jam cruise festival

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. 

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

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Published: 2023/05/04

Jam Cruise Delivers 2024 Artist Lineup

Jam Cruise has delivered the artist lineup for its 20th iteration of the annual floating festival, set to sail from February 25 through March 1, 2024. The forthcoming event will depart from Miami, Fla., and stops at Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

At sea, attendees can anticipate sets performed by moe., Medeski, Martin & Porter, featuring percussionist Aba Diop. Also included on the bill are Cory Wong, Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew’s Remain In Light, Galactic with Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, Steel Pulse and Lotus.

Franc Moody, Dumpstaphunk, The New Mastersounds, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass featuring The Hillbenders, Krasno Moore Project, Ivan & Friends, Perpetual Groove, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Eggy and more have also signed on to perform during the wintertime occasion. 

Onboard special guests include Marc Brownstein, Duane Betts, Kanika Moore, Cris Jacobs, Adrian De León, Lyle Divinsky and Elise Testone. While Eric Krasno, Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Vaylor Trucks, Ross James, George Porter Jr., Stanton Moore, Jimi’s Dead and Matt Butler make up the Masters Camp at Sea lineup. 

For more information, visit jamcruise.com . Public on-sale begins May 12 at 1 p.m. E.T. 

Watch the 2023 recap video below.

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Lotus performed "Hammerstrike" in Sacramento

[…] stops in Washington state and Montana before embarking on a sea tour to wrap up their winter tour. Jam Cruise 20 On February 25. Check here for tickets and more information […]

Lotus Perform ‘Hammerstrike’ in Sacramento

[…] in Washington and Montana to close out its winter tour, before embarking for sets on the sea with Jam Cruise 20 on Feb. 25. For tickets and more information, visit […]

Watch: Daniel Donato Presents “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” Tribute to Gram Parsons - Musicians Territory

[…] off his 13-stop East Coast run, which he will follow with two shows aboard the highly anticipated 2024 Jam Cruise. For tickets and more information on the artist’s upcoming performances, visit […]

Watch: Daniel Donato Delivers “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” Tribute to Gram Parsons at Joshua Tree Inn - Musicians Territory

[…] to kick off his 13-stop East Coast run, to be followed by two shows aboard the highly anticipated 2024 Jam Cruise. For tickets and more information on the artist’s upcoming performances, visit […]

Watch: Daniel Donato Delivers “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” Tribute to Gram Parsons at Joshua Tree Inn

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Jam Cruise 20: Lettuce, moe. with Daniel Donato, Medeski, Martin, Porter Ft. Aba Diop and More (Day One)

With winter madness sweeping across the vast majority of the U.S., the time had arrived for a tropical retreat steeped in live music, collaborations and the celebratory feel of a family reunion; enter Jam Cruise . 

For the 20th edition of the beloved festival at sea, folks boarded the MSC Divina vessel in Miami on Sunday, Feb. 25, eager for the annual gathering, known for late-night jam sets