jam cruise festival

Compose Yourself Magazine

Do what you love, and share it with the world

Was It All A Dream? Why Jam Cruise 19 Was The Best Week Of My Life [Festival Review]

It has now officially been almost TWO MONTHS since disembarking the MSC Divina, and still, with a solid chunk of time to process and reassimilate, I am still convinced there is not a sufficient way to encapsulate the experience that is Jam Cruise into words. However, an attempt must be made…if only for the crucial reason to have another piece of physical evidence that the days between February 6th and 12th on the ship were in fact, not a dream, but indeed a reality.

Jam Cruise has always been a bucket list trip for me. For years, I’ve heard tales of the insanely epic musical collaborations, the behind-the-scenes kickbacks with artists, and the undeniable magic of this one-of-a-kind floating festival experience. For years, I held off going, usually due to the duration of the event and the price tag. In fact, when the option was actually in sight for the first time for the boat’s 19th sailing, the final ‘YES’ did not arrive until November. However, once official Cloud 9 emails began sliding into my inbox, my inner (and outer) voice shockingly exclaimed, “I AM GOING ON JAM CRUISE” repeatedly for months. Although, I knew the reality of the trip and this personal accomplishment would not truly sync in until I was physically at Port Miami on the morning of Sunday, February 6th.

The Journey to Jam Cruise 19

Now, before I overly gush my heart and soul about Jam Cruise, let’s simply address the pillars of what makes JC the true creme de la creme of expeditions for live music lovers. Jam Cruise is everything you love most fused into one impeccably curated event. It is a vacation, a music festival, a never-ending costume party, a cruise, and a summer camp for adults – all beautifully wrapped into one. 

The length of the trip, which is typically five nights, but slated for six this go-around, truly allows individuals to immerse themselves in the experience. The duration is just enough to ease from the “real world” into the bliss of presence, to serendipitously slip into the “I can do whatever the heck I want and be totally myself and celebrated” mindset. This length of time is enough to make a true difference in a life, to actually kick a nervous system into parasympathetic, responsible party mode…to allow for surrender to the Jam Cruise flow, surrounded by a few thousand incredible humans, artists, creators, innovators, lovers, and music appreciators – all attempting to do the same. 

I already knew that Jam Cruise was going to be a true full circle moment, a return back to more purpose, a welcome push out of my comfort zone, and a re-committment to loosening up and really embracing fun, a “best week ever” type thing, you could definitely say. I metaphorically pinched myself as I packed and prepared – “I really get to pack all of my favorite clothes and run around with all sorts of friends on a boat listening to the most epic jams with some of my favorite musicians?” I thought. With a fine selection of handpicked wisdom, advice, and humor from the amazing “lifers” and “repeat offenders” on the Jam Cruisers Facebook group , I embarked on an adventure I had been unknowingly training for a decade plus. 

The six-night outing departed from Miami, making two stops, one in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and one in Grand Turk. There were three official theme days established by Cloud 9 and three unofficial theme days set up by the cruisers. This made for a dress-up, costume-filled boat the entire span of the trip. At any other point in my life, I would have been in slight distaste for a theme every single night. However, in this seemingly pivotal turning point of a once hard personal preference, the themes fit seamlessly with clothes I already had and the costumes become one of the best parts of the cruise for me personally! Seeing everyone and their one-of-a-kind spectrum of self-expression and creativity (or not – which was also cool), was absolutely delightful, entertaining, engaging, and oh-so…F-U-N! 

And while music is the dominating spearhead of the festival-at-sea, Jam Cruise also features top-tier teachings and offerings via programs like Masters Camp at Sea , Wellness at Sea , a full schedule of “activities ”, which involve a beautiful slew of summer-camp inspired slots of time watching or participating in exceptional and mostly ridiculous shenanigans with fellow cruisers and artists. Since the cruise is truly what they say, “a marathon, and not a sprint,” we shall marathon this rambling and personal recollection of possibly unreal events into a day-by-day playbook for you to divulge yourself in. Enjoy. ;D

DAY 1: ALL ABOARD JC 19 – Unofficially “3 Years of Sparkles”

Three years of anticipatory excitement buzzed palpably in the air at Port Miami as thousands of eager Jam Cruisers underwent the process of actually boarding the cruise ship. With the unofficial theme of “3 Years of Sparkles,” it was no wonder there was quite a special sparkle in the air. Glittery, colorful humans flung themselves into long-awaited reunion hugs and hellos and virgin cruisers relied on the “repeat offenders” to show them the way, as everyone enthusiastically found their appropriate place in the embarkation process. An enthusiastically beautiful frenzy to behold, thousands of attendees, staff, artists, and crucial teams made their way through the line, passing customs, obtaining their coveted cruise card, and lastly, crossing the threshold onto the grand MSC Divina. Embarkation complete.

Now once you’re on board, the first step is finding your cabin, setting your things down, hootin’, hollerin’, high fivin’, and then briskly strollin’ to the Atrium to attach your credit card to your cruise card so that you can keep the thoughts of responsibly at bay for the week. The Divina was obnoxiously more grandiose than I had pictured, with mirrored walls all over the place for maximum vanity and friend-making opportunities, crystal staircases (real Svorkskey in the Yacht Club – IYKYK), a true “luxury floating hotel” vibe (also known as a cruise I guess). 

An inaugural Jam Cruise right of passage is drinking a BBC, which is a blended Bailey’s Banana Colada (but fresh banana and a floater Meyer’s rum). As I began acclimating and slowly running into dear friends and meeting new instant pals, while waiting in the bar line for my first MSC bartender and BBC experience, the reality of being on motherfunkin’ Jam Cruise 19 seeped into my beaming, sensitive, overly excited being. As joyous interactions and synchronistic introductions occurred at every turn and everyone began to ease into the wildly wonderful vibe of Jam Cruise and find their shipmates, the three-year wait was FINALLY over and it was all happening.

Just around sunset, throngs of enthralled, sparkling Jam Cruisers began spreading their shine across all floors and stretches of the Divina. Bubbling cumulus clouds draped behind the pulsing Miami skyline as smiling people took pictures or got their pictures taken (shout out to the epic photo team whose photos will be used throughout this piece), letting the anxious excitement of the reality sink in as the party truly began. Well, technically the pre-party with Karina Rykman was a mini kick-off, but also technically, Jam Cruise doesn’t actually start until the official toast and George Porter Jr.’s opening set on the Pool Deck. As the Divina set sail southeast into the open sea and the Magic City skyline slowly kisses the dark horizon, we waved ‘ta-ta’ to life as we knew it. 

A small disclaimer: The thing about the schedule (and the “not schedule”) on Jam Cruise, is that incredible music and insanely cool jams that will never happen again are happening pretty much at the same time every day, all day and all night. It is simply impossible to catch it all. There is pure magic popping up and down every corridor and on each new floor you step to. You can have your “plan” and set sets to catch, but when it comes down to it, you are at the mercy of the Jam Cruise flow, the magnetic draw to the moment you were called to be in, you know, all that spiritual energetic hoopla nonsense. One huge positive that veteran festival goers will relish in though, is that pretty much every band on Jam Cruise plays at least two sets, sometimes even three, so if you miss the first, you may be able to see them again.

Okay, back to Day 1 now…

George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners gracefully cast us away into the oceanic abyss, sharing the deep-rooted sounds of his funky majesty, sprinkling in favorites from The Meters, Hunter/Garcia, and Bill Withers, as the gracious breeze set the tone for a week at sea. Next up was The ominously genius Fearless Flyers (Nate Smith, Joe Dart, Cory Wong, and Mark Lettieri), in the bow-ly beautiful Pantheon Theater, an act I had somehow yet to had the undying pleasure to witness in real life. Lettuce followed by showcasing a full force in a funk-forward set on the Pool Deck. As seasoned vets on the ship, their set was a welcomed breath of returning home to the funk, gooey center of the live-music lollipop. The rest of the night was literally chock-full of hard-to-choose musical selections, with The New Deal, The Bamboos, and Neighbor all sharing set times, followed by undeniably talented supergroup The Word, SunSquabi , and a “new” band, Cool Cool Cool, that you must familiarize yourself with. I had recently seen The Word at Denver Comes Alive so I blasted off to Jamtronica-Future Fun trio Sunsquabi, before heading to an intimate triple Cool-ing in the Jam Room. 

Well, shoot…looks like we are going to take another detour here, as I think it’s necessary to set the mood for a few of the special spots that deserve a more, in-depth nod to set the scene.

The Black and White Lounge a.k.a. the Jam Room:

Masters Camp at Sea by Day & the Juiciest Jams by Night

A flashy and expansive room with low ceilings and high class, the Black and White Lounge features an odd but attractive clubby-lounge vibe with a once-was-cooler decor that you end up sort of loving after you spend so much time there in the wee hours of the morning. Large but intimate gathering spaces with white pleather seatings and curved booth spaces presented great zones to kick back and have conversations with epic jams in the background. The white-tiled dance floor was in itself an entire vibe, just look up and there’s a spherical ceiling made of mirrored glass ascending in the middle, spliced with led lights leading up into what is essentially the wormhole of jams past. Anyways, the Black and White Lounge a.k.a the Jam Room was host to some of my absolute favorite musical memories on the boat, each night hosted by a different artist who was able to completely curate the late-night tunes for everyone who was not getting their DJ on up top in the Galaxy Disco. The Disco was sadly a place I only went to twice for a total of 30 minutes, and not because it wasn’t legendary, I just found myself in the Jam Room nightly.

During the day, the Jam Room was host to the incredible Masters Camp at Sea . What I like to describe as the ultimate opportunity and experience for aspiring musicians and curious fans alike, Masters Camp at Sea presents the chance to take classes, watch, and participate in jam sessions with some of the best “masters” in their class. This completely immersive and enriching offering allows people to get up close and personal with top-tier musicians and humans that are there to share their wisdom and guidance, as well as give you a supporting nudge in the direction of your musical dreams. This year’s program featured “Masters” Isaiah Sharkey, Nikki Glaspie, Reed Mathis, Peter Levin, Vaylor Trucks, John Medeski, George Porter Jr., Adam Deitch, Robert Randolph, and Roosevelt Collier (yeah…WHAT?!). Master Camp at Sea is presented by Jam Cruise and Music Masters Collective Inc . a non-profit created with the mission of producing one-of-a-kind music events fusing education and inspirational live performances, as well as bridging the gap between artist and audience.

The Spot: Late-Night Deck Pickin’ for the Soul

The iconic “Spot,” located outside on the deck not far from the Jam Room, is a Jam Cruise staple whose “hosting” badge was awarded to The Sweet Lillies this year. Imagine a cross between a busking scenario and a pickin’ party that lasts into the wee hours of the night and can feature some mind-blowing string jams with the unlikeliest and most unthinkably brilliant groupings of players rotating throughout the evenings…and you have The Spot. 

The Atrium: The Classiest & Tackiet Piano Lounge You Ever Did See

Located in the lobby of the Divina, where a small circular seating area doubles as one of the most intimate and epic “stages” of Jam Cruise, The Atrium provides viewers with a truly unforgettable concert experience. Towering three floors, this legendary space presents ample room to view whatever magic is happening from multiple floors, just take the circular crystal staircases up and down to find the appropriate spot for your senses to feast. And at least once on the cruise, you had to incubate yourself into the glass elevator that takes passengers up and down to get a real one-of-a-kind viewing of the entire Atriatic spectacle. Picture this – you’re watching George Porter Jr. jump in on upright bass for “Insane in the Brain” with The Sweet Lillies or three members of Lettuce taking turns solo-ing with The Fearless Flyers, all the while witnessing insanely happy adults dressed in costumes having the time of their life going up and down the glass Atrium elevator – literally a priceless sight.  

Okay, okay, okay…back to the daily run-through. 

DAY 2: First Day at Sea & an Offical Theme of the Decade You Were Born

Aaah, the first full Day at Sea on the Divina with the theme of “Decade You Were Born”. This meant you had thoughtfully and awe-inspiring costumes from all of the decades strewn about the boat for roughly 22 hours. A musical outfit I became fancy to on the boat is Utah-based Pixie & the Partygrass Boys , fronted by a badass babe Pixie and spanning string-centered tunes in the form of bluegrass, Americana, pop, rock, you name it. They kicked off day two with an energetic set on the Pool Deck right around “lunchtime” (cause societal norms and times are out of the equation on JC). Then it was time for a split set: the first half was heart-warming storytellers The Lil Smokies , who so humbly bless their authentically sophisticated Americana Roots sound to the world. 

I had been very excited to finally catch Daniel Donato , who was playing his solo acoustic solo at the Garden Pool, stripping down his cosmic country sound to a backyard pool level for a slight peek into his guitar prowess that would be fully showcased as the week carried on. One of the bands I was also very excited to see (for the sheer rareness of the opportunity) was Cymande , a renowned British funk group that is a pillar in the making of the genre back in the seventies. Lamentably, their Pool Deck set was pretty much fully canceled due to unsafe weather (thankfully they had another set scheduled for the Pantheon Theatre later on). After just a slight but understandable small bummer, we were graced by a hauntingly stunning Fruition trio set in the Atrium, which featured some of my favorite harmonies in all the lands. 

