The Live Network · TLN / EIC Research · 2026 Edition

Ultimate Jam Band
Artist Guide

46 actively touring acts — from TITAN legends to rising stars — sorted alphabetically

46 Artists · 6 Tiers · 2026 Touring Season
🏛️ Titan — The A-List
🚀 Heavyweight — New A-Tier
🎸 Vet / Core Circuit
📈 Rising Star
⭐ Honorable Mention
🌵 Cosmic / Americana
🎶

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A 2B 4C 1D 7E 1F 2G 4H 1I 1J 1K 2L 3M 4N 1O 2P 3R 1S 5T 4U 1V 1W 2
A 2 artists
🏛️ TITAN

The Allman Brothers Band

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Southern Rock / Blues Jam / Jazz
📍 Macon, GA  ·  Est. 1969
👥 Gregg Allman †, Duane Allman †, Dickey Betts †, Berry Oakley †, Butch Trucks †, Jaimoe; later Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge
🎶 Whipping Post, Melissa, Ramblin' Man, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
🏟 Amphitheater → Arena (historic); annual Beacon Theatre residency (NYC)
Disbanded 2014 🎟 Legacy catalog Catalog / archival
🎪 Wanee Festival (founded in their honor), Peach Music Festival
📼 Full taping legacy; extensive SBD archive via Internet Archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music, nugs.net
Founders of Southern rock and the extended jam tradition in American music; disbanded 2014 after 45 years; Duane Allman and the twin-drum/dual-guitar lineup remain foundational blueprints for the entire scene
⭐ HONORABLE

Aquarium Rescue Unit

↗ Learn more
🎵 Psychedelic Jazz-Fusion / Jam / Avant-Garde
📍 Atlanta, GA  ·  Est. 1989
👥 Col. Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Sipe, Jimmy Herring, Matt Mundy
🎶 Basically Frightened, Mirrors of Embarrassment, Lena's Songs
🏟 Club / Small Theater (historic)
Inactive / legacy 🎟 Archival / reunion Legacy catalog
🎪 H.O.R.D.E. Festival, Wetlands-era NYC circuit
📼 Full taping tradition; Internet Archive archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Col. Bruce Hampton's foundational Atlanta outfit; launched careers of Oteil Burbridge and Jimmy Herring; widely credited as the seed of the Southern jam scene alongside the Allman Brothers
B 4 artists
📈 RISING STAR

Big Shrimp

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Funky Progressive Jam / Rock
📍 Bridgeport, CT  ·  Est. 2024 (roots as Baked Shrimp 2017)
👥 Jared Sage Cowen (guitar/vocals), Max Perrotti (bass/vocals), Daniel Cohen (keys/vocals), Henry Thomas (drums)
🎶 Alcaworkholic, Moderation, Sticky Situation, Perchance
🏟 Club / Small Theater (500–2,500)
~110 shows/yr 🎟 $32 avg $1.4M est. gross
🎪 Emerging festival circuit (Karnival of the Arts, etc.)
📼 Full taping; board recordings circulated
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
CT-based high-octane funk machine; strong NJ/NYC crossover — ideal EIC/Grateful Pier community play
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

Billy Strings

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Jamgrass / Progressive Bluegrass
📍 Morehead, KY  ·  Est. 2017
👥 Billy Strings, Jarrod Walker, Royal Mavis, Billy Failing
🎶 Dust in a Baggie, Hide & Seek, Meet Me at the Creek
🏟 Amphitheater → Arena (5,000–18,000)
~120 shows/yr 🎟 $90 avg $10.8M est. gross
🎪 Telluride Bluegrass, Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly
📼 Full taping encouraged; nugs.net official
🎧 Nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
Grammy winner; fastest-growing act in jam; 2026 world tour dates
🎸 VET / CORE

The Black Crowes

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Blues-Rock / Hard Rock / Southern Rock
📍 Atlanta, GA  ·  Est. 1984
👥 Chris Robinson, Rich Robinson, Steve Gorman, Sven Pipien, Joel Robinow, Isaiah Mitchell
🎶 Shake Your Money Maker, She Talks to Angels, Hard to Handle
🏟 Theater → Amphitheater (3,000–15,000)
~60 shows/yr 🎟 $90 avg $5.4M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Lockn', Lollapalooza
📼 Taping generally permitted; setlist.fm community archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Brothers Robinson reunited 2019; extended jams and blues improvisations a live staple; spiritually adjacent to the Dead/Allmans tradition — longer sets than studio recordings suggest
🎸 VET / CORE

