2023 Festival Headliner
Performed on Saturday, September 9th
Listen, breathe. The kick drum is thumping in an offset rhythm to your beating heart and the bass is thundering vibrations through your entire body, tuning you into the stage and every other person standing in the crowd. Lightning strikes in your mind as dueling guitar riffs peel away the fog and a keyboard bubble floats loftily like clouds over it all. Then come the lyrics, messages of connection and grace. Ease flows through the entire scene and you're awoken by the tingle of resonance on your skin. Do you feel it? This is Iya Terra. Iya Terra means higher ground, which they seem to find everywhere. Whether it be the top of the latest charts or next year's festival billing, Iya Terra is constantly climbing. Bringing a modern-conscious approach to songwriting, Iya Terra crafts messages in love & respect. Currently based out of LA, and with members hailing from the west coast, SLC, and Vegas, their powerful rhythm section provides the heartbeat over which scintillating guitars and soothing vocals float melodies of universal resonance. Iya Terra released their first EP in 2014, then a debut album "Full Circle" in 2015. Then came the album that aligned the stars, "Sacred Sound" debuted at #1 on the reggae charts and the band's following has swelled ever since. Their third full length release and second reggae chart topping album "Coming to Light" followed in 2019. Kicking off 2021 with a new album Ease & Grace, they show no sign of slowing down. The new tunes are produced by EN Young and feature reggae hard-hitters Tribal Seeds, Trevor Hall, Mike Love, Bobby Lee of SOJA, Alborosie, and the legendary David Hinds of Steel Pulse. But if Iya Terra wants you to know anything, it would be this: just breathe, set your mind at ease, you got your whole life to live. One step at a time, right here, right now, that's exactly where you want to be. The rest of your life starts today, so come along. Every single word you say, let it be peaceful, meaningful. Speak from your heart, it's yearning to be.
Friday Headliner
Performed on Friday, September 8th
Bumpin Uglies knows all about hustle. The Maryland reggae-rock band had spent more than a decade on the road, starting with local open mics and backyard parties and growing into road warriors, building an ever-expanding audience with sold-out shows in clubs and prime spots at festivals from coast to coast, on one national tour after another. Then the pandemic hit, and touring shut down. After being in motion for so long, singer and lead guitarist Brandon Hardesty wasn’t about to sit still, even if he couldn’t be out on tour. In fact, Bumpin Uglies never really stopped working — they adapted. The group returned to playing backyard parties around Annapolis, where they’re based, and added socially distanced concerts and full-band livestreams. In the fall of 2020, they also started releasing a new song every month as part of a project called the Never Ending Drop. “We felt like prospectors going out and trying to find gold — it was just uncharted territory,” Hardesty says. “We had to figure out a way to make a living. That’s kind of what being a musician during Covid has felt like to me. You can do it, but you have to be bold.” Hardesty has been bold from the start. He was waiting tables when he started the band in his early 20s. With an ear for melodies and the determination to succeed, he poured his time and energy into making Bumpin Uglies a success. For years, the band did just about everything themselves, from booking shows to releasing their own albums, building a sense of momentum along the way that eventually became self-sustaining, and then Hardesty wasn’t waiting tables anymore. No surprise, then, that a musician with his strong work ethic found a way to take maximum advantage of the sudden surplus of time at home. For one thing, he got to hang out with his toddler son, and he and his wife welcomed a new baby. He also wrote a ton of songs. For the first time, Hardesty approached songwriting as a discipline, dedicating time to working on new music rather than waiting for inspiration to strike and then jotting down ideas in the back of the Bumpin Uglies van on his way from one gig to the next. “I just woke up every morning and I made a pot of coffee, and I had this running list of ideas in my phone for hooks and riffs and progressions,” he says. “I sat down every day and made myself write a song, and 85 percent of them were pretty good. And it was awesome. I really, really enjoyed the process.”