The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio gave us a schooling in pure SOUL, organ-ically guided classes in the land of jazz, funk, Motown, blues, you name it. Lucky folks were also able to see The Revered Matthew Rieger (amazingly talented multi-instrumentalist and artist also in The Lil Smokies) in the Atrium or Mihali (good vibe curator and also insanely talented multi-instrumentalist and singer also in Twiddle) in the Golden Jazz Bar (a spot I wish I’d have a clone for so I could have spent more time in), while the rest of the boat was getting their dinner or costume on, or in the Panthenon (due to weather) for the not-to-be-missed Neal Francis set (damn that’s a run-on but we love it). Resurrecting a vintage sound reminiscent of the best in R&B, funk, and the like, Francis brings a heartfelt enthusiasm that’s hard to deny, from his songwriting and lyricism to his stage presence and the talent and camaraderie apparent throughout the band. 

By far my highlight of the night and one of the top of the week for me was The Fearless Flyers , whose Pool Deck show was moved to the Atrium (wow thank you concert Gods), for a tremendously packed, face-melting set of literal genius, which is when the sit-in’s by Lettuce’s Eric “Benny” Bloom , Ryan Zoidis , and Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff occurred. Karina Rykman brought her infectious high spirited energy and bass playing to the lounge, while there was also a Honey Island Swamp Band set and West Seattle All-Star jam of legends in the Jazz Lounge (wow it pained me to miss both of these). I had signed up for Positive Legacy (don’t worry – I will get to that soon) scheduled for 9AM the next morning, but there was no way in any universe that I was missing an Andy Frasco & the U.N. set my first time on the boat (it may have been Andy’s birthday or something?!).

A frontman, songwriting, and piano-playing fool who wears his heart on his sleeve and is endlessly kind and giving, Andy Frasco and his radical band [Ernie Chang, Floyd Kellogg (half-time), Shawn Eckels, and Andee “Beats” Avila], delivered a rambunctious, A-FUNc-tion throwdown for the ages. By the end of the set, I had lost my dope glasses, found my dope glasses (surprisingly not crushed), was kicked in the face (lightly by a crowd surfer named Floyd), and strutted myself down the Frasco-directed aisle in the crowd after a man dressed as David Bryne in his iconic giant grey suit (who I later met eating breakfast the in his “regular” form – s/o to you, can’t remember your name). With a full heart and exhausted body, I attempted to sleep before my only early wake-up call of the week.

DAY 3: Port Day in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic with Positive Legacy and Unofficial Theme of LOVE!

Bright and begrudgingly early with a massive headache from lack of sleep and maybe one or two too many drinks just a few hours before, I put on my closed-toe shoes, grabbed my sunscreen and water, and dialed my buddies’ room to make sure they were up for our highly-anticipated adventure in the gorgeous country of the Dominican Republic. Since 2004, Jam Cruise has incorporated Positive Legacy, a non-profit whose mission is to integrate live music and service to positively impact the communities in the destinations Cloud 9 visits. Made up of a day of service, an insanely cool charity auction, and other fun extras, Positive Legacy was hands down something I knew I wanted to participate in when I first heard of it years before finally making it on the boat. This year’s positive legacy was spearheaded by an awesome guitarist and native Dominican Ricky Giordano, who plays with Karl Denson and helped coordinate the happenings for the service day. 

Excited and eager to see what was in store for the day, two bus fulls of 75 cruisers, the musicians involved, and a small but mighty crew of volunteers headed towards Project Esperanza where we teamed up with the incredible Bachata Academy for a day of service, learning, fun, and unbeatable community. We broke up into different workstations to assist with projects around the land like sifting dirt to create stucco and build a wall, helping build the foundation for an aquaponic vegetable garden, digging and transporting dirt and rocks to help clear space, and other tasks that were necessary for the growth of Project Esperanza. All the while, students from the Bachata Academy and musicians from KDTU and other bands broke off into their perspective instrument stations for an enriching musical lesson for all involved. We were also treated to a delicious homecooked meal, dancing lessons, and awesome demonstrations of Bachata-style music, all capped with an epic jam from members of Fruition and Pixie and the Partgrass boys to celebrate the accomplishments of the day. 

Sweat and dirt-covered and tired as hell, but so, so full of joy, my bestie babe Megan and I made it with just enough time to soak in the rays and jump in the refreshing waters of the northern shore of the country. Ah, thank you ocean medicine! I immediately felt ready to tackle the evening portion of Day 3. I retired to my cabin for a much-needed solo hour to shower and to get my rainbow tie-dye dress, pink heart sunglasses, sparkly platform Vans, and “Howdy Honey” trucker hat on. Now, a trusted source and four-time cruiser from back home had told me never to miss a Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Pool Deck set (like I would anyways…) so I rallied with my close homies to get the funk down on the deck to a LIFER legend (Yes, Karl has been on every single Jam Cruise). In what I assumed and prepared for and also very quickly cemented as truth, is that you are averaging around 20,000 steps a day. Which is what I LIVE for, to be honest. I funkin’ love walking, but also, that’s a lot on my aging and aching hooves, joints, and overall body (I think most of us were in the same … boat…). Anyway, I ran from bow to aft and up and down from the Pool Deck to catch bits and pieces of Little Stranger , Reed Mathis , lespecial , and then made sure to be in attendance for ALL of the Trouble No More set. 

The night peaked during the Lettuce Pantheon revival – surrounded by the babliest of core babes, and then hundreds of Lett-lovin’ folks just as fanatic as me, I die (and reincarnate into a more powerful being of love and realness and light, blah, blah, someone shut me up please). Anyway, if you haven’t seen Trouble No More, it’s probably because you don’t live in one of the maybe 10 cities they’ve played only once at. This eight-piece outfit has formed their own adaptations of the Allman Brothers Band legacy, delivering their poignant and spirited versions from the Southern Rock icons’ extensive catalog. I haven’t even got to what makes the band the most special and why I’ve been wanting to see them play so badly. It’s uh, the people in it, consisting of Brandon “Taz” Niederaurer (guitar, vocals), Daniel Donato (guitar, vocals), Dylan Niederauer (bass), Jack Ryan (drums), Lamar Williams Jr. (vocals), Nikki Glaspie (drums), Peter Levin (keys) and Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel).

I’m pretty sure I was instantly enraptured in the absolute presence and grit of this audible octagon. They carried listeners to the precipice of rebirth, completely reviving the spirits of the Allman Brothers but in a fashion fit for 2023 in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship. That is when I really got to see each of these players (most of which I hadn’t had the true pleasure of seeing play for more than a sit-in or a half-listen) shine their freakin’ superpowers. I scored an insanely awesome spot to view the scene from, feeling drenched in a thick layer of gratitude as I endeavored to breathe it all in and be in the moment. 

Switching scenes back to the intergalactic musical mission happening in the Theater with Lettuce, I was not, for various and obvious reasons, able to pull myself away to catch any of Polyrhythmics set on the Pool Deck (oh, boohoo). Post-set, I kissed my babes goodbye and jaunted on over to the Jam Room for a dun, dun, dun, dun – Shawn Eckels led Jam Room set til 5AM. Now if people weren’t hip to Mr. Eckels before this Jam Cruise, they surely are devoted fans now. Also the guitarist and integral part of “the U.N.” (of Andy Frasco), Shawn is a half-distinguished guitar player who is highly underlooked in my opinion, but very quickly changing that narrative one sick guitar solo and stage antic at a time. The Eckels-led jams were sick as hell (to be expected), but it was also just dope to see Shawn popping up all over the boat for exciting sit-ins throughout the week.

DAY 4: Officially “Fat Thursday”: Purple, Golf & Green, it’s Mardi Gras Day at Sea 

Oh, Mardi Gras! An early start to the day brought a fruitful amount of fun to choose from: a thunder drum meditation, Ba Duan Jin with Karl Denson, Dogs in a Pile playing on the Pool Deck, an acupressure workshop, a boat-wide scavenger hunt, and a “Shake That Brass” workshop with Polyrhythmics . ALL of that to choose from…and ALL before 2PM?! Complete Insanity. Unfortunately and fortunately for me, Thursday was the day I ended up having a much-needed “chill” sesh. I napped, ate, showered, and powered through as the halfway mark for the trip suddenly crept up on us like unwelcome cold sweats in the night. I threw on my Mardi Gras colors and affirmed to myself in the mirror that “I was a capable bad b**** who was going to have the best evening ever” as I packed the essentials into my mini backpack, bolted in my sparkling Vans up two flights of stairs across to the cafeteria for a “driveway” pizza slice, and briskly walked to the Pool Deck just in time to catch my ultimate faves Fruition for a full band shindig. The sun beat down in thick rays as heartfelt harmonies, raw guitar rippage, and joyous songs filled the saline atmosphere, as I pondered to myself (in my head and probably out loud to a friend nearby) “damn…is this real life”? 

A set I heard was insanely epic but I sadly missed (in lieu of an equally as cool time) was the Honey Island Swamp Band, playing a “Dark Side of the Swamp” set with special guests like Neal Francis and Mike Dillon . However, my 6’o clock hour led me to meet some buds at a spectacle I could not miss, Eric Benny Bloom’s Really Really Tacky Show. Let me tell you what, splendidly tacky it was. People should really let Benny have his own live variety show because everyone in the audience of the three-level atrium (which was THE best setting for this) was absolutely enthralled, laughing, and slightly shocked. The Bloom house band played a slew of genre-spanning bangers with Ryan Stastik on bass, DJ Williams on guitar, Michael Carubba on drums, Kenneth Crouch on piano, and Shira Elias on backup vocals. Nowhere else have I heard more hilarious insults, sultry trumpet solos, and songs by Frank Sinatra and Garth Brooks, as well as the theme songs to both Friends and Cheers. 

Neo-Jazz-Soul-Hop group from Richmond, Butcher Brown , set an entire sunset mood on the Pool Deck – thankfully I caught the last bit, before scooting back across the boat to the Theater for the long-awaited Cool Cool Cool show. You might recognize these high-energy players from Turkuaz, as this newly birthed group is sailing seas uncharted. With a pleasurable sit-in by Roosevelt Collier and their captivating cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” I left the Theater anything other than Cool. The excitement just energizer bunnies its way into a space where time is completely irrelevant on Jam Cruise. With confusing changes as the boat crossed time zones from Atlantic and Eastern and vice versa, sleep schedules become completely wack and any sense of normalcy starts to shine its irrelevant grin at your brain as it tries to sort out what’s up and what’s down. A feeling and state of being I honestly had anxiety about surviving through, but once you let the flow of Jam Cruise truly encapsulate your human form midway, the pure childlike joy takes ahold and third and fourth winds start to support the glorious madness against the gravitational pull towards your cabin bed. 

All that being said, after an incredibly noteworthy and extra funky Dumpstaphunk Pool Deck showdown, I finally found myself walking up the authentic Skavorksy crystal staircase in the famed Yacht Club . There are a few iconic spots on the boat that you hear about and selfishly want to make it to at least once on your journey and the Yacht Club is one of them. While I had a few friends staying in Yacht Club, it’s a little-known secret that the bar is stacked, open, and free (of course only if you’re with Yacht Club members). I ironically had my worst drink of the week there (LOL – no shade on Yacht Club, it was what I ordered that was not good). While the energy of the Fat “Tuesday” (but really Thursday) Second Line pulsed along the pool deck, bringing straight up New Orleans to the Divina, I strolled my way over to the Atrium to check out the Pickin’ Lounge, presented this time by Ben Weiss (mandolin, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys). Complete with members from The Sweetie Lillies, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys, Kyle Tuttle on banjo, and a lot of other dope artists that I don’t know the names of (sorry), this sweet lil’ jam was pretty much the ideal fusion of funk and bluegrass and I couldn’t have been more delighted. 

So in between catching a little bit of Galactic and a lil bit of The Lil Smokies, my sweet best friend babe and I were chilling at the bar in the casino waiting for a drink. Now, repeat offenders and lifers will tell you (as will the Jam Cruisers Facebook group) of the incessantly amazing kindness and joy the MSC staff bring to their jobs and how much fun they can be. Well, my friend and I experienced a true highlight of the cruise as we watched three boa-lad, water gun-toting, pink-sunglass wearin’ MSC staff members make a James Bond entrance down from the crystal staircase, play fighting each other, literally laugh-crying the entire time, barrel rolling on the floor, and putting on a complete show as they threw each other bottles of booze and brought everyone who had the pleasure of being there into a state of almost-pee-your-pants childlike laughter. 

Okay, enough of that fun, it was time to get serious…Dead serious. No really, with Joe Marcinek’s Dead Funk Summit. Now if you aren’t familiar with Joe Marcinek , who is quite the musical virtuosos and ringleader. A man with a heart of gold, Marcinek tours like none other, always bringing an incredible rotating cast of equally talented players with him. This time, it was funky Grateful Dead tunes with people like Goerge Porter Jr., Tony Hall, Nikki Glaspie, and Ian Neville. I ran back across the boat to groove my way through (another) Neal Francis set (can’t get enough), before finally witnessing the captivating essence of synth-wave goodness Doom Flamingo . A newer band composed of Kanika Moore, Ryan Stasik, Sean Bing, Thomas Kenney, Mike Quinn, and Ross Bogan, this lively band has been laying an impenetrable foundation in their live performances, with powerhouse queen Kanika Moore leading the way. 