Blues Traveler

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Blues-Rock / Jam / Harmonica-Driven
📍 Princeton, NJ  ·  Est. 1987
👥 John Popper, Chan Kinchla, Brendan Hill, Ben Wilson, Tad Kinchla
🎶 Run-Around, Hook, But Anyway, Carolina Blues
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (2,000–10,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $4.4M est. gross
🎪 H.O.R.D.E. Festival (co-founders), Peach Music Festival
📼 Taping allowed; extensive archive via Internet Archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
New Jersey originals and H.O.R.D.E. co-founders; John Popper's harmonica improvisations are among the most technically demanding in jam; active touring 35+ years
C 1 artist
🏛️ TITAN

Col. Bruce Hampton

↗ Learn more
🎵 Psychedelic / Avant-Jam / Southern Jam
📍 Atlanta, GA  ·  1947–2017
👥 Col. Bruce Hampton; projects: Hampton Grease Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Fiji Mariners, Late Bronze Age
🎶 Projects span 1969–2017; Basically Frightened (ARU), Yield Not to Temptation (HGB)
🏟 Club → Theater (across 50-year career)
Passed 2017 🎟 Legacy / archival Catalog / archival
🎪 H.O.R.D.E. Festival, Wanee, Langerado
📼 Full taping tradition; Internet Archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
"The Mayor of the Universe" — the godfather of Southern jam; mentor to Widespread Panic, Phish, Gov't Mule, and virtually every Atlanta-scene artist; passed onstage during his 70th birthday tribute concert May 2017, surrounded by his musical family
D 7 artists
📈 RISING STAR

Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Outlaw Country / Psychedelic
📍 Nashville, TN  ·  Est. 2020
👥 Daniel Donato, Damien Llanes, Cole Jiron, Devin Horwitz
🎶 Turbo Country, Peace in a Time of War, Switchblade
🏟 Club / Small Theater (500–2,000)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $30 avg $0.9M est. gross
🎪 Telluride, AmericanaDeli Fest, Bonnaroo
📼 Taping allowed
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Blends Dead psychedelia with Nashville outlaw; fast-rising in 2025-26
🏛️ TITAN

Dave Matthews Band

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Jam-Adjacent / Rock
📍 Charlottesville, VA  ·  Est. 1991
👥 Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Boyd Tinsley (ret.), Rashawn Ross, Jeff Coffin
🎶 Ants Marching, Crush, Two Step
🏟 Amphitheater / Stadium (15,000–50,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $120 avg $8.4M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Farm Aid
📼 Partial taping; official DMBLive archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music, DMBLive
2026 Summer Shed Tour ongoing; multi-generational audience
🏛️ TITAN

Dead & Company / Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic Rock / Blues
📍 San Francisco, CA  ·  Est. 2015
👥 Bob Weir, John Mayer, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann (Wolf Bros), Don Was
🎶 Truckin', Casey Jones, Fire on the Mountain
🏟 Arena / Sphere (12,000–20,000)
~60 shows/yr 🎟 $195 avg $11.7M est. gross
🎪 Terrapin Crossroads (legacy), Outside Lands
📼 nugs.net official recordings; taping allowed
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
Sphere residency completed 2024; Wolf Bros continues smaller dates
🎸 VET / CORE

The Disco Biscuits

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Jamtronica / Electronic Rock
📍 Philadelphia, PA  ·  Est. 1995
👥 Jon Gutwillig (The Barber), Marc Brownstein, Aron Magner, Sam Altman
🎶 Orch Theme, Magellan, Digital Buddha
🏟 Theater / Club (1,000–4,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $50 avg $3.5M est. gross
🎪 Camp Bisco (co-founders), Electric Forest
📼 Full taping; Biscotti archive community
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Trancefusion sets legendary; Camp Bisco annual flagship festival
📈 RISING STAR

Dizgo

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic / Electronic Jam / Funk
📍 Bloomington, IN  ·  Est. 2018
👥 Andrew Pickel (guitar/vocals), Kevin Hinnefeld (bass/keys/vocals), Jake Evatt (keys/vocals), Justin Clark (drums)
🎶 It's Alright, Rainbow Lightning, Outer Space, Whiteout, Cool Blue Mellow
🏟 Club / Small Theater (500–2,500)
~130 shows/yr 🎟 $35 avg $1.8M est. gross
🎪 Jam Cruise, Northlands, various regional fests
📼 Full taping encouraged; heavy nugs.net SBD archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
One of hardest-working bands in scene; Goose-like builds + Biscuits dance intensity; ~100 shows on nugs in 2025
📈 RISING STAR

Dogs in a Pile

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Eclectic Jam / Zappa-esque
📍 New Brunswick, NJ  ·  Est. 2018
👥 Jimmy Law, Sam Lucid, Atticus Kelly, Joe Babick, Brian Murray
🎶 Good Life, Make It Rain, Rowdy Tents
🏟 Club / Small Theater (500–2,500)
~120 shows/yr 🎟 $35 avg $1.5M est. gross
🎪 Peach, Mountain Jam, jam cruises
📼 Full taping; board recordings circulated
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
NJ roots; rapidly ascending in 2026; Zappa-influenced eclecticism
📈 RISING STAR

