of Boojum, the Brooklyn-based art band known for creating immersive concerts that fuse improvisation, theatrical performance, choreography, costumes, and visual storytelling. Since debuting Electric Wonderland at Brooklyn Bowl in 2023, Boojum has mounted multiple full-scale productions of their work across New York. In 2026, the band unveiled RITUAL, their new immersive EDM experience.
Sarah has also emerged as one of the most exciting new voices in the Grateful Dead universe. She tours nationally with Bearly Dead and is a core member of Bushwick’s Dead, an NYC jam collective with a residency at Brooklyn Bowl.
She has shared the stage with members of Goose, Parliament Funkadelic, the Disco Biscuits, moe., Eggy, Max Creek, Dogs in a Pile, lespecial, Lotus, Neighbor, and Pink Talking Fish, as well as artists like Jimmy Vivino, Bella Rayne, and Andy Frasco. Most recently, Sarah joined BALTHVS on JamCruise 22.
At just 18, Bella Rayne is a self-taught guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose sound is quickly turning heads across the country. Born in the mountains of North Carolina and raised along the rugged coast of Mendocino, California, she blends rock and Americana with the improvisational spirit of the jam-band tradition—creating a sound that feels both timeless and strikingly new, bridging generations of listeners. Her journey began during the pandemic, when she pulled an old Stratocaster from her garage, fixed it up, and taught herself to play by ear—unlocking a voice and style entirely her own.
She has since formed Bella Rayne Band, a high-energy, guitar-driven ensemble that has quickly become one of the most talked-about rising acts on the live circuit. Led by a young lineup of seasoned musicians, the band has surged from small rooms to coast-to-coast stages and festival lineups in a remarkably short time, with crowds growing at every stop. Their sets are explosive and ever-evolving—blending soulful Southern rock, modern Americana, and improvisational jam with bold reinterpretations of Grateful Dead classics alongside Bella’s own originals. The result is a sound that feels both timeless and unmistakably new, often described as the next generation of Tedeschi Trucks Band with an alternative edge and a 70s vibe. With demand building nationwide, the band recently completed recording singles for an upcoming EP slated for release in 2026—marking the next step in a trajectory that shows no signs of slowing down.
Despite her young age, Bella has already shared the stage with seasoned artists and respected bands: appearances alongside Allman Betts Family Revival, Melvin Seals & JGB, ALO, Jackie Greene, Oteil Burbridge, and members of Terrapin Family have all added to her early résumé, and she was touted as “one to watch” by her idol, Susan Tedeschi, in a 2025 Guitar World Magazine interview. In addition, she has been invited to iconic stages nationwide including The Fillmore SF, The Orpheum LA, Sweetwater Music Hall, The Hamilton, and even celebrated her 18th birthday with a set on the Prudential Stage at BottleRock Napa Festival.
One of the most iconic moments of her rising career: she was entrusted to play the legendary guitar known as “Alligator” — once wielded by Jerry Garcia. That honor, courtesy of Grateful Guitars Foundation, has become a defining chapter in Bella’s journey, and Guitar Player magazine recently recognized her as one of the players “keeping the Dead alive” alongside Jeff Mason (Dark Star Orchestra) and Tom Hamilton (JRAD) in an article from May 2025.
Brad Walker is one of the most active and sought-after performers in the city of New Orleans. Perhaps best known for his “soaring” (Rolling Stone), “energetic” (NPR), and “tasteful” (Relix) solos on Saturday Night Live, the 2017 Grammys, and the Tonight Show with Nashville mega-star Sturgill Simpson, Walker is an active and compelling artist in his own right, with seven full-length releases under his own name and a decade plus of music-making in the Crescent City under his belt. His 2014 debut, ‘Quintet’, received a 4-**** review in DownBeat magazine, and his playing has received praise in the Times-Picayune, Variety, OffBeat Magazine, Gambit Weekly, and many others. He has worked extensively with New Orleans artists like Anders Osborne, Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk, Stanton Moore, George Porter, Jr., and many others.
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