Although bed was screaming my name, I sauntered for the thousandth time to Jam Room for the session that could not be missed with the godfather of funk and the godfather of Jam Cruise, Mr. George Porter Jr., knowing that tomorrow morning we would all wake up to the beautiful sight of Grand Turk island. The port stop in Grand Turk was a much welcomed added destination for Jam Cruisers, and I must say, a highly-ranked reason for me to get on that boat. Precisely so that I could get off it and get my body into the crystal turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Turks and Caicos, Grand Turk , is a historical hub for Bermudian salt collectors and the salt ponds and marks of the island’s Colonial history can be seen throughout the beachfront capital of Cockburn Town. 

DAY 5: The Beauty of Grand Turk and Unofficial Studio 54 Disco Night 

By this point in the trip, my constantly tugging desire to recharge alone with yoga, breath, music, and walking, was screaming in my face. To avoid any irritation or annoyance being projected on my lovely friends, I opted to veer from the group for a few hours to solo adventure in true Sydney fashion. I joined a few fellow cruisers for a cab ride (thanks to the sweet couple who gifted my fare on the way into town) into the very quaint and sparse downtown area of the island, before hoofing it directly to the sandy shore. Being the water baby I am, I spent a few serene hours slowly making my way back towards the cruise port, stopping at every single gorgeous stretch of beach along the way.

I recharged my batteries via salt, sun, and sand, as I attempted to etch every fractal of that view into my mind, oozing gratitude for that moment, for the entire trip so far, and for the continued epicness still to come. Every so often, I’d exchange a special moment with an island local or a familial Jam Cruiser, who was also totally sponging up the sensational sea-nery and relishing every moment on actual land. I eventually walked to the singular road that golf carts and cabs were carting cruisers to and from the port on, and thankfully, a sweet lady with an Astro van of cruisers pulled over and allowed me to join the ruckus inside the vehicle. Shout out to the group in this cab, who also randomly gifted me my $5 cab fare as we gassed each other up for being awesome and hopped back into the tourist port trap of “Margaritaville”. 

After I re-boarded the Divina, a much-needed siesta and recoup was in order before the evening kicked off with the sunset pool deck edition of my favorite rowdy rockers, Andy Frasco & the U.N. I regrouped, rested up, and recharged – ready to soar in the slow-burning disco fever Studio 54 night would entail. A huge aspect of JC that I appreciated was the fact that the “crowds” everywhere you went were filled with the most friendly, attentive, and lovely folx. I felt generally so safe, secure, seen, heard, and loved 99.9% of the time. As I joyfully sauntered up to the front of the A-FUN crowd, it took less than a minute to find my Frasco-loving aficionados. The set contained some of the heart-punching favorites and a wildly rockin’ guitar threesome sit-in with Eckels, Mihali and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer (the 20-year-old guitar prodigy and Yale student who has been on the boat since he was a wee shredder). “Give it up for the guitar players – fuck yes” exclaimed Frasco after each player shredded their faces off and proceeded to drop into genuine childlike playtime, dragging each other across the floor, doing backward rolls, and grinning from ear to ear all the while not letting up on the licks. 

A perma-grin on my face, I stayed in the general vicinity with my babe Kelsey as we eagerly awaited the long-anticipated phoffman set, which ended up proudly being my FAVORITE SET OF THE ENTIRE WEEK (a very close call and for a slew of reasons that would bore you but ignite my innermost soul’s flames). The phoffman set was made of Paul Hoffman (mandolin, lead vocals, Greensky Bluegrass), Andy Dunnigan (dobro, vocals, The Lil Smokies), Matthew “The Reverand” Reiger (guitar, The Lil Smokies), Jake Renick Simpson (fiddle, The Lil Smokies), Tyler Thompson (drums, Fruition), Jay Cobb Anderson (guitar, Fruition), Jeff Lenoard (bass, Fruition), and The Horn Section (arguably the hardest working horns on the boat this year), composed of Chris Brouwers (trumpet), Greg Sanderson (tenor saxophone), and Josh Schwartz (baritone saxophone). It was the synchronistic fusion of Hoffman’s ooey, gooey songwriting and lyrical honey with the hard-hitting guitar gang, and the robustness of a full band PLUS horns closer to the end….ooooooweeeeee! I would have been fine dissipating from this earthly plane after this “Horny Fruity Smokie Phoff” musical experience – highlights include lots of Greensky classics like “Leap Year,” “All I Need,” and insane jams you just had to be there for. 

Sadly, I had to opt to miss the Honey Island Swamp Band (again), Fackin’ A (Mike Dillon’s newest super genius group with the lespecial dudes), and the second Trouble No More set. However, the universe handed me a spiritually moving incident in the form of an Oteil & Friends set , which encapsulated the breezy beautiful night flawlessly. The supergroup opened with Kool & The Gang’s “Let The Music Take Your Mind,” a fitting mood to set for really the entire Jam Cruise experience. The musical magic carried on through Allman Brother’s Band staple “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” before Jen Hartswick wooed us as she does by taking the reigns on Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart,” before a “Dark Star” that will long be unforgotten. The feeling of love and acceptance was tangible and the set ended with a memory of two beloved cruisers who had set up a surprise engagement (he said YES!) via Oteil that was capped off with a more than suiting “They Love Each Other.” 

A four-fold banger was on our plate next, as I nonchalantly swiped drive-by pizza slices to and from Cymande’s theater set to Pixie & the Partygrass Boys in the Black & White Lounge to a not surprisingly cool Little Stranger set on the Brews at Sea Stage that ended with the dudes galavanting through an ocean of dancers and up the staircase to the top deck where they de-clothed and retreated to the hot tub – mic drop – literally. The disco daze continued with blips and pieces of Umphrey’s Mcgee rockin’ the pool deck to a proportionally large crowd, Karl D funkin’ it out in the Theater, and a sardine-packed Jam Room throwdown lead by Prince “Taz.” I called it around 4AM to prepare for the final day of Jam Cruise 19 (holds back reluctant tears).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sydshine Media (@sydshine_media)

DAY 6: COWBOYS Vs. ALIENS for the Last Galactic Hoorah

I awoke on Saturday morning with a bittersweet belly full of gratitude for how the week had divinely unfolded. We had all made it to the final frontier…and the official costume theme that had been most excited about….Cowboys vs. Aliens. For the first time ever, I custom-ordered an outfit – a cosmic bodysuit and full-length, fringe-lined gloves of my dreams (shoutout to Coquetry Clothing ). Paired with sequin boots, my genuine Texan cowgirl hat, and my honky-tonk sass attitude, I was giddy’d up. But first, I accomplished my goal of attending at least one curated yoga class, where I happened to run into my four dear buds, all from Denver. Our bodies at a point were, even with my somewhat consistent workout regime and relatively healthy diet and lifestyle, wrecked. We all needed endless hours of pampering i.e. massage, hot soaks, steams, stretching, and sleep (soon, young grasshoppers, soon). The yoga classes were part of larger “ Wellness at Sea ” program, which offered an incredible variation of workshops, classes, open forums, and offerings on self-care, mindfulness, energy work, and more throughout the week on board. 

Curated by Rebel + Muse , power duo teachers Melanie and Kaleo Wassman (the later part of Californian Rock band Pepper). A juicy ground-centered flow targeted the back, which we all delighted in as we inhaled life force into each scrumptious asana pose. Even though I was running on fumes, I decided to completely seize the last day, not wasting a minute and sponging up every last glorious moment with cruise friends, fond and fresh alike. 

The one absolutely necessary “to-do” checkbox on the last day is to PACK UP YOUR THINGS! That way, when they somewhat aggressively but still politely urge you off the ship bright and early around 8AM…sharp, you are ready to go! I knew I wanted to avoid packing in a rush on a head full of Jam at 5AM, so I made sure all my items were properly accounted for and zipped back into my handy air compression packing bags, with all other small items and mementos from the best week ever safely tucked in pockets and bags for later moments of surprise flashback bliss upon the arrival home. After I very proudly had all my belongings 90% ready for disembarkation, I threw on my favorite string bikini and headed to the pool deck for a long-anticipated FULL day of fun in the sun. 

This was the schedule that Saturday afternoons are made for – Karina Rykman rockin’ out pool deck blazing while just a hundred yards or so away Mihali was gracing us with a swoon-worthy solo set on the quaint garden pool stage on the Divina’s bootiful tail end. The cherry on top of parading back and forth throughout the allotted 75 minutes of each artist’s time, was having the absolute ride of my life on the swirling water slide that I, unfortunately, had not yet ridden. Making up for lost slide time was crucial and I’m happy to report I got seven solid slides in, recruiting three newbie sliders including new homie and Karl Denson guitar player Ricky Giordano for one of the LAST slides of the entire festival. But wait, back to the blissfully immaculate sun-drenched afternoon – composed of a solo phoffman set before the undeniably loveable Yacht Rock sunset escarpment. 

The acoustic phoffman set saw Greensky frontman on guitar, playing sweet sentimental nothings that officially burst my overflowing soul into a million pieces into the salty ethers of the sea. No for real though, his set was highlighted with a personal top-ranking song in the love category “In the Morning Light” (co-written with Mr. Billy Strings), my top-ranking Greensky Bluegrass song “The Four,” “Courage for the Road,” and heartbreaker “The Reverend.” A loveable dose of lighthearted Yacht Rock , which beamed tunes synonymous with the name, was led by Lebo and composed of insane talent like The Horn Section, Ivan Neville, Nigel Hall, Shira Elias, Sammi Garrett, Karl Denson, Kellen Asebroek, Jay Cobb Anderson, Robert Mercurio, Mimi Naja, Jan Hartswick, and more I am rudely not able to recall. Bubbles caressed the air as sweaty and smile-decked Jam Cruisers grooved and bobbed their way through such a FUN Yacht Rock setlist, which included Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgetting,” Jackson Browne’s “Somenody’s Baby,” Olivia Newton John’s “Magic” sung by the insatiable Sammi Garrett, and Toto’s “Rosanna” to name a few. 

It was a culminating moment as the sun set gracefully on the western front of the shoreline, bringing that inevitable feeling that the final hoedown was in hot pursuit. I didn’t mention it before, but bands like Fruition, Andy Frasco & the U.N., The Motet, SunSquabi, and Lettuce, were some of the first bands I ever interviewed as a doe-eyed, completely naive music journalist. So being able to attend Jam Cruise, seven plus sun cycles later, after years of observing, appreciating, and supporting the evolution of these bands and individuals who supported my always-itching side passion, was a literal waking dream come true. 

While I went back to my cabin to change out of the slide suit and into the cosmic cow-lady bodysuit, seal the deal on my packing mission, and link with the inner crew to rally for the last hoorah, that sadly meant missing Neal Francis’ atrium set (boo), the Dave Watts Super Jam (double boo), and the final silent auction happenings for Positive Legacy (triple boo). It’s okay though because my three new best friends and I toasted our bottle of champagne that we had delivered to our room and took some important moments to hug, thank, and enjoy each other’s company without thousands of people around. Once we were saddled up and ready to ride, we opted for some Butcher Brown in the lounge before catching the not to be missed second Oteil & Friends set in the theater. 

In what I was finding was fitting Jam Cruise fashion, next up were FOUR sets we had to begrudgingly either choose from or choose to full send for (which the second is of course what I opted for). OH, a heaping dose of O.G. electro jam outfit Sunsquabi, a generous spoonful of progressive Afro-Funk Polyrhythmics, a gulp of funky goodness Galactic, and topped off with a band I had been waiting what felt like too long to finally see – lespecial. If you had to classify it, which you really can’t, this “heavy future groove” trio is bringing something entirely their own to the scene and catching quite the fan base with each live show. Made up of Luke Bemand (bass, synth), Rory Dolan (drums, samples, vocals), and Jonny G (guitar, keyboards, samples, vocals), this band brings you to the terrifying edge where fans of Tool, Primus, 00’s classics, and psychedelic jam improv can relish in uncharted sonic territories that bring out a brute of buried primal energy that had been asleep a little too long ( read this in-depth review of a recent lespecial show for a more sensory dive). 

JC19 would not be fully circled without staying up all night and getting way downer than down at the Roosevelt Collier-led jams. An unbeatable way to seal the jam jar, these late-night sonic collabs featured the supergroup lineup of my personal dreams I didn’t know I had, with both Shawn Eckels and Taz on guitar at certain points, Adam Deitch on drums, Brad Miller on bass, Greg Sanderson on sax, and more, exploring unknown realms beyond the physicalities of the earthly world. I’d find myself glistening in sweat, dancing my booty off with dope ass friends, and then I’d snake through the sardined crowd and pop out for some fresh air and more familiar faces at pickin’ The Spot. 