Doom Flamingo

↗ Visit official site
🎵 High-Energy Funk-Jam / Horns / Dance
📍 Asheville, NC  ·  Est. 2019
👥 Tom Marcus (guitar/vocals), Mike Thomas (bass), Joe Smith (drums), plus rotating horn section
🎶 Free the Flame, Psycho Killer (cover jams), Disco Inferno blends, originals built for dance
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,500)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $25 avg $0.8M est. gross
🎪 Turkuaz Family Fest, Asheville circuit, SE regional fests
📼 Taping allowed; growing archive
🎧 Spotify, Bandcamp
Spiritual successor to Turkuaz in the high-energy horn-funk lane; Asheville base with strong SE/Northeast touring crossover; dance-floor focused sets
E 1 artist
📈 RISING STAR

Eggy

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Funk / Psychedelic / Jam
📍 New York, NY  ·  Est. 2016
👥 Cello Robinson, Jake Brownstein, Dani Handler, Ariel Loh
🎶 Sticks & Stones, Anemone, Garden
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,000)
~130 shows/yr 🎟 $30 avg $1.2M est. gross
🎪 Peach, Catskill Chill, Otus Music Festival
📼 Full taping; board recordings
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Cult following growing rapidly; known for high-quality SBDs shared freely
F 2 artists
⭐ HONORABLE

Fireside Collective

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Jamgrass / Bluegrass / Rock
📍 Asheville, NC  ·  Est. ~2015
👥 Core lineup — guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, drums
🎶 Movin' on Down That Line, Blue is My Condition, Burnin' at Both Ends, Don't Stop Lovin' Me
🏟 Club / Small Theater / Amphitheater (500–2,000)
~110 shows/yr 🎟 $30 avg $1.1M est. gross
🎪 MerleFest, Terrapin Beer Co events, festival circuit
📼 Taping encouraged; board recordings
🎧 Spotify, Bandcamp
High-energy newgrass with jam-band soul; frequent Greensky support slots; SE/Rocky Mountain staple growing nationally
⭐ HONORABLE

From Good Homes

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Folk-Rock / Americana Jam / College Rock
📍 Flemington, NJ  ·  Est. 1989
👥 Todd Sheaffer (guitar/vocals — also Railroad Earth), Rob Clores (keys/vocals), Brian Mitchel (drums), Tommy Gorman (guitar), Bob Malone (keys — early …
🎶 Ladybird, Out from Under, Closer Than You Know, Porch
🏟 Club / Theater (500–3,000)
~15 shows/yr 🎟 $45 avg $0.6M est. gross
🎪 Northeast regional circuit, NJ venues (Count Basie, Stone Pony legacy)
📼 Full taping; archive.org circulating recordings
🎧 Spotify, archive.org, Bandcamp
NJ NATIVE — Flemington roots; Todd Sheaffer connection to Railroad Earth creates dual-booking opportunity; beloved 90s college-jam institution with loyal reunion following
G 4 artists
⭐ HONORABLE

God Street Wine

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Jam-Rock / Blues / Psychedelic
📍 New York, NY  ·  Est. 1989
👥 Lo Faber (guitar/vocals), Aaron Maxwell (guitar/vocals), Tomo (bass), Mike Friedman (drums), Ken Schick (keys — original)
🎶 Salt, Eleanor Rigby (cover), Madeleine, Stranger
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,500)
~20 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $0.9M est. gross
🎪 NYC club circuit (Wetlands legacy), Northeast regional dates
📼 Full taping; deep Wetlands/archive.org circulating recordings
🎧 Spotify, Bandcamp, archive.org
NYC Wetlands-era institution 1989-1997; periodic reunions with Lo Faber; massive archival following; cornerstone of pre-Phish NYC jam scene
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

Goose

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic Rock / Funk
📍 Norwalk, CT  ·  Est. 2013
👥 Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach, Trevor Weekof, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind
🎶 Arcadia, Tumble, Borne
🏟 Theater → Arena (3,000–20,000)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $95 avg $9.5M est. gross
🎪 Okeechobee, Bonnaroo, Peach Music Festival
📼 Full taping; nugs.net SBDs
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
First MSG sell-out 2025; 2026 North American arena tour underway
🎸 VET / CORE

Gov't Mule

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Blues-Rock / Heavy Jam
📍 Macon, GA  ·  Est. 1994
👥 Warren Haynes, Danny Louis, Jorgen Carlsson, Matt Abts
🎶 Soulshine, Larger Than Life, Mule
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (2,000–10,000)
~75 shows/yr 🎟 $70 avg $5.2M est. gross
🎪 Wanee, Bonnaroo, Warren Haynes Christmas Jam
📼 Taping allowed; Warren Haynes archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Standard bearers of heavy blues-jam; annual Xmas Jam Asheville institution
🎸 VET / CORE