Sunday Headliner
Performed on Sunday, September 10th
Nattali Rize is known for her epic, high energy, thought provoking and uplifting live performances, the 6 piece international powerhouse band from Australia & Jamaica deliver a raw energy and vibe like no other, channeling a deep reggae influence in a New Era Style, watch & listen to the future become the present, this is the Nattali Rize Experience! Ask her where she comes from and she’ll tell you “All directions.” It’s an apt description of a singer who defies boundaries; culturally, musically and spiritually. The Nattali Rize debut album “Rebel Frequency” hit the streets to high acclaim, impacting worldwide charts & hearts! “You can’t quantify the electric feeling we all get when we share in the live music experience, from the stage to the dance floor, no borders in between us, we have a moment to unify, harmonize and celebrate life on the wings of Music without exterior interference. Music is truly the Healer and a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle, a modern day ceremony to remember…we are One People.” - Nattali Rize
Performed on Sunday, September 10th
The story of Indubious is not for the faint of heart. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Indubious was forged in the fires of pain and destruction. Evton and Skip, brothers and bandmates born with Cystic Fibrosis and convinced by doctors of their impending death from an early age, have emerged as a powerful force for change and the future of conscious music. Their only choice has always been mind over matter, and time has proven that their unbending positive outlook, combined with an inspiring message of love and hope, has not only helped them overcome personal hardship, but catapulted their music onto the world stage with an unstoppable momentum. Currently based in Oregon, Indubious has released five albums over the past few years, including Wake The Lion which was produced by EDM/Dub/Reggae pioneer Gaudi. Their new album Beleaf, released summer 2019, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #2 on iTunes Reggae Chart. Previous to that, From Zero, released 7/17/17 features legendary guest artists including Dancehall icon Sizzla, Vaughn Benjamin (formally of Midnite and Akae Beka), and Reggae/R&B singer Zahira Soul. From Zero is a mix of conscious Dancehall and Roots Reggae with top level production. All songs were written, produced, and engineered by Indubious, and released on their own label Righteous Sound Productions.
Performed on Sunday, September 10th
Born and raised in Philly, crash landed in Charleston, Kevin and John Shields are breaking into previously uncharted waters with their quirky indie hip-hop group, Little Stranger. Between John’s melodic singer-songwriter magnetism, Kevin’s in-your-face delivery, and an overall undeniable groove, this duo is sure to get any audience up and moving. Stylistically reminiscent of Gorillaz and Odelay-era Beck, Little Stranger delivers a fresh take on melodic hip-hop. Every track brings the uniqueness and strangeness that their name implies. For the past few years, the duo has perfected their live performance by playing over 100 shows per year prior to the coronavirus shutdown. The group also puts a big focus on creating arresting visual experiences through their music videos, their own eccentric television program (LSTV), and in-house graphics. Between their out-of-the-box creative endeavors and an ever-increasing arsenal of new tunes, Little Stranger is poised to make 2023 another slam dunk.
Performed on Friday, September 8th
Powered by a lineup of heartbreaking reggae ballads illustrating how our most precious growth often blooms from pain, combined with a handfull of beat thumping tracks, Jon Wayne and the Pain’s 5th studio album "Growth Lines" is here. While embracing the present, "Growth Lines" also hearkens back to the brashness of the band’s 2008 self-titled debut album and proves that music is always better with friends. They've recruited heavyweight performers G Love, Tropidelic, Bumpin’ Uglies and Indubious to add flavor and texture to the soundtrack’s 11 or so tunes. Showcasing the veteran band’s unique ability to write songs that tug at our heartstrings while keeping our feet moving Growth Lines has something for every JWP fan, new and old alike.