We were able to rally a crew of about 10 up to the Galaxy Disco for one last hour of fist pumps, humorous antics, and appropriate shenanigans that would be tipped off with some final slices of pepperoni pie and fresh-cut fruit in the cafeteria. The last few hours on the boat are a certified, sorta confusing, cluster pluck situation of half the people trying to get TF off the boat as soon as possible and half the people taking their sweet leisurely time, cause “what’s the damn rush?” Anyhoo, I got lucky as hell and found my disembarkation buddy near the front of the line. I somehow hauled all my luggage to meet them and by a twist of glorious fate you may say, we somehow ended up in an Uber, across the city, and checked in to our beachfront hotel and in full lounge mode by 10AM…?! Uh okay, universe, I see you, and I thank you.

Join in on the Best Week Ever & Pre-Book Jam Cruise 20 TODAY

It honestly has created overwhelmingly welcome surges of dream-induced feelings aimed to stick a finger in my cloudy memory recall from the trip, as well as a fond longing for a stretch of time that will never be comparable to any other trip I have or will ever take again. There is positively no way to recap or even put into words the inexplicable cosmic alchemy that occurs on this boat, yet here is my mediocre and way too long attempt to recount it in a digitally digestible format.

The environment and space that Cloud 9 (s/o to the queen of queens, Annabel Lukins Stelling), the MSC staff, and every member involved in curating Jam Cruise has cultivated for the attendees, allows people to fully, safely, and abundantly BE themselves…to relish in joy, fun, and all the things that set our souls on fire. It is truly incomparable, especially when you then add in the luxurious and obnoxiously awesome features that come with the cruise aspect of the passage. Access to the spa, 24-7 buffet, a cozy room and bathroom, amazing staff and wait service, the choice of balconies, Yacht Club, etc. – these amenities create the level of comfort that we as “professionals” deserve to enjoy during this marathon week of the best in high-caliber stimulation of all things live music, connection, and…the love of the JAM. 

One of the best musical adventures of my life…until Jam Cruise 20 that is. 

I mean, I always thought Jam Cruisers were a little pushy when insisting their music cruise was “the best,” and “you have to go, there’s nothing like it”. And within the first day of the festival, I already knew I was locked in for life (which may have been a subtle underlying reason I waited so long to showcase my sea legs). Now, with around 10 months until the famed 20th anniversary of this absolutely unique floating festival, we’ve already recruited handfuls of eager Jam Cruise virgins to join in on this truly one-of-a-kind Cloud 9 throwdown. There’s no such thing as too much time to plan, so pre-book your cabin today and get to dreamin’.  And if you luckily find yourself in New Orleans during Jazz Fest, head to the Toulouse Theatre for the Jam Cruise 20 kick-off party and lineup announcement show with Stanton Moore, Ivan Neville, and friends.

Related Posts

Ready to HULA: 11th Year of HULAWEEN Promises Stacked Lineup, World Debut of The Bobby Weir Incident | October 24-27 [Event Preview]

An Honest Look at Texas Eclipse 2024: The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful [Festival Review]

One thought on “ was it all a dream why jam cruise 19 was the best week of my life [festival review] ”.

• Pingback: Festival Season 2023: The Top Fests To Set Your Sights On

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jam Cruise Delivers Daily Lineups for 2024 Voyage

Jam Cruise has shared a breakdown of its daily lineups for the impending concert at sea, which leaves port from Miami on February 25 and returns on March 1. The floating festival boasts multiple stages, with many talented artists and acts anticipated throughout the event. 

Day one, Feb. 25, will commence with a piano frame courtesy of Jordan Anderson, followed by the official sail-away toast and an hour-and-a-half-long set on the Pool Deck from Lettuce. Also gracing the evening schedule are Medeski Martin & Porter Ft. Aba Diop, moe., Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and Eggy. After midnight, TAUK Moore Ft. The Horn Section, The New Mastersounds, Porter Jr., and Lebo will keep the boat dancing. 

Music starts early on Day two, Feb. 26, starting at 12:30 p.m., with a set from The HillBenders and other afternoon entertainment courtesy of Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Al Schnier and Lebo. During the night, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light project will take over the Pantheon Theatre. Also on the list is a solo piano set from Medeski, Jimi’s Dead, Lotus, DJ Logic’s Birthday party and more. 

The first half of Feb. 27 will be spent at the port, Montego Bay, Jamaica, with music resuming on the ship after 6:30 p.m. from Keller Willians, Steel Pulse, Cool Cool Cool, Cory Wong, TAUK, The Sweet Lillis, Ivan & Friends, Magic Beans, Krasno Moore Project, Dumpstaphunk, and a late-night offering from DJ Soul Sister. 

Day four is another port day, arriving in Grand Cayman at 9 a.m. and departing at 5:30 p.m. Music picks up at 6 p.m., a la The New Mastersounds. Later on, more music will come from Everyone Orchestra, Galactic, Duane Betts & Cris Jacobs, and Shira Elias, in addition to a special Purple Party, paying tribute to the music of Prince. 

The final day of Jam Cruise 20 is billed to include music from Big Richard, Lebo’s Yacht Rock, Mike D Super Jam, Cory Wong, Cimafunk, Lotus, Perpetual Groove and others. Scroll down to view official breakdowns of the daily schedule for Jam Cruise. 

For more information, visit its official website . 

Newsletters

Marketplace.

June 2024 Relix Issue

Forever Grateful - Embroidered Dad Hat

1/2 Scale Fully Functional Wall Of Sound PA Speaker System w/ Poster

Dave Matthews Collector's Issue Set

Aiko Aiko Throwback Pin

Music Pro Ear Protection Set by EARPEACE

Yin-Yang Throwback Tie-Dye T-Shirt

Eggy - The Relix Session (Limited Edition 2-LP Vinyl)

Grateful Dead Rainbow Bears Woven Cotton Blanket

Dancing Queen Toddler T-Shirt by The Rock and Roll Playhouse

Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country - Reflector (Exclusive 2-LP Relix Red Variant)

Taper's Section Throwback "Stack" Sticker

Phil Lesh & Friends | Martian Crewneck Sweatshirt

Daily 7 news.

British Blues Troubadour John Mayall, Dead at 90

Watch: Timothée Chalamet Portrays Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’ Movie Trailer

Reflections: Taj Mahal

Watch: Phish Deliver Massive “Kill Devil Falls” Jam at Mohegan Sun Arena

Astronaut Rock Star Awards Presented at O.A.R.’s Boston Concert

Jake Shimabukuro and Mick Fleetwood Outline ‘Blues Experience’ on Forthcoming Album

Listen: MUNA’s Katie Gavin Previews ‘What a Relief’ with “Aftertaste,” Plots Solo Tour

You might also like

• Live at Relix

Shower your loved ones with  the  gift  of  music!

1 Year. 8 Issues. Only $24.95

• Festival Lineups
• Festival News
• Festival Reviews
• Festival Photos
• Regional Festivals
• Concert News
• Concert Photos
• Concert Reviews
• Tour Announcements
• Jazz & Funk
• R&B / Soul
• Album Release
• Artist Spotlight
• Best of Lists
• On The Rise

Jam Cruise 20 Once Again Exceeds All Expectations

By Scott Hopkins on March 3, 2024

Is this our BIG review? Heck, no! We just rolled off the boat yesterday. Full review and half a dozen special focus articles in the works. In the meantime, here are my 16 favorite Jam Cruise 20 sets, by day. (Always with the caveat: YMMV.)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Medeski, Martin & Porter with Diop & DJ Logic (Pantheon Theater)

TAUK Moore (Pool Deck)

MAGIC BEANS (Brews at Sea)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26

JAMTALKS: Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew (Atrium)

    Best clip ever

Cimafunk (Pool Deck)

Lotus (Pantheon Theater)

Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew: Remain in Light (Pantheon Theater)

Isaac Teel & Kanika Moore [& TAUK!] (Black & White Lounge)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Cory Wong (Pantheon Theater)

DIGGIN’ DIRT (Pool Deck)

Cool Cool Cool (Pool Deck)

MAGIC BEANS (Black & White Lounge)

Charlie 2na & Cut Chemist (Pool Deck)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

The New Mastersounds (Pool Deck)

Purple Party (Pantheon Theater)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29

Mike Dillon’s Super Jam (Pool Deck)

DIGGIN’ DIRT (Black & White Lounge)

I ALWAYS appreciate new-to-me music. Diggin Dirt and Magic Beans OWNED Jam Cruise 20 for me.

Comments are closed.

• Subscribe to Relix
• Radio Charts
• Livestream Guide

Current Issue Details

Buy Current Issue

Published: 2024/05/02

Jam Cruise Outlines 2025 Excursion: STS9, Snarky Puppy, Thievery Corporation and 40+ Others

Today, May 2, Jam Cruise, the annual floating festival, announced details behind its next trip from the port, slated to sail Feb. 14 through 19, 2025. The once-in-a-lifetime musical and travel experience will once again present a roster of talent, ranging from up-and-comers to seasoned vets and supergroups, as well as master guests at sea poised for sit-ins. 

Taking full advantage of mobility, the 21st edition of Jam Cruise will present five nights of nonstop entertainment with a travel itinerary denoting another layer of the experience: travel. Two ports mark the forthcoming schedule: Cozumel, Mexico, and Belize City, Belize, providing music lovers a break from the stage-fixed gaze amassed by a staggering display of musical acts.

Featured on the event will art artists such as STS9, Snarky Puppy, Thievery Corporation, Galactic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, LP GIOBBI, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Tank and the Bangas, Summer Zen (Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr., Robert Walter, Lebo, John Morgan Kimock), ALO, Dragon Smoke (Ivan Neville, Robert Mercurio, Eric Lindell, Stanton Moore), Dogs In A Pile and more. 

Working down the bill, Mildlife, The Nth Power presents Earth Wind & Power, Southern Avenue, Polyrhythmics, lespecial, MarchFourth, Pink Talking Fish, Club d’Elf, Hot Buttered Rum, Neville Jacobs, BERTHA: Grateful Drag, The Sweet Lillies, The Psycodelics, Sneezy, Kanika Moore Super Jam, Everyone Orchestra, Mark Farina and DJ Brownie make up the first wave of artist signed on to participate.

Jam Cruise 21 will continue its tradition of welcoming special guests, such as The Horn Section, Mike Dillon, Shira Elias, Sammi Garett, Will Bernard, Allie Kral, Alex Wasily, and Brock Butler, adding a layer of mystique as to who they will join on stage. This year’s master camp extends to feature talents such as Luther Dickinson, Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Nate Edgar, Vaylor Trucks, Melody Trucks, Matt Butler, Andy Frasco, Kanika Moore, Benny Bloom, Alex Wasily, Ryan Zoidis and Cliff Porter.

The 2025 gathering will once again coalesce on the MSC Divina, presenting attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves across the drifting venue’s eight stages, on the Pool Deck Main Stage, 1,500-seat Pantheon Theater, beloved late-night Black and White Jam Room, collaborative Jazz Lounge, Atrium and exterior Garden Pool, as well as sacred spaces like The Spot.  

Those who reserved a spot during the pre-book period can select a cabin starting May 8, 2024. Any remaining cabins will go on sale to the public at 1 p.m. ET on May 10, 2024. Visit www.jamcruise.com for all of the details. 

Scroll down for the complete list of 2025 musical participants.

Jam Cruise 21 Artist Lineup:

Snarky Puppy

Thievery Corporation

Galactic feat Jelly Joseph 

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

LP GIOBBI Presents Dead House

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Andy Frasco & The U.N.