Greensky Bluegrass

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Progressive Bluegrass / Dark Grass
📍 Kalamazoo, MI  ·  Est. 2000
👥 Paul Hoffman, Dave Bruzza, Michael Arlen Bont, Anders Beck, Mike Devol
🎶 Leap Year, Kerosene, Worried About the Weather
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,500–8,000)
~90 shows/yr 🎟 $60 avg $5.4M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest, Peach, Phases of the Moon
📼 Full taping encouraged
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Crossover appeal: bluegrass purists + rock fans; heavy 2026 touring
H 1 artist
📈 RISING STAR

Houseplant

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Funk / Psychedelic Jam
📍 Louisville, KY  ·  Est. 2020
👥 Tavis Conley (mandolin), Tommy Arnspiger (bass), Ben Atkind (drums), Samuel Richardson (keys), Chris Rodahaffer (guitar)
🎶 South Nepal, Cocoon, Acetone, You (and Yourself)
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,500)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $30 avg $1.3M est. gross
🎪 Summer Camp, Dark Star Jubilee, regional fests
📼 Full taping; board recordings
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Mandolin-led psychedelia; Berklee-trained energy; growing Northeast/Midwest draw in 2026
I 1 artist
🎸 VET / CORE

The Infamous Stringdusters

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Progressive Bluegrass / Jamgrass
📍 Nashville, TN  ·  Est. 2006
👥 Andy Hall (dobro), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Travis Book (bass/vocals), Andy Falco (guitar/vocals), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle/vocals)
🎶 Fork in the Road, Things You Left Behind, This Ol' Building
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,500–7,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $3.9M est. gross
🎪 Telluride Bluegrass, WinterWonderGrass, DelFest, Electric Forest
📼 Full taping encouraged; strong archive.org catalog
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
Grammy winners (Things That Fly, 2018); cornerstone of progressive bluegrass crossing to jam audiences; sustained A-tier festival bookings year after year
J 1 artist
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

Joe Russo's Almost Dead (JRAD)

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic Rock / Dead-Inspired
📍 New York, NY  ·  Est. 2014
👥 Joe Russo, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz
🎶 GD repertoire + originals; 'What's Become of the Baby', 'Terrapin Station'
🏟 Theater / Ballroom (1,500–5,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $65 avg $5.2M est. gross
🎪 Peach Music Festival, Jam in the Van
📼 Full taping; nugs.net archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Independent touring power; dedicated GD audience + new converts
K 2 artists
⭐ HONORABLE

Kitchen Dwellers

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Galaxy Grass / Psychedelic Bluegrass
📍 Bozeman, MT  ·  Est. 2012
👥 Shawn Swain, Joe Funk, Torrin Daniels, Max Davies
🎶 Devil in the Campfire, Artifact, Midnight Mass
🏟 Club / Small Theater (300–1,500)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $25 avg $0.7M est. gross
🎪 Hardly Strictly, WinterWonderGrass, Telluride
📼 Taping encouraged
🎧 Spotify, Bandcamp
Heavy effects + bluegrass; Rocky Mountain staple; growing national profile
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic Rock / Progressive / Jam
📍 Melbourne, Australia  ·  Est. 2010
👥 Stu Mackenzie, Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Cook Craig, Joey Walker, Lucas Skinner, Michael Cavanagh, Cavs
🎶 Work This Time, The River, Rattlesnake, Planet B, Petrodragonic Apocalypse
🏟 Theater → Arena (3,000–20,000)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $75 avg $7.5M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Coachella, Levitation, Psycho Las Vegas
📼 Full taping; community shares widely; prolific releases
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music (25+ albums)
Prolific (25+ albums); extended improvisational live sets now standard; JamBase's most-covered non-American act; crossover from psych-rock into core jam circuit complete by 2025
L 3 artists
🎸 VET / CORE

Lettuce

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Funk / Soul / Jam
📍 Boston, MA  ·  Est. 1992
👥 Adam Smirnoff (guitar), Nigel Hall (keys/vocals), Adam Deitch (drums), Erick Coomes (bass), Ryan Zoidis (sax), Eric Bloom (trumpet)
🎶 Nyack, Relax, Luchini (This Is It)
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (2,000–8,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $70 avg $4.8M est. gross
🎪 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Golden Road Gathering, June Lake Jam Fest
📼 Full taping encouraged; LettuceLive archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
New album Cook driving 2026 U.S. tour; Jazz Fest headliner slot locked; horn-driven funk-jam gold standard
📈 RISING STAR