Performed on Saturday, September 9th
The Ries Brothers (pronounced ”Rees”), a duo from St Petersburg, FL, blend rock, blues, jam, funk, and reggae into a soulful-sophisticated sound. Older brother Charlie (27) sings lead vocals while simultaneously playing drums and keyboard bass giving the band its unique and full sound. Younger brother Kevin Jordan (23) completes the band’s “sonic creativity” on guitar, ukulele, melodica, theremin and provides background vocals. The band started playing the Florida bar circuit as young teenagers where they were discovered by the band CHICAGO and taken out on two regional tours prompting them to leave school and focus on music full time. The Brothers inimitable live performances have captured fans across the musical landscape leading to marquee support slots and major festival bookings. After Supporting a G Love & Special Sauce tour in 2018, G Love asked the brothers to tour as his backing band and open his solo tour. They repeated that feat again in 2019.” In between, the brothers completed their own headline tours in addition to supporting major artist like Stick Figure, 311 (invited to perform on the 311 cruise immediately after opening for 311 by their management,) Pepper, Galactic, Stephen Marley, and playing major festivals Sunfest, Cali Roots, Gasparilla, Rootfire and Summer Camp finishing 2019 with a 35- date tour with Iya Terra. In early 2020, the brothers toured supporting Iration, Ballyhoo! and Iya Terra The pandemic canceled a future tour with Badfish (A Tribute to Sublime,) a second run with Iration, plus numerous festivals. Making the best of their time off, they recorded remote collaboration videos with members of “The Lumineers” “Gary Clark Jr.” Steve Miller Band” and “Iration.” In July of 2021, the duo released a song with their good friends Iration, which hit 100k streams in a couple days. This was a follow up to their reggae remix of their song “Take It Back” featuring Julian Marley, Bumpin Uglies, E.N Young, Gary Dread (The Movement), Kash’d Out, Little Stranger and Jaime Hinckson. This remix of a song from their second full-length album, “Paint Your Emotion,” produced by John Agnello (Screaming Trees, Dinosaur JR, Patti Smyth,) was released on CSSL/Megaforce Records in September 2020 This record leaned towards alternative rock, A live streaming only EP of the duo’s Sugar Shack Sessions (SS first release) was released in Fall of 2019 on Ineffable Records. As live music made its comeback, in July 2021 they were asked to support David Shaw (Lead Singer of The Revivalists) on a southeast tour, even being brought up every night to perform with the band. In December they were asked to join the band on leg 2 of that tour, which hit the Midwest and northeast. They just performed at Cali Vibes (largest ever US Reggae Festival) and at the 5th Anniversary of Okeechobee Music Fest. Currently working on their new album being produced and engineered by Gary Clark Jrs. original drummer and engineer. The album will lean towards more rock n roll, bluesy, and jam rock vibes, truly defining their sound.
Performed on Saturday, September 9th
Born of the woods, rivers and waterfalls of Oregon, reggae-fusion group Sol Seed sports diverse vocal styles, an eclectic sonic playbook and ethereal world music influences. With a broad spectrum of musical tastes, Sol Seed flips between genre influences such as rock, soul and hip-hop over a solid reggae backbone. Committing themselves to tending a fellowship between performer and listener, the audience becomes a part of the music, creating a unique and unforgettable live experience, centered in the heart space. Since their latest release, The Spark, Sol Seed has embarked on multiple cross-country tours, growing its fanbase from the roots up and sharing stages with the likes of Stephen Marley, The Wailers, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Tribal Seeds, The Black Seeds, The Green, Mike Love, The Expendables, Pepper, Fortunate Youth, Indubious and many more. Sol Seed’s feel-good anthem, “Family Tree”, is one of Sugarshack Sessions top-viewed videos at over 7 Million views. New and old listeners alike can expect music that rallies and inspires from a career that has spanned over a decade and hails from the Pacific Northwest, where the trees grow tall and the roots dig deep.
Voodoo Horseshoes
Performed on Friday, September 8th
The Voodoo Horseshoes play exciting original psychedelic roots rock. The Voodoo Horseshoes bring electric guitars, banjo and keys.
Borderline Lucid
Performed on Saturday, September 9th
Borderline Lucid brings a beautiful fusion of reggae, bluegrass, metal and funk with meaningful ultra-rhythmic lyrics creating a positive, engaging and electric vibe that will keep you on your toes, guessing what's next.
Crow Song Dogs & Grey Bull Dancers
Performed on Saturday, September 9th
The Crow Song Dogs & Grey Bull Dancers come from Crow Nation, Montana with their traditional Native songs and dances.
Cole Thorne
Performed on Sunday, September 10th
Cole Thorne duo Mountain-reggae soul singer Cole of Cole & The Thornes will be performing an intimate stripped down set at this years Montana State Hemp Festival. Her percussive ukulele style, sultry voice and empowering lyrics will be accompanied by jacob Rountree on electric guitar and playful bass loops. Their sound will get you grooving and searching for that Soulshine the indefinitely radiate.
Larry Hirshberg
Performed on Sunday, September 10th
Larry Hirshberg is a Missoula based musician writing, recording and performing an ever changing ever growing compilation of songs for over 40 years.