Tank and the Bangas

Summer Zen (Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr., Robert Walter, Lebo, John Morgan Kimock)

Dragon Smoke* (Ivan Neville, Robert Mercurio, Eric Lindell, Stanton Moore)

Dogs In A Pile

The Nth Power presents Earth Wind & Power

Southern Avenue

Polyrhythmics

MarchFourth

Pink Talking Fish

Club d’Elf

Hot Buttered Rum

Neville Jacobs*

BERTHA: Grateful Drag

The Sweet Lillies* – the spot

The Psycodelics

Kanika Moore Super Jam*

Everyone Orchestra

Mark Farina

SPECIAL GUESTS:

The Horn Section

Mike Dillon

Shira Elias

Sammi Garett

Will Bernard

Alex Wasily

Brock Butler

MASTERS CAMP:

Luther Dickinson

Nikki Glaspie

Vaylor Trucks

Melody Trucks

Matt Butler

Andy Frasco

Kanika Moore

Benny Bloom

Ryan Zoidis

Cliff Porter

Show No Comments

No Comments comments associated with this post

Note: It may take a moment for your post to appear

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Watch: Mickey Hart Links Music and Sports in New ESPN Film ‘Rhythm Masters’
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Announces First Group of 2024 Artists
• Listen: MUNA’s Katie Gavin Previews ‘What a Relief’ with “Aftertaste,” Plots Solo Tour
• Karina Rykman Plots Fall & Winter 2024 U.S. Tour
• Watch: Phish Deliver Massive “Kill Devil Falls” Jam at Mohegan Sun Arena
• Astronaut Rock Star Awards Presented at O.A.R.’s Boston Concert
• Watch: Timothée Chalamet Portrays Bob Dylan in ‘A Complete Unknown’ Movie Trailer
• Jake Shimabukuro and Mick Fleetwood Outline ‘Blues Experience’ on Forthcoming Album

Most Popular

• Most Commented
• Tunde Adebimpe Talks Phish, Future of TV on the Radio, Solo Music and More
• Jimmy Herring Diagnosed with Stage 1 Cancer, Widespread Panic Cancel Asheville Shows
• Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Bassist Ben Carrey Announces Hiatus from Touring, to Be Replaced by Twiddle’s Zdenek Gubb
• Widespread Panic Announce First-Time Vinyl Pressing of Michael Houser’s Debut Studio Effort ‘Door Harp’
• Warren Haynes Band Outline Fall 2024 Million Voices Whisper Tour
• Allman Betts Family Revival Detail 8th Annual Tour with Cody and Luther Dickinson, Jackie Greene, Anders Osborne and More
• Watch: Phish Continue Summer 2024 Tour with ‘Evolve’ Pull, Debut “Human Nature”
• Watch: The Rolling Stones Dust Off “Far Away Eyes” in Santa Clara
• Report: Dead & Company Cancel West Palm Beach and Tampa Shows
• Willie Nelson, Bob Weir and More to Participate in ‘Biden For President’ Livestream Fundraiser
• SiriusXM Announces Launch of Phish Radio, Jam On Moves to App and Online
• Eric Clapton Releases Politically-Charged “This Has Gotta Stop”
• Thousands of Music Fans Sign Petition to Bring Jam On Back to SiriusXM
• “You Should Fuckin’ Pay Attention”: Chris Robinson Gets Frustrated at Philadelphia Crowd During “Brothers of a Feather” Gig
• Nike Confirms Grateful Dead Sneaker Collaboration, Sets Release Date
• Zach Deputy Responds to His Attendance at DC Trump Rally
• Monthly Contributors

BOOK YOUR CABIN NOW!

Let your dancing feet take you around the MSC Divina’s 18 decks and discover a festival venue like no other. The Atrium's awe-inspiring Swarovski crystal staircase is the perfect place to strut your stuff. Head straight to the Pool Deck on the Disco Express to order a BBC cocktail, kick back in a hot tub during Sailaway Set, or whoosh down the waterslide. Hit the Infinity Pool for tunes, yoga, and sunset views over the horizon. Hot out of the oven pizza is a great snack for on your way to the Jam Room in the Black & White Lounge, or any of the other seven venues on board. Swing back to your cabin any time to refresh, shower, or disco nap.

Venues & Stages

Eight different stages have been curated with you in mind, meaning you’ll find music around every corner, nearly around the clock. From panoramic ocean views on the Pool Deck to the Black & White Lounge where jams and spontaneity come together, and even unofficial venues like The Spot (IYKYK). The Divina is the perfect home to create those special Jam Cruise memories. Explore all the places & spaces where our amazing artists will perform!

Jam Cruise has a ton of dining options available nearly around the clock. Sit down for a 4 course meal with your crew, included in your cabin price or grab Feeling fancy? Take it up a notch with a meal at the up-charge restaurant onboard, Butcher’s Cut. Don’t forget to save some room for our legendary late night Chefs At Sea meals every night!

Splurge on more than just music at MSC Yacht Cub, an exclusive group of 69 cabins tucked away on the upper decks of the ship. Guests staying in Yacht Club suites will be provided with signature Butler and Concierge Services, complimentary wines and spirits, private Top Sail Lounge, One Pool and Bar, and their own restaurant, Le Muse.

Pamper yourself at the Aurea Spa before another night on the dance floor. Choose from a variety of body treatments including Balinese massage, wraps, and facials designed to rejuvenate you. Grab a pass to the Thermal Suite and give those muscles a break in the sauna or whirlpool. Take time for some R&R, your body will thank you.

Ante up, High Rollers! Head to MSC Divina’s Casino Veneziano and test your luck. Featuring 10,000 square feet of gaming space, you’ve got the choice to play your hand in poker, roll away in craps, or pull for jackpot on the slots. The Casino is a hot spot where fans and artists come together in an exciting high stakes environment.

If you’re dedicated to staying on track, you’re in luck! The MSC Divina includes a full gym, including a number of cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, classes, and a jogging track. Our Wellness at Sea program also offers multiple ways to stretch, breathe & flow to live performances every day so you can connect mind, body, spirit, and music.

Jam Cruise 21 features five nights of fun with an itinerary including stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize. Our Jam Cruise port stops pack all the great experiences of your favorite tropical destination into one unforgettable vacation. Step off the ship and into paradise…

Plus take advantage of two Days at Sea filled with music, activities, and all the goodness that makes Jam Cruise so special.

Choose between a number of different cabin categories, from cost efficient interior cabins to baller Yacht Club suites. Whether want a cabin near your friends, a quick elevator ride from the Jam Room, or as close to the action as possible, Jam Cruise and the MSC Divina has the cabin you’re looking for. Explore the deck plans and cabin options below to find the perfect home at sea.

Commitment to Sustainability

MSC Cruises is focused on providing guests the most sustainable and environmentally friendly cruise experience possible.

MSC’s ambitious “Plastics Reduction Programme” has replaced all single use plastics (straws, cups, shopping bags, coffee stirrers) with biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives. MSC has been recognized by industry watchdog, Bureau Veritas, with the highest international standards in the areas of environment, food safety, health and safety, and energy efficiency for all three domains of potential pollution – air, water, and waste.

MSC’s willingness to go above and beyond the environmental and energy management regulations is just one of many reasons they are an ideal partner for Jam Cruise. One example is the Divina using anti-fouling paint to reduce drag and enable the ship to cut through the water with a lower fuel consumption.

Carbon offsetting, compostable cups, complete recycling program and other initiatives by the Conscious Cruising program help make this a clean music cruise.

Cookies and Privacy

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best user experience on our website.

Jam Cruise 2024

THE SHORT VERSION

“Jam Cruise 20,” as Jam Cruise will be known this year, is setting off from Miami in February, closing out two decades of tropical funk cruises. This year, Jam Cruise will make two stops along its six-day route in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, but above all, it’s a music festival, with artists playing eight stages scattered throughout the cruise ship . Cruise venues range from typical theater and jazz club settings — which one could almost imagine are like you never got on a boat — to the sprawling pool deck and atrium of the ship. 

Artists like Perpetual Groove, Lettuce and The HillBenders will play a mix of rock, funk, jazz and bluegrass. Most artists on the cruise play two shows over the course of the week and otherwise wander about the ship with attendees — partly for the interactive musical environment, and partly because they can’t leave. Venues like the jazz lounge also have impromptu jams from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

The real stars of the Jam Cruise, however, are the festival’s signature BBCs, a cocktail consisting of Baileys, bananas, rum and pina colada mix — which might explain why everyone’s still so happy on day six.

  The Specs

• Several thousand attendees board the Jam Cruise every year. 
• The cruise ship is the MSC Divina.
• Cabins range from $1,149 to $3,999, with single up to quad cabins of various sizes available. For more pricing details see here . 
• Jam Cruise starts and ends in Miami. Check out Fifty Grande’s guide to the city here .

Where is the nearest airport?

Jam Cruise departs from and finishes in Port Miami. Miami International Airport (MIA) is the closest to the port. 

Where does Jam Cruise stop? 

The ship docks in Montego Bay, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. 

Who produces this cruise?

Cloud 9 Adventures.

Is this festival for all ages?

Who’s playing?

Moe, Medeski Martini & Porter ft. Aba Diop, Cory Wong, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew Remain In Light, Galactic ft. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, Lotus, Steel Pulse, Franc Moody, Dumpstaphunk, The New Mastersounds, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass, The Hillbenders, Ivan & Friends, Krasno Moore Project, Chali 2NA & Cut Chemist, Tauk Moore ft. The Horn Section, Cimafunk, Jimi’s Dead, Perpetual Groove, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Eggy, Ryan Montbleau Band, Cool Cool Cool, Lebo’s Yacht Rock, Próxima Parada, Big Richard, Magic Beans, The Sweet Lillies, Diggin Dirt, K & The Causeways, The Hillbenders, Mike D Super Jam, Everyone Orchestra, DJ Logic, DJ Soul Sister, Marc Brownstein, Duane Betts, Kanika Moore, Cris Jacobs, Adryon De León, Lyle Divinsky, Elise Testone, Eric Krasno, Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Vaylor Trucks, Ross James, George Porter Jr., Stanton Moore, and Matt Butler.

BY Emily Frantz

Best Things to Do in Miami

FESTIVAL REVIEW — Jam Cruise 20!

by Christina Wright • April 16, 2024

The excitement in the air was palpable. We pulled up to port in a van from our parking garage with passengers who were clearly not joining us on our venture. We dropped them off and continued to the next port. When we pulled up to the MSC Divina, it was apparent that this was our ship and our people. Everyone was eagerly waiting to embark on a one of a kind journey. Whether you were a “lifer,” “repeat offender” or a first timer, we all knew we were in for one hell of a voyage, Jam Cruise 20. Let’s go!

Over 30 bands from far and wide shared their musical talents on eight official stages and a few unofficial stages. The main stage, The Pool Deck Stage, was built in what was normally a pool on any other cruise. The pool was drained earlier in the day, the floor was dried and a stage was built. There is nothing like being able to watch one of your favorite bands perform on a beautiful stage, feeling the sea breeze swirling around, while enjoying the ocean waves as they guide us, dancing, swaying and jammin’ together. 

Our Sail Away Toast was just after sunset. We kicked off the week with Lettuce on the Pool Deck Stage as they led us on our maiden voyage while we sailed further away from the lit Miami coastline, casting our own lit scene out into the ocean. Lettuce’s entrancing horns, funky beats and leveling bass line really brought us to life as it started to sink in… what a week we were in for! We were all jammin’ in our jammies for the first official theme of the week and ready to groove the night away. The marathon had begun, good thing I was comfy. Next up, Medeski, Martin & Porter ft. Aba Diop in the Pantheon Theatre. Aba Diop is a master percussionist from Senegal. Together they created a fusion of jazz, blues and funk with a twist of electronic and West African influences. DJ Logic joined in and brought their sound to a whole new level. 

It is impossible to catch all the music on Jam Cruise due to scheduling overlap, human needs, and other fun distractions along the way to the next show. We knew what was next though, moe. I was excited to see what they had in store for us back out on the Pool Deck Stage. Moe. has refined their style and sound over the past 30 years while using their creative prowess to keep their fans engaged. Their ability to improvise and span across many genres is incredible to watch and listen to. I am a fan of Jim Loughlin’s incorporation of xylophone and percussion. I particularly enjoyed their song, “Mexico” and their invite of Daniel Donato up on stage with them. When “Okayalright” was played, the entire pool deck joined in the singalong knowing everything was going to be okay, and more (moe.) than alright. 

We took a breather with some food and self care back in our room before heading back out. We caught the end of The Magic Beans on the Brews at Sea Stage and watched them work their magic with their neo-jams. When they were done, all we had to do was turn in the opposite direction and we were facing the Pool Deck Stage again. We made our way up to our spot, we called it the ‘kiddie pool,’ stage left, for Tauk Moore ft. The Horn Section and they gave us a rockin’ good time. TAUK has been on a tour run with Kanika Moore , lead vocalist of Doom Flamingo to create a high energy and soulful fusion with what TAUK does best, rock. Their collaboration of soul, rock, and funk paired with The Horn Section, left it a show not to be missed. Kanika’s voice and energy is iconic. 

We stayed as long as we could but I knew The New Mastersounds were already playing in the Pantheon Theater. I had to catch the end of their set. It was good that most bands that overlapped another would at least start later and end later. There were times where we had to make the decision to watch the first half of one band and the second half of another. The New Mastersounds were no exception. After not being in the states for years, we were eager to see what they had in store for us. It was mere days ago that I had the privilege of seeing The New Mastersounds on their returning tour at WhipperSnap Music Fest along with Cool Cool Cool and other artists who were featured on Jam Cruise 20. I couldn’t get enough. It was 3:30 a.m. now, and The Black and White Lounge was the move, otherwise known as the ‘Jam Room,’ for Georges Porter Jr. & LEBO’s hosted jam. We closed down the lounge in our loungewear. Jammin’ in our pjs was a great way to get comfortable and cozy with the ship and all our mates for the first night. 

We had a ‘day at sea’ the following day, the first day of JC20. Jam Cruise offers plenty of activities during the daytime with all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream, brews at sea, drum clinics, yoga, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, kickball, costume contests, wellness clinics, bingo & more! The weather was beautiful. It was a perfect day for our Garden Party. My partner in crime and I kicked the day off with flowers and sunshine on the Pool Deck with J & The Causeways. They brought the energy we were all feeling with their soulful lyrics and sassy horn section. Jordan Anderson’s voice is everything you want it to be and more. Jelly , vocalist of Galactic , joined for a few songs in the true spirit of the jam. No matter who was singing you could feel that true NOLA style in every song. 