Lotus

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Instrumental Post-Rock / Electronic Jam
📍 Lancaster, PA  ·  Est. 2000
👥 Mike Greenfield, Luke Miller, Jesse Miller, Chuck Morris, Mike Rempel
🎶 Flower Sermon, Head Down, Suitcases
🏟 Club / Theater (500–3,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $40 avg $2.1M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest, Bonnaroo, Camp Bisco
📼 Full taping; nugs.net
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
New lineup revitalization 2024-25; instrumental focus sets them apart
🎸 VET / CORE

Leftover Salmon

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass / Bluegrass / Rock
📍 Boulder, CO  ·  Est. 1989
👥 Vince Herman (guitar/vocals), Drew Emmitt (mandolin/fiddle/vocals), Alwyn Robinson (drums), Greg Garrison (bass), Andy Thorn (banjo)
🎶 Ask the Fish, Wagon Wheel, Salmon of the Month, Count Me In
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,500–6,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $3.3M est. gross
🎪 Telluride Bluegrass, WinterWonderGrass, Phases of the Moon, DelFest
📼 Full taping; 35-year archive.org catalog
🎧 Spotify, archive.org, nugs.net
Pioneers of "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass" — the original jam-bluegrass fusion; 35+ years of active touring; Emmitt-Herman chemistry still unmatched; annual Colorado institution
M 4 artists
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

Marcus King

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Soul-Rock / Blues-Jam / Heavy Groove
📍 Greenville, SC  ·  Est. 2015
👥 Marcus King (guitar/vocals), Justin Rubin (drums), Stephen Campbell (bass), Dane Jesse (keys), Jack Ryan (keys/organ), Forrest Walden (sax)
🎶 Hot and Mighty, Lie Lie Lie, Hard Working Man, Beautiful Stranger
🏟 Theater → Arena (3,500–18,000)
~85 shows/yr 🎟 $80 avg $6.8M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Peach, Jazz Fest, Warren Haynes Xmas Jam
📼 Full taping; nugs.net archive growing
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
2026 arena transition underway; soul-shaking guitar + improvisational heavy-rock sets; natural heir to Haynes/Allman tradition
🎸 VET / CORE

Max Creek

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Psychedelic Jam / Rock / Funk / Reggae
📍 Hartford, CT  ·  Est. 1970
👥 John Rider (bass/vocals), Scott Murawski (guitar/vocals), Mark Mercier (keys/vocals), Bob Gosselin (drums), Dave Reed (percussion)
🎶 Creeker, Midnight Blue, New Morning, Hound Dog
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,500)
~60 shows/yr 🎟 $25 avg $0.9M est. gross
🎪 StrangeCreek Campout (spiritual home), Northeast regional circuit
📼 Full taping; deep archive.org catalog since 1970s
🎧 Spotify, archive.org, Bandcamp
One of the longest continuously touring jam bands in America — 55+ years active. New England institution with a ferociously loyal fanbase ("Creekers"). StrangeCreek Campout in Greenfield, MA is built around them. Tight funk-reggae grooves and sprawling psychedelic jams; often described as the Northeast's answer to the Grateful Dead. Scott Murawski's guitar work is criminally underrated on the national stage.
🎸 VET / CORE

moe.

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Classic Jam-Rock
📍 Buffalo, NY  ·  Est. 1989
👥 Al Schnier, Chuck Garvey, Rob Derhak, Jim Loughlin, Vinnie Amico
🎶 Meat, Plane Crash, Buster
🏟 Theater / Club (1,000–3,500)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $45 avg $3.6M est. gross
🎪 moe.down (own festival), Gathering of the Vibes
📼 Full taping; 35+ year archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
35+ years active; masters of the set 'sandwich' segue structure
🎸 VET / CORE

The Motet

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Funk / Soul / Afrobeat / Jam
📍 Denver, CO  ·  Est. 2000
👥 Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keys/vocals), Garrett Sayers (bass), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), Drew Sayers (sax/flute), Lyle Divinsky (vocals)
🎶 A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, Comin' For Ya, Make It Good
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,500–8,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $50 avg $3.8M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest, Summer Camp, Arise Music Festival, Sneak Peak
📼 Full taping; growing nugs.net archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
Colorado-based festival staple for 25+ years; horn-driven funk-jam with afrobeat and soul; annual NYE run a sold-out Denver institution; Lettuce's closest peer in the jam-funk lane
N 1 artist
📈 RISING STAR

Neal Francis

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Analog Funk / Soul-Jam / Keyboard-Forward
📍 Chicago, IL  ·  Est. 2018
👥 Neal Francis (keys/vocals), Davel Oquendo (drums), Michael Starks (bass), Sam Quintana (guitar), Dustin Laurenzi (sax)
🎶 Alameda, Prometheus, Soulful Wind, Goin' Up the Country
🏟 Club / Theater (500–3,000)
~90 shows/yr 🎟 $42 avg $2.4M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Peach, high-profile festival benefit slots
📼 Taping generally allowed
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp
Rising 'Jam-Funk' star; 70s analog aesthetic; high-energy keyboard improvisation; 2026 festival profile expanding rapidly
O 2 artists
🎸 VET / CORE