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country was up next on the Pool Deck. By now more of the jamily had joined our Garden Party on deck as little flowers and insects were sprouting up everywhere. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country’s songs’ melodic and rhythmic twang seemed to match the wind as it was picking up. Small droplets of water began blowing sideways. The cosmic band kept playing and gaining momentum. The stage crew had to eventually scale the side of the speakers and take down the mermaid banners artfully designed by Jeff Wood during this set. Everyone managed to batten down the hatches and hold it together as we cruised past the storm. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country took us on a thrilling ride. Everyone’s hair, wings, leaves, pedals, mushroom caps, gnome hats, and snail trails were blowing in the wind. The Garden Party Theme Costume Contest was next, hosted by Kanika Moore and Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, at the Brews At Sea Stage. We had some down time after that to get ready and fueled up for the rest of the evening.    We met back up in the kiddie pool at the Pool Deck for Cimafunk . They were so much fun. Their AfroCuban-Funk styles and hyped energy, had us all dancing and embracing the latin beats. Their 9-piece band from Havana showed us how to have a good time. From there, we coasted forward to the Pantheon Theatre for Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew Remain In Light .  Jerry Harrison, Grammy winning keyboardist and guitarist of The Talking Heads takes the stage alongside Adrian Belew, studio guitarist for King Crimson, recorded, performed and toured with Bowie, Zappa, Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails, and so many more. Together with Cool Cool Cool they played a killer Talking Heads set. Remain in Light kindled and ignited the crowd in a nostalgic trance and had everyone singing along to songs, “Cities,” “Psycho Killer” and more. Now it was time for Perpetual Groove on the Pool Deck. All the garden creatures were out and raging. We were riding the rails to our favorite southern psych rock heroes. It was so great to see Perpetual Groove on Jam Cruise after being a fan for over a decade and knowing they have been a part of Jam Cruise since almost the beginning.        

The next show I was excited for was Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Stokes in the Golden Jazz Bar. Shelby Kemp’s Mississippi-based southern guitar style along with Tampa Bay, Florida based Galbraith sisters, makes for a rocking good time. Taylor slaying on drums and Ashley holding down the bass lines alongside Shelby Kemp and the masterful Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds , created a southern rock fusion quartet not to forget. 

Lettuce was next in the Pantheon Theatre. Grabbed a midnight sandwich and headed that way to catch these cats tossing the garden salad we had created in the crowd with our fellow sprouts and spuds. Michael Mirele’s visuals took us to the tea party of Alice in Wonderland through otherworldly landscapes as Lettuce serenaded us into dimensions of dub and bliss. Franc Moody brought us back out to the pool deck for a funky disco dance party as we all worked on our “Dance Moves.” This London duo and their touring band had the whole ship bustin’ moves with their unique sounds and magnetic energy. My night was almost over, but I had to pop by DJ Logic’s birthday party in the Disco Lounge and followed it up with Isaac Teel and Kanika Moore in the Jam Room to top the night off. 

We woke up in Montego Bay, Jamaica. My SIGT sister from another mister (Jenn) and I had the privilege of joining Positive Legacy’s efforts at Robin’s Nest Children’s Home in the mountains of St. James, Jamaica. We had an afternoon of improving road access, painting school walls, cutting back foliage, and making hula hoops with the kids. Over 30 bikes and scooters were donated to the children. Once we had completed our tasks, we concluded with a traditional meal of jerk chicken, rice and beans, and fresh squeezed papaya juice while enjoying a celebratory music jam. Matt Butler of Everyone Orchestra brought together, Pete Shand of The New Mastersounds, Alric “AC” Carter of TAUK, Karl Denson with Ricky Giordano , Daniel Donato , and more. Even some locals got up to sing and play with the ensemble. It was a wonderful way to spend our time off the ship in Jamaica. We assisted around the grounds as best we could. This non-profit raised over $33,000 to help the environmental and humanitarian efforts in this community. A Positive Legacy is such a crucial and wonderful part of Jam Cruise and its very existence, uniting people through music. “One world united in music.” 

We made our way down the mountain on some of the newly resurfaced roads, back to the ship in time for Steel Pulse on the Pool Deck while we watched the sun set beside the stage over Montego Bay. It was pretty righteous. We decided to enjoy the show from the second story balcony of the pool deck as the members sang and played throughout the crowd. They ended their set with their own version of “Roll Away the Dew.” It was perfect. Once they were done, we had time to get our paint speckled and sweat drenched clothes off from our day of service, and get ready for a dazzling evening, starting with Cory Wong. The theme of the night was Zebras and the crowd had on their stripes, dancing in every direction. Cory Wong and friends put on a high energy show in their tracksuits, like they were going to outrun our herd. Petar Janic , the drummer, drove us all into a frenzy. The crowd was a daze of dazzled zebras if I ever saw one. 

We meandered back to the Pool Deck for a bit of Keller Williams and a bite to eat. Heading back to our room, we caught some of The Sweet Lilles in the Atrium. The Atrium is encircled with glittering staircases on each level above us. All the jammers were garbed in their stripes, grazing over The Sweet Lillies’ harmonic folk songs and serenading strings. Thanks and praises were given to Annabel for all the hard work and effort she puts into this amazing music festival. It was one of those special moments. Then we took that sparkling staircase up to see moe. in The Pantheon Theater. This was their second set on the ship and offered a much more intimate show. We rocked it out until it was time for the next. Made our way back out to the Pool Deck to cool off for Cool Cool Cool. Their depth and variety always has the crowd dancing and singing. After some wind in our stripes we had to get over to Dumpstaphunk’s only set on the ship, back in the Pantheon. The range in harmony with the brass along with Ivan’s soulful tones and Tony’s slappin bass, took me back to NOLA for a wild, funky good time. After that, it was out to the Pool Deck for the end of Chali 2NA & Cut Chemist before hitting the watering hole for my pre-bedtime meal. 

We anchored outside of Grand Cayman and made our way to the beach for some fun in the sun and crystal blue waters. We managed to get a nice tan in preparation for the unofficial theme, Neon Night. We lucked into a cabana with friends of friends from Atlanta and wound up right next to members of moe. Just a little bit of Jam Cruise magic! It is truly such a privilege to be among such talent on Jam Cruise. Whether you’re in the sand, on the deck, dancing in the elevator, or in the dining hall, you never know who you will bump into. We made it back on board with some time to spare and prepare for this evenings’ shows.

First up, The New Mastersounds on the Pool Deck. They had a plethora of guests up and kicked off the evening right. Up next, Everyone Orchestra , orchestrated by Matt Butler , and everyone was excited. Matt asked various musicians aboard the ship to join his orchestra. Members included; Duane Betts (guitar), Ivan Neville (keys), Brett MConnell (bass) Mike Dillion and Jim Loughlin on percussion, Michelangelo Carubba (drums), Nikki Glaspie (drums), Josh Schwatrz, and more! Conductor Matt Butler, had his back to us on stage and gestured towards everyone in the orchestra with a dry erase board in one hand and a baton (marker)  in the other. As the songs progressed he would write notes to the musicians with key changes, dynamic additions and lyrics. With his geometric neon decorated tailcoat and top hat, Matt Butler led the Everyone Orchestra into the lyrics, “How Lucky are We?” Soon the crowd was glowing even brighter, embracing how lucky we truly are to be here, with everyone, on this boat in the middle of the sea moving and grooving to this improvised orchestra of talent, as happy as could be. 

We made it in time for the second half of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe on the upper deck of the Pool Deck Stage and enjoyed catching some sea breeze with friends while Karl’s smooth sax and occasional flute had us all feeling good. So good, that we took a beat to recharge and eat before coming back out to the Pool Deck for Galactic . They threw down right off rip and ended with Jelly singing “Highway to Hell.” There was a moment where I felt the whole ship on that highway with me. Then we were off to see the rest of Franc Moody while we could. We zipped back over to a very crowded and luminous Pantheon Theater and got to experience their energy up close and personal. While their setlist was rearranged from their first set in the week, we couldn’t get enough of their feel good sounds in songs like “Dopamine,” “Charge Me Up” and “Dream in Color.” Their song “Dance Moves,” will forever be ingrained in my head. Franc Moody’s members’ distinct and colorful mohawks matched the electric and neon energy in the room. The boys were eventually brought to the stage floor by their final song, “Dance Moves,” as the keyboardist mashed the keys with his feet and the guitarist was sprawled out on the ground allowing the guitar to make whatever sounds it pleased. We all needed a breather after that performance. 

Next stop was at the Brews at Sea Stage for Proxima Parada , meaning “next stop” in Portuguese. They brought a light hearted and indie vibe to the ship. It was a refreshing stop in our musical ventures of the evening. The main goal was to make it to the Purple Party: A Tribute to the Music of Prince at 1:45 a.m. We made it, and boy did they not disappoint. Featuring members of the Magic Beans , Cool Cool Cool, and more, this Prince tribute kept us dancing the rest of the night away.

The morning of day 5 on Jam Cruise 20 on the MSC Divina was bitter sweet, it was the final day. My cabin mates and I were sure to pack and gear up for disembarkation before making our way out to the pool deck for Lebo’s Yacht Rock . We got the tail end of the Brews at Sea IPA of the day, and enjoyed some soft serve ice cream with the Butlers’ on their honeymoon before making our way to the Positive Legacy Silent Auction . So many goodies were displayed and ready to be bid on. Many of them were made by Jam Cruisers who donated their talents, time and efforts for the cause. Tickets and other items were donated by the musicians. It was fun to watch. I enjoyed seeing many happy jammers raise money for a great cause. Once the bidding was over, it was time to get into character for Jam Cruise 20’s last official theme, TV Characters. We made our way back out to the Pool Deck for Mike D’s Super Jam . This was the jams of all jams. Annabel, or better known as Sally O Malley from an SNL skit, welcomed Mike D and his hand picked band to the stage. They started with Taylor Galbraith on drums, Eddie Roberts on guitar, a fabulous horn section and of course Mike D doing his thing on the xylophone and percussion. Other musicians who jammed included Stanton Moore, Eric Krasno, Harry Waters, Jim Loughlin, Nikki Glaspie, Karl Denson, and more. Featuring songs by Ween, “Bananas & Blow”, and “It’s Gonna be a Long Night” we all knew that it probably would be a long night. Mike D’s Super Jam ended with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” sung by Harry Waters , Roger Waters of Pink Floyd’s, son. It was a special way to commemorate the last night on Jam Cruise. 

We had the privilege to hear from Steel Pulse again in the Pantheon, reliving our reggae and island vibes of the week. After that, Perpetual Groove was at the Black and White Lounge. Long time fans were there to indulge perpetually in their groove. P Groove invited Ansley Stwewart, Daniel Donato, Duane Betts, and Jonathan Lloyd on trombone throughout their set on songs like, “Too Close to the Sun,” “Walkin in Place” and “Diggin in the Dirt.” It was such a great show and everything felt so right.

We celebrated our fan-dom with a classic Black and White Lounge mirror selfie with the set list. We grabbed some food and did a little selfcare before making it back out to the Pool Deck for Lotus . I was only at Lotus briefly, it was hard to leave, but I had to make it back into the Pantheon Theater for Galactic’s last show. Everyone was embracing their TV character’s as much as we were embracing Galactic’s tight and syncopated energy. I was thoroughly satisfied. Now, there was only one thing left to do; end the night in the Jam Room with Marc Brownstien (of the Disco Biscuits) and Chali 2na . Chali 2na’s towering stature made us all feel a little closer as we closed out Jam Cruise 20 with some funk and hip-hop with Adam Deitch crushing the beats. It was the cherry on top of this delicious treat of a music festival.

We were up bright and early the next day. Some of us choose not to bother with sleep. Disembarkation started at 7a.m. We were all moving slowly, but mostly because we just didn’t want to leave. We were well taken care of by Jam Cruise, Cloud 9, the musicians, the crew, the staff, and our jamily. It was hard to say goodbye. The past 5 days had been filled with so many great shows, good fun, and lifelong friends. Of all the Shows I Go To, Jam Cruise offers an experience that you have to live through, in order to appreciate what us jammers will do, for some of the best shows to go to.

It was a pleasure to join the jamily again and a privilege to spread the word about Shows I Go To. 

Follow Shows I Go To to stay in the know, and win tickets to shows!

Jamcruise 20 Festival Review by Christina Wright /// @christinathefashionista /// @showsigoto

▼ SHOWS TO GO TO ▼

Thanks to our Sponsors, Kingfish Records in Clearwater, FL!

Check out our South Florida SIGT Website! 

Shows I Go To South Florida Giveaway, Reviews, Photos, and more

Please support our  friends  who support us! Tell them Shows I Go To sends love! 🙂

• The Commission Beer Chamber
• Kingfish Records (Clearwater)
• Nora's Sugar Shack!
• Park Ave CDs  
• Montgomery Drive Presents
• RT-Art Printing
• The Mary Jane 'High-Quality' Art Gallery
• The Owl's Attic Vintage Shop
• Broken Strings Brewery
• American Combat Club
• Lazy Moon Pizza
• Ten10 Brewing
• Mutiny Ocala
• The Tipsy Skipper
• Conrad's Beer Shanty 
• AKT Shirt Printing
• Smartpunk Records & Shop
• No Clubs Presents
• DaddyKool Records
• Galactic G Skateshop

Recommended Posts

Shows I Go To Info

• Promote Your Show
• Shows I Go To Staff
• Privacy Policy

Follow Shows I Go To

Search Shows I Go To

© Copyright 2013-2024 Shows I Go To, LLC . Ten years! All rights reserved.

• Moscow Tours
• Customized tours
• Moscow for kids
• Evening activities
• Moscow evening activities
• St Petersburg evening activities
• Day trips out of Moscow
• Golden Ring tours
• St Petersburg tours
• Russian tour destinations
• Package tours
• Moscow highlights
• Travel Tips
• Upcoming group tours
• Moscow events

Moscow jam festival

Moscow Current Events

Moscow in miniature Would you like to see the central part of the largest city model that will enter the Guinness Book of World Records? You have an excellent chance to do it till the end of 2015 in All-Russia Exhibition Centre VDNKh. We belive that an architecture model of Moscow (Moscow in miniature) performed at a scale of 1:400 is really worth seeing.

Russian Impressionism Museum Art-buffs are welcome to visit the Russian Impressionism Museum, which opened its doors in Moscow on the 28th of May. The exhibition hall is located on the grounds of the former “Bolshevik” confectionery factory grounds.

Robostation in VDNH If you are interested in everything connected with robots you should certainly attend one of the most curious interactive museum called Robostation, situated in All-Russia Exhibition Centre VDNH. Here visitors of all ages have a great chance to get acquainted with modern robots, take part in different activities, enjoy technopark, chemistry show and show of dancing robots.

Archive Of Moscow Events:

19.06.2019 — 15.09.2019 Shchukin. Biography of a Collection. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts presents one of the most prominent collections of European Modernist art, encompassing the most important artistic trends of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.The Shchukin exhibition includes masterpieces by Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gaugin, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and other masters.

18.05.2019 — 19.05.2019 Moscow Museums Night 2019 In 2019 in Moscow Museums Night will be held on May 18. Hundreds of urban cultural spaces will be open until midnight, and some until morning. Many galleries and museums have prepared special programs with free guided tours, concerts and master classes. 2019 year in Russia has been declared as the Year of the Theater, therefore many events will be devoted to the history of the theater.

16.03.2019 — 18.08.2019 Ilya Repin exhibition All art admirers are welcome to the New Tretyakov Gallery to see a large-scale exhibition of works by Ilya Repin. He was the most renowned Russian realist artist of the 19th century.Please be aware that tickets for the exhibition can only be bought in advance and are not sold on the day of the visit at the box office.

18.01.2019 — 23.02.2019 Primeval Russia Photo Exhibition One of the most interesting photo festivals opened its doors to the visitors of all ages in CHA (Tsentralny Dom Hudozhnika). The exhibition uniting more than 500 works is devoted to Russian nature. The project “Primeval Russia” was organized by the enthusiastic photographers, documentary directors, cameramen, travelers and scientists. These talented people wanted not only to share the most fascinating views of our country and reveal some interesting facts about wild animals but also to draw visitors' attention to the main theme - relationships between man and nature.

31.10.2018 — 20.01.2019 East: Another Beauty Exhibition 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the State Museum of the Oriental Art. The State Museum of the Oriental Art is the only cultural center in Russia specializing in the storage, study and popularization of the eastern peoples' culture and art.

13.10.2018 — 14.10.2018 Moscow is behind us 1941. The military-historical festival Did you know that Borodino Field was not only the location of the Battle of Borodino during Napoleoinic Wars but also the place of a severe clash between the Soviet and German forces in 1941? Join the festival of military reconstruction where the events of the WW II will come to life.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website, and to facilitate providing you with services available through our website. By continuing to use our website, you accept our use of cookies, the terms of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . I agree

Cruise Routes (Interactive Map)

Request a quote download brochure

Russian River Cruises

• Find your cruise
• Moscow — St. Petersburg
• Moscow — Astrakhan
• Astrakhan — St. Petersburg
• St. Petersburg
• Cruise Highlights
• News & Travel Tips

Russia is again welcoming travelers!

• A negative PCR test is all that's needed to enter Russia
• Regular flights are now operating to / from Russia
• Visas can be issues quickly (Volga Dream provides your invitation)
• All Volga Dream personnel and guides are fully vacinated
• Bookings are transferable without penalty for 12 months
• Volga Dream arranges PCR-tests if needed for your outbound flight

Check our COVID-19 Policy page to learn more.

Lorem Ipsum

Luxurious river cruises in russia.

Explore authentic Russian cities. Enjoy premium service and engaging activities as you sail the Volga River.

2022 Cruise Season

Join our signature small group journeys and cruise in luxury along the Russian Volga river!

The Russian Odyssey

An extended 'South to North' view of Russia from Astrakhan to St. Petersburg through Moscow.

Explore Moscow, St. Petersburg and Russia’s Golden Ring in greater depth. Stay at gorgeous Four Seasons hotels. Enjoy special access to iconic cultural sites.

Lower Volga

Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience cruising the Volga river from Moscow to Astrakhan. The tour includes 2 nights in Moscow.

Find Your Cruise

Select destination Moscow — St. Petersburg Moscow — Astrakhan Astrakhan — St. Petersburg

View all months

A Volga river cruise is more than a geographical voyage; it’s also a journey through Russia’s rich and captivating history. No other experience takes you so completely to another place and time. The Volga is Europe’s longest and largest river; it meanders through the stories of Ivan the Terrible and his rise to power, the two historic ‘Greats’ Peter and Catherine, and then on into today. It’s a unique opportunity to see modern Russia in the context of its intriguing history, ably assisted by friendly and professional academics and tour guides. A Volga Dream Russian river tour promises to leave you with an unforgettable afterglow of fond memories.

Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise

Moscow and St. Petersburg are Russia’s best-known cities, but the towns of Russia’s historic Golden Ring are delightful too. The luxurious Volga Dream offers a unique opportunity to visit these Russian gems by sailing gently along the Volga River on an unforgettable cruising experience. In small, exclusive groups you’ll enjoy preferential access to some of Russia’s most significant cultural sites.

Moscow to Astrakhan River Cruise

Your River Cruise on the luxurious MS Volga Dream takes you from Moscow along Russia’s grand Volga River to the legend that is Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) and Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea. Along the way, you’ll discover the treasures of Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga, medieval Nizhniy Novgorod and beautiful Kazan, the ancient Tatar capital. We plan our tour carefully to combine the very best of Moscow with a world-class Volga River cruise.

Discover Russia with MS Volga Dream - Click-through map

We love hearing from guests about their time in Russia and one comment often hear is how surprised people are by the Russian capital. We can’t say for certain what people expected but we do know that it’s always far removed from what they imagined! It’s been called a modern metropolis, a cosmopolitan city, an historic gem, an architectural treasure and a cultural powerhouse, among other descriptions. Majestic Moscow has always surprised our guests and left them with lasting and fond memories.

Russia’s famous Golden Ring is an archipelago of historic towns surrounding Moscow. Uglich is one of the oldest and was founded under Igor, the last Varangian prince. It once resisted the Mongol invasion and its ancient walls saw the grisly murder of young Dmitri, son of Ivan the Terrible. The impressive Church of St. Dmitri on the Blood, with its classic onion domes and blood red walls, is a fine example of classic Russian architecture. The tour ends with an enchanting choral concert.

This, the oldest city on the Volga River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a wealth of ancient orthodox treasures. The impressive Transfiguration of the Savior, adorned with murals depicting St. John’s apocalyptic visions can be seen in the Spassky Monastery. The Church of St. Elijah the Prophet is decorated with an awe-inspiring selection of rich frescoes. For a real taste of pre-revolutionary Russia, visitors are entertained by a costumed reception at the Governor’s House.

Close to the shores of White Lake once were the ‘tsar’s fishing grounds’. It lies in a place so serene that ancient monks chose to build no fewer than three holy sites here, including the Ferapontov Monastery. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, its chapels boast magnificent frescoes by Dionysius, one of Russia’s most renowned icon painters. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was a refuge for many nobles during tumultuous times and later a fortress that successfully repelled invading armies.

The Karelia region is a vast and naturally beautiful wilderness that spreads all the way from St. Petersburg to the Arctic Circle. The glorious island village of Kizhi consists almost entirely of the traditionally styled wooden buildings of ‘Old Russia’. Among them is the famous Transfiguration Church built in 1714. Remarkably, and in testament to the craftsmen of the time, not a single nail was used in its construction! Kizhi is one of the favorite stops on the river cruise to St. Petersburg.

A typical rural hamlet brought to life by warm and welcoming villagers. Volga Dream guests are invited into local homes to enjoy classic Russian fare, tea with jam and ‘pirozhki’ (pies). Enthusiastic hosts share Russian traditions and the appeal of village life while proudly showing off their scrupulously kept homes and kitchen gardens. The tour continues with a brief bus ride to see a unique World War II memorial and then, for a real glimpse of Russian life, a visit to a local primary school.

Nizhny Novgorod

This was once a wealthy city thanks to its proximity to rich eastern trading routes. During the Soviet era, the city was closed to outsiders because of its military importance. It’s also where many political prisoners were sent to live out their days in exile. The 16th-century Kremlin ramparts offer spectacular views and the city is known for its elaborately decorated churches. For Volga Dream cruise guests, the highlight of the day is an evening folk concert performed by local children.

Sailing along the Volga river, the riverbank gradually ceases to be dominated by Orthodox churches. Instead, beautiful mosques appear as the river crosses into Tatarstan where the first stop is scenic Kazan, the region’s capital. Inside the white walls of the citadel, the famous Kul Sharif mosque and the old Cathedral of Peter and Paul stand side-by-side symbolizing the two faiths’ long and peaceful coexistence in the region. A concert of traditional Tatar music ends the Volga Dream tour in Kazan.

Passing the Zhigulevskie Mountains offers wonderful views from the sundeck before touring the city. One of the key attractions is the fascinating Space Museum, which offers a revealing glimpse of how the Soviet Union pursued its ambitious journey to the cosmos. The town is also noted for its beautiful esplanade, perfect for a relaxed stroll beside the Volga river. This in turn leads to the Samara State Art Museum. Founded in 1897, it is home to a collection of more than 16,000 works of art.

This city is best known for its close associations with cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. The Russian hero who achieved worldwide fame as the first man in space lived and studied here. Saratov used to be home to a large German community, a heritage that can still be seen in the local architecture. The Volga Dream tour visits the Radishchev State Art Museum, the first picture gallery in Russia outside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Originally called Tsaritsyn, the city was renamed Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961 in honor of the USSR’s leader. During World War II, the city’s residents put up a heroic defense, repelling an advancing Nazi invasion. The battle for Stalingrad has gone down in history as a pivotal moment in the bloody conflict on the eastern front. The most ferocious and deadly fighting took place on Mamayev Hill, where an imposing memorial now stands close to the excellent Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum.

Saint Petersburg

If Moscow surprises, then St Petersburg delights. Peter the Great founded the city to showcase Russia’s newfound enlightenment. He wanted to show the modern world a cultured and advanced society. In short, he built the city to impress and in that he succeeded splendidly! The striking buildings were designed by some of the finest architects Europe had to offer and even now, the ‘Venice of the North’ never fails to enchant with its spectacular buildings and impressive canal network. It is a city of true grandeur.

Cocktails with the Captain

Commanding any ship is a complex role that calls for a long list of skills. Captains know their vessels inside out as well as well as the routes they sail and when things don’t go to plan, they have to make instant decisions. Above all though, the most important part of the job, underpinning everything they do, is to keep the ship and everyone aboard safe. The Captain’s cocktail party is a great and a wonderful opportunity for passengers and crew to get acquainted as the gets underway.

Matryoshka doll painting

There is nothing more typically Russian than a Matryoshka. It embodies the fact that there’s always something deeper to be found in every aspect of Russian life. Learning the traditional designs and techniques used to decorate these iconic dolls offers a pleasant diversion and some cathartic creativity!

Superb Service & Dining

Our restaurant serves the highest standard of international cuisine, freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. Choose either a sumptuous buffet or set menu for lunch while dinner is always four or five courses with full service. High praise for the exquisite quality of meals is yet another constantly recurring feature in feedback from our guests.

Meet the Professor

From the Mongol hordes to Soviet times, Russia’s history is, like all of Europe’s, a complex web of political intrigue, war and peace, trade and treaties, as well as heroes and villains. Academics devote whole lifetimes to studying Russia’s long past and one of them presents a series of lectures shedding light on everything from Gorbachev to Chekhov, Khrushchev to Ivan the Terrible and of course, contemporary Russia. Our Professor is on board throughout the river cruise for informal conversation.

Beginner’s Russian

The Russian language can be rather beautiful and poetic and we know that many seasoned travelers enjoy trying their hand at different languages. Our onboard teachers provide an introduction to the riches of Russian, so guests can try out a few useful words and phrases on real Russians during the exciting river tours from Moscow to St. Petersburg or from Moscow to Volgograd!