Oteil Burbridge

↗ Visit official site
🎵 Bass / Jam / Soul / Dead-Adjacent
📍 Atlanta, GA  ·  Active since 1990s
👥 Oteil Burbridge (bass/vocals); collaborations vary by project
🎶 Projects: Oteil & Friends, Dead & Company, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Tedeschi Trucks Band
🏟 Club → Theater (varies by project)
Varies by project 🎟 $45–$90 avg Cross-project presence
🎪 Peach Music Festival, Wanee, Playing in the Sand
📼 Full taping tradition across all projects
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music, nugs.net
One of the most beloved bass voices in the jam world; Allman Brothers Band bassist 1997–2014, Dead & Company 2015–2023; Oteil & Friends brings Dead repertoire into intimate settings; deeply woven into the fabric of the entire scene
⭐ HONORABLE

Ominous Seapods

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🎵 Progressive Rock / Funk-Jam / Psychedelic
📍 Plattsburgh, NY  ·  Est. 1990
👥 Tod Rustebakke, Marc Brownstein (early), Dana Monteith, Max Verna, Gabe Donatelli
🎶 Bubble, Stratosphere, Pod Plop and the Seething Jambalaya
🏟 Club / Small Theater (historic)
Inactive / reunion shows 🎟 Archival Legacy catalog
🎪 H.O.R.D.E. Festival, Wetlands-era NYC circuit
📼 Full taping; strong Internet Archive presence
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Upstate NY 1990s cult favorites; intricate compositions and heavy improvisation made them a Wetlands staple; Marc Brownstein went on to The Disco Biscuits; beloved by deep-crate fans of the era
P 3 artists
⭐ HONORABLE

Perpetual Groove

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🎵 Psychedelic / Electronic Jam / Rock
📍 Athens, GA  ·  Est. 1999
👥 Brock Butler (guitar/vocals), Adam Perry (bass), Albert Suttle (drums), Matt McDonald (keys)
🎶 Speak Easy, Resolution, Dirtwire, Lovely Day, Break the Chain
🏟 Theater / Club (1,000–3,500)
~60 shows/yr 🎟 $45 avg $2.1M est. gross
🎪 Wanee, Bonnaroo (legacy), SunFest, Hulaween
📼 Full taping; nugs.net SBD archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Athens GA legend; reunited and actively touring 2024-26 with Brock Butler; electronic-jam fusion that bridged the 90s Dead scene into jamtronica
🏛️ TITAN

Phish

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🎵 Psychedelic Rock / Jam
📍 Burlington, VT  ·  Est. 1983
👥 Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, Page McConnell
🎶 Tweezer, You Enjoy Myself, Divided Sky
🏟 Arena / Sphere (17,000–20,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $185 avg $14.8M est. gross
🎪 Festival 8, Curveball, Superball IX
📼 Full taping allowed; official LivePhish releases
🎧 LivePhish+, Spotify, Apple Music
2026 Summer Tour announced; ongoing Sphere talks
📈 RISING STAR

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

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🎵 Funk-Jam / High Energy
📍 Baltimore, MD  ·  Est. 2009
👥 Gregory Ormont, Jeremy Schon, Ben Carrey, Alex Petropulos
🎶 Horizon, The Moog, Funk It
🏟 Club / Small Theater (500–2,500)
~140 shows/yr 🎟 $28 avg $1.4M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest, Peach, Catskill Chill
📼 Full taping; board recordings
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Relentless touring schedule; positive-energy funk brand recognized nationally
R 1 artist
🎸 VET / CORE

Railroad Earth

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🎵 Jamgrass / Americana / Bluegrass-Rock
📍 Stillwater, NJ  ·  Est. 2001
👥 Todd Sheaffer (guitar/vocals), Tim Carbone (violin/accordion), John Skehan (mandolin), Carey Harmon (drums/vocals), Dave Speranza (bass)
🎶 Seven Story Mountain, Like a Buddha, The Cuckoo
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,500–6,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $60 avg $3.8M est. gross
🎪 Old Settler's Music Festival, Hangtown Music Festival
📼 Full taping encouraged; board recordings
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
25th Anniversary Tour launched Jan 2026 at Stone Pony (Asbury Park NJ); NJ roots = instant Grateful Pier affinity
S 5 artists
🌵 COSMIC / AMERICANA

Sierra Ferrell

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🎵 Jamgrass / Folk / String-Jam / Americana
📍 Charleston, WV  ·  Est. 2021
👥 Sierra Ferrell (vocals/guitar/banjo/fiddle), touring band
🎶 Train Whistle, Jeremiah, Dollar Bill, Bells of Every Chapel
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (3,000–15,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $70 avg $5.6M est. gross
🎪 DelFest, Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly, Telluride
📼 Taping generally allowed; growing archive.org presence
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
2026 Grammy winner; must-see festival act; high-energy string improvisation bridges Jamgrass to mainstream Americana
⭐ HONORABLE

Spafford

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🎵 Deep-Dive Jam / Progressive
📍 Scottsdale, AZ  ·  Est. 2012
👥 Brian Moss, Jordan Doron, Reed Mathis, Alex Petropulos
🎶 Feel the Void, All In, Salamander Song
🏟 Club / Theater (500–2,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $32 avg $1.1M est. gross
🎪 Peach, Electric Forest, Summer Camp
📼 Full taping; board recordings
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Known for 40+ min single jams; deep improvisational commitment
📈 RISING STAR

Squeaky Feet

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🎵 Prog-Rock / Jazz Fusion / Jam
📍 Denver, CO  ·  Est. 2019
👥 Colin Shore (guitar/vocals), Greg King (guitar), Jimmy Finnegan (bass/vocals), Brian Keller (keys/sax/flute/vocals), Kevin D'Angelo (drums)
🎶 Irish Goodbye, Brainrot, Common Ground, Tunnel Vision — Overview Effect (2025)
🏟 Club / Theater (500–3,000)
~95 shows/yr 🎟 $35 avg $1.6M est. gross
🎪 Summer Camp, Colorado circuit
📼 Full taping; nugs.net archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Berklee-fueled prog-jam breakout; new album Overview Effect (2025) driving national profile; next-level virtuosity
🎸 VET / CORE

The String Cheese Incident

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🎵 Bluegrass / Electronic / Jam
📍 Boulder, CO  ·  Est. 1993
👥 Bill Nershi, Michael Kang, Kyle Hollingsworth, Keith Moseley, Michael Travis
🎶 Round the Wheel, Miss Brown's Tea Party, Rosie
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (2,500–15,000)
~60 shows/yr 🎟 $75 avg $4.5M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest (co-founders), Horning's Hideout, Camp Bisco
📼 Full taping encouraged; nugs.net
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Co-founders of Electric Forest; consistent Rocky Mountain presence
🌵 COSMIC / AMERICANA

Sturgill Simpson (as Johnny Blue Skies)

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🎵 Psychedelic Country / Cosmic Rock / Groove-Jam
📍 Jackson, KY  ·  Est. 2024
👥 Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies (guitar/vocals), The Dark Clouds (full band)
🎶 Passage du Désir, Swamp of Sadness, '93 Till — extended guitar-forward jams & seamless segues
🏟 Amphitheater / Arena (10,000–35,000)
~65 shows/yr 🎟 $125 avg $8.1M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Jazz Fest, Outlaw Music Festival
📼 Selective taping; no official live archive
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
2026 'Mutiny for the Masses' tour; groove-centered live show fully embraced; headlining jam festival ecosystem as Johnny Blue Skies alter ego
T 4 artists
🏛️ TITAN

Tedeschi Trucks Band

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🎵 Blues-Rock / Soul-Jam / Americana
📍 Jacksonville, FL  ·  Est. 2010
👥 Susan Tedeschi (guitar/vocals), Derek Trucks (guitar), 12-piece touring band incl. horns & backing vocalists
🎶 Anyhow, Do I Look Worried, Midnight in Harlem, Bound for Glory
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater / Beacon Theatre residency (2,800–15,000)
~70 shows/yr 🎟 $145 avg $10.2M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Jazz Fest, Lockn' (legacy), Warren Haynes Xmas Jam
📼 Full taping; nugs.net official SBDs
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
Often cited as best live band in the world; 2026 'Sun Sand & Soul' tour + Beacon Theatre multi-night residency; Derek Trucks guitar = generational talent
⭐ HONORABLE

Twiddle

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🎵 Funk-Fusion / Jam
📍 Burlington, VT  ·  Est. 2004
👥 Mihali Savoulidis, Ryan Dempsey, Brook Jordan, Zdenek Gubb
🎶 Syncopated Healing, Lost in the Cold, I Am Winter
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (1,000–5,000)
~40 shows/yr 🎟 $60 avg $2.5M est. gross
🎪 Mountain Jam, Peach, Bonnaroo
📼 Full taping
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Navigating hiatus/transition 2025-26; strong existing fanbase in holding pattern
🌵 COSMIC / AMERICANA

Tyler Childers

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🎵 Outlaw Country / Soul-Jam / Appalachian Rock
📍 Lawrence County, KY  ·  Est. 2011
👥 Tyler Childers (guitar/vocals), The Food Stamps (full band)
🎶 White House Road, Nose on the Grindstone, Mule Pull — expansive soul-drenched live jams
🏟 Amphitheater / Stadium (15,000–50,000)
~55 shows/yr 🎟 $115 avg $6.3M est. gross
🎪 Jazz Fest, Outlaw Music Festival, Folsom Field (CO)
📼 Limited taping; fan recordings circulate on archive.org
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
2026 tour includes Jazz Fest + Folsom Field; 'Mule Pull' improv style creating massive jam crossover following
🎸 VET / CORE

Turkuaz

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🎵 High-Energy Funk / Afrobeat / Dance
📍 Brooklyn, NY  ·  Est. 2009
👥 Dave Brandwein (guitar/vocals), Chris Brouwers (keys/vocals), Shira Elias (vocals), Casey Stanton (vocals), Greg Sanderson (sax), Josh Schwartz (trumpet), Craig Brodhead (guitar), Michelangelo Carubba (drums), Chris Mercier (bass)
🎶 Rush, We Are the Punks, Glimmer, Hot Damn!
🏟 Club / Theater (500–3,500)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $40 avg $2.3M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Summer Camp, Peach
📼 Full taping; nugs.net archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify, Apple Music
9-piece NYC funk machine with matching outfits and relentless dance energy; JamBase consistent fixture; spawned Doom Flamingo offshoot; NJ/NYC metro draw makes them natural Grateful Pier / TLN regional play
U 1 artist
🎸 VET / CORE

Umphrey's McGee

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🎵 Prog-Rock / Metal / Jam
📍 Notre Dame, IN  ·  Est. 1997
👥 Brendan Bayliss, Jake Cinninger, Joel Cummins, Andy Farag, Kris Myers, Ryan Stasik
🎶 In the Kitchen, Bridgeless, Nothing Too Fancy
🏟 Theater / Club (1,000–5,000)
~100 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $5.5M est. gross
🎪 Electric Forest, Summer Camp, Hulaween
📼 Full taping; nugs.net official SBDs
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Known for precision improv; 'School of Rock' sets a fan favorite
V 1 artist
🚀 HEAVYWEIGHT

Vulfpeck / Cory Wong

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🎵 Modern Funk-Jam / Minimalist Funk
📍 Ann Arbor, MI (Vulfpeck)  ·  Minneapolis, MN (Cory Wong)  ·  Est. 2011 / 2014
👥 Vulfpeck: Jack Stratton, Theo Katzman, Joe Dart, Woody Goss, Cory Wong (guitarist/frequent collaborator). Cory Wong also tours as solo act with band.
🎶 Vulfpeck: Dean Town, Back Pocket, 1612, Beastly. Cory Wong: Cosmic Sans, Phenomenon, Joy.
🏟 Theater → Arena (3,000–20,000)
~60 shows/yr (combined) 🎟 $85 avg $5.1M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Broccoli City Festival; Vulfpeck famously sold out Madison Square Garden independently
📼 Selective taping; Vulf Records direct-to-fan model
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube (massive presence)
Leaders of the modern funk-jam movement; Vulfpeck's DIY MSG sell-out (2019, via Spotify "silent album") is jam music lore; Cory Wong brings Vince Guaraldi minimalism to the festival circuit; both act as gateway artists pulling mainstream listeners into the jam scene
W 2 artists
🏛️ TITAN

Widespread Panic

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🎵 Southern Rock / Jam
📍 Athens, GA  ·  Est. 1986
👥 John Bell, Michael Houser (posthumous influence), Jimmy Herring, John Hermann, Dave Schools, Domingo Ortiz, Duane Trucks
🎶 Disco, Chilly Water, Climb to Safety
🏟 Theater / Amphitheater (3,500–20,000)
~40 shows/yr 🎟 $105 avg $4.2M est. gross
🎪 Wanee Music Festival, Georgia Theatre Runs
📼 Full taping allowed; nugs.net archive
🎧 nugs.net, Spotify
Selective multi-night runs; New Orleans & Red Rocks annual events
⭐ HONORABLE

The Wood Brothers

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🎵 Americana / Folk-Jam
📍 Nashville, TN  ·  Est. 2004
👥 Oliver Wood, Chris Wood, Jano Rix
🎶 Ways Not to Lose, Shoofly Pie, Atlas
🏟 Theater / Club (1,000–4,000)
~80 shows/yr 🎟 $55 avg $3.2M est. gross
🎪 Bonnaroo, Telluride, Peach, AmericanaDeli
📼 Taping generally allowed
🎧 Spotify, Apple Music
Consistent festival staple; critically acclaimed; Chris Wood (Medeski lineage)
🎸 Ultimate Jam Band Artist Guide 2026 · v5 · Compiled by TLN / EIC Research · thelivenetwork.com