Russian tea tasting

The drink we tend to associate with Russia is vodka, but tea, in fact, is the much more universal beverage of choice throughout the country. Guests will get acquainted with the Russian tea etiquette, a fundamental component of the country's social culture, and enjoy the traditional tea ceremony while cruising from St. Petersburg to Moscow or taking a Grand Volga river tour.

Russian Dinner & Vodka Tasting

All our dining is international but for Russian Dining night, the Chef includes a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and no Russian table is complete without Borsch. To add to the ‘Taste of Russia’ optional Russian dress, or at least a touch of Russian style, is provided along with enthusiastic help from our staff!

Russian Cooking Class

A plate of pelmeni might not look like much to the untrained eye, but it forms the heart of Russian cuisine and culture. Basically, it's a type of dumpling: small portions of meat and onion wrapped in a thin sheet of unleavened dough and boiled, a little like ravioli. Guests can join a Russian cooking class onboard the MS Volga Dream to learn how to cook this delicious Russian dish.

Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov Piano Recital

Some of the greatest classical music ever written comes from Russia. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting stage for a virtuoso solo recital by our resident concert pianist than the mighty Volga or a better backdrop than the heart of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov’s own serene homeland.

Russian River Cruise Aboard Volga Dream

Moscow to St. Petersburg

Why Volga Dream

Family Owned & Operated

MS Volga Dream is Russia’s only family-owned river cruise ship. She can accommodate up to 100 guests, far fewer than most other cruise ships on the river making for a uniquely friendly and intimate atmosphere aboard.

Five-Star Central Hotels

We at Volga Dream are completely convinced that, our guests should stay in great 5-star hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg within comfortable walking distance of all the major attractions, theaters and restaurants, rather than having to waste time in traffic.

Luxurious Accommodation

The MS Volga Dream is the most intimate and elegant 5-star cruise vessel in Russia. She boasts 56 cabins, all river facing, ranging from comfortable Standard Cabins to spacious Junior Suites and the luxurious forward facing Owner's Suite.

Russian Cultural Experience

Explore Russia's past with the help of professional tour guides. Our on-board program includes fascinating talks on Russian history and politics, Russian language lessons, a festival of Russian cuisine (including vodka tasting!), and much more.

Gourmet Dining

Our on board restaurant serves international cuisine to the highest standard, all freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. For Russian Dining night, he prepares a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and Borsch.

Tailored Service

All our service crew members are native Russians who are fluent in English and handpicked by the Owner. Proudly, the Volga Dream is famous for her hard working and very hospitable personnel who take care of every aspect of your life aboard.

Download Our Brochure

It's never been easier to plan your next holiday in Russia. Download our free brochure to learn more about authentic Russian river cruises.

Escape the hassle and bustle and add a satisfyingly informative element to your trip and bring together a colorful mosaic of people, history, traditions,  religion, music and art. These are the many strands that time has woven into what is known today as Russia.

What people are saying

Jacqueline Lapwood

Great Britain

Rick Dowden

United States

Alexander Powell

Monique Verbrugge

Peter & Annemieke English

Philippa Calnan

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter and keep up to date with the latest offers, savings and news at Volga Dream

How to Use traffic jam in a Sentence

Traffic jam.

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'traffic jam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

How to celebrate Cincinnati Music Festival, even without a ticket

Cincinnati Music Festival is back, from July 25-27, which means it's time to start making plans for the big weekend.

If you didn't manage to grab a ticket for the festival, don't worry. There are plenty of other ways to celebrate the occasion. 

Here are events around town perfect for getting you into the spirit.

How to celebrate Cincinnati Music Festival without a ticket

Festival513 .

Scheduled to align with the dates of Cincinnati Music Festival, Festival513 is a gathering of vendors to supply festivalgoers with everything they need. It’ll feature more than 100 food and merchandise booths, and it’s free for all. 

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

• Where: Freedom Way at The Banks.
• When: July 26, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and July 27, noon to 2 a.m.

Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame induction ceremony

The one-year anniversary celebration of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame coincides with Cincinnati Music Festival weekend. Inductees for 2024 include Randy Crawford, Shirley Murdock, Roger Troutman & Zapp and Donald Lawrence. Following the ceremony, Zapp will give a live performance. Attendance is free. 

• Where: 25 Race St., Downtown.
• When: July 27, noon. 

Vibe Marketplace

Cincinnati Music Festival activities will spill into the heart of Downtown at Vibe Marketplace , where minority-owned shops, vendors and artisans will sell goods. Free live music will be on-site at the Fifth Third Center Stage. 

• Where: 520 Vine St., Downtown.
• When: July 25, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 26-27, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 28, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Cincy Soul Food Fest: The Black Taste 

Pair your love of R&B, soul and hip-hop music with some soul food. A variety of food trucks will set up shop at Fountain Square. 

• When: July 27-28.

Queen City 5K

Looking to sprinkle some exercise into the weekend full of tunes? Vibe Cincinnati , Visit Cincy’s diversity, equity and inclusion arm, is holding a 5K race as part of its Cincinnati Music Festival weekend programming. The course starts near Paycor Stadium and runs along Smale Riverfront Park past Great American Ball Park and Heritage Bank Center. Registration is $40 for adults and $25 for children under 16 until July 26. Registration the day of the race is $45 for adults and $30 for children under 16. 

• When: July 27, 7 a.m. to noon. 
• Where: 1 Paycor Stadium, Downtown.

The Culture: Hip-Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century 

The Cincinnati Art Museum curated an exhibition exploring hip-hop's cultural influence on contemporary society in honor of the art form's 50th anniversary. The museum exhibition runs for a few months, but admission is free during festival weekend.

• When: Free admission July 25-28.
• Where: 953 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills.

Groove Theory Cincy's R&B Day Party

Stick with the R&B theme at an event billed as the "best pre-game to Cincinnati Music Fest" at OTR Stillhouse. Find tickets at eventbrite.com .

• When: July 27, 1-6 p.m.
• Where: 2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine.

Grown & Sophisticated Mid-Day Cruise

Hop aboard and enjoy the Cincinnati Music Festival atmosphere on the Ohio River. Listen to a hip-hop and R&B DJ set while cruising down stream. An all white dress code is customary but not required. Find tickets at eventbrite.com .

• When: July 27, 2:30-5 p.m.
• Where: 101 Riverboat Row, Newport.

Jam out to a Cincinnati Music Festival playlist 

Organizers curated a playlist on Spotify and YouTube with all the essential tunes to know going into the weekend. From smash hits to deep cuts, throw this on to get into the music festival spirit.  

The Dam Jam Festival returns to Old Town

Dam jam festival will return saturday for a full day of music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m..

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - The Dam Jam Festival is taking over the Branke Fish Ladder in Old Town. On Saturday and Sunday, they’ll be featuring local artists, food trucks and vendors.

Lansing 5:01 Executive Director Chris Sell says their goal is showing that Lansing is alive after 5 p.m.

“Today and tomorrow we are going to be featuring 16 different Michigan based artist, bands, musicians, and tomorrow (Saturday) 13 of them are going to be here,” said Christopher Sell. “So, they’re gonna be alternating back-and-forth between the ladder stage and this stage right here.”

For years, the Dam Jam has welcomed thousands of people near and far. Including Sandra Turner who says it’s a great time to kick back, relax and enjoy the music.

“To see the people enjoying the music, dance and you know meet and greet different people you know because we’re out here, everyone is friendly. You know I say just bring the smile come on and enjoy,” said Sandra Turner.

Aside from the live music, more than 40 vendors get the chance to network and show off their business. D.U.S Couture Owner Dasjahnne Swanson says she was excited to return to Dam Jam Festival for year 2.

“Everybody doesn’t shop at the mall or everybody’s not on Facebook. Everybody doesn’t watch social media, so it’s meeting all different types of background demographics and connecting with other businesses,” said Dasjahnne Swanson.

“We’re excited about showcasing the best of Lansing to Lansing future and we’re hoping a lot of people come away from this event more impressed, more excited about the prospects of living and working in this community,” said Sell.

If you missed today (Friday), don’t worry. Dam Jam Festival will return Saturday for a full day of music from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., free to the public.

Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and YouTube page to receive the latest local news and weather. Looking to hire people, or grow your business through advertising? Gray Digital Media is your one-stop marketing solution. Learn more.

Copyright 2024 WILX. All rights reserved.

Three people injured in shooting late Tuesday in Lansing

Michigan State Police looking for fugitive accused of crimes against children

Last Sunday was the hottest day on Earth in all recorded history, climate agency finds

One person injured after car crashes into home in Lansing

Man injured in early morning Lansing shooting on Allegan Street

Man uses knife to defend himself after suspect allegedly enters Jackson home with a baseball bat

Artists who gave Lansing’s infamous Pennsylvania Avenue bridge a makeover share why they did it

Gov. Whitmer responds to speculation surrounding potential pick as Harris’ VP

Latest news.

Grand Blanc native Grant Fisher to compete in 2024 Paris Olympics

Big warm-up soon on the way

Lanes on Marsh Road to close for construction in Meridian Township

New gas rates approved for Consumers Energy could lower monthly bills, says Michigan Public Service Commission

Several people displaced after car crashes into Delhi Township home

Consumers Energy to increase rate hikes

Owosso’s North Pole Express tickets to go on sale

People displaced after car crashes into Delhi Township home

Dam Jam festival ends first year at new location

GODDARD, Kan. (KWCH) - Hundreds of music lovers camped out this weekend for Dam Jam ready to hear their favorite singers.

“It’d be hard to explain to someone why you wouldn’t want to come out here,” said Dam Jam attendee Caleb Clark, “it’s like twist my arm a little bit harder right?”

After Sedgwick County denied Dam Jam access to Lake Afton over concerns about safety and inappropriate content during performances the festival almost didn’t happen, but Dam Jam found a solution, moving from Lake Afton to Goddard and bringing a little bit of the lake with them.

“I don’t mind it honestly; I like it quite a bit right off the highway you know what I mean?” said one concert goer. “Don’t got to jump too far, basically come into Goddard and jump off it wasn’t hard at all, I didn’t mind it, it was pretty smooth finding it.”

Some concert-goers hope next year they can get back to the lake.

“We think it should be at a lake because of the name and that it would give a better atmosphere I think that would also draw a bigger crowd,” said Jenny Grace, “we were a little disappointed that they moved the location to here honestly but we’re making the most of it.”

Copyright 2024 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]

WPD locates man possibly linked to baby found in Wichita canal

Man relieved, yet pained after baby close to him rescued from canal

Charges filed after child assaulted at Larned Swimming Pool

Man arrested, accused of stabbing grandmother in Augusta

Family-owned grocery store brings essentials to tiny NW Kansas town

Sedgwick Co. recruit deputy arrested, accused of domestic violence, assault

Miss Kansas calls out abuser on stage: ‘I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships’

Monday now the hottest ever day on Earth, beating Sunday’s record, climate agency says

Latest news.

WATCH LIVE: Prosecutors announce ‘major development’ in ransomware, cyber crimes investigation

Man killed in officer-involved shooting in Salina

Morning weather July 25, 2024

Man arrested a month after officer-involved shooting in north-central Kansas

Wichita businesses offer guidance on saving money when back-to-school shopping

Kansas heat will hang around, but rain stays away

Mob Jam Fest to debut in the Port City

MOBILE, Ala. ( WALA ) - MOB JAM FEST is an exciting outdoor event featuring a vibrant mix of music, food, vendors, and entertainment. The festival aims to bring together the community for a fun-filled day with various activities, performances, and attractions for all ages. Attendees will enjoy live music, delicious food, unique products from local vendors, and engaging entertainment and programming throughout the day. Click here for more information.

Key Features:

• Live Music and Entertainment: Enjoy performances from local bands, musicians, and artists on the main stage.
• Food Trucks and Concessions: A variety of food trucks offering diverse culinary delights, ensuring there is something for everyone.
• Vendors and Exhibitors: Local businesses and artisans showcasing their products and services, providing a unique shopping experience.
• Family-Friendly Activities: Games, crafts, and interactive activities for children and families.
• Community Engagement: Opportunities for local non-profits and community organizations to connect with attendees and promote their causes.

Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.

2 killed following a major accident on the Dauphin Island Bridge; road reopened

Alabama secretary of state issues statement on presidential election

MPD says two dead in homicide on Helveston Street

A faulty software update causes havoc worldwide for airlines, hospitals and governments

11-month-old pulled unresponsive from water in Destin

ALEA releases more information on crash near Dauphin Island that claimed 2 lives

Two deaths linked to listeria food poisoning from meat sliced at deli counters

‘It’s bad!’: Sheriff speaks on gang activity in Mobile County

Latest news.

Iconic F-16 celebrates 50th anniversary at biggest military airshow

Weight Loss Journey Update with enrG Wellness

Healthy Living with USA Health: Back to School Vaccines

Listing the Gulf Coast: 608 Montclair Way

Black & Bleu Steak Salad w/ Lucy Greer

black and bleu salad

Coffee with the coach - United States Sports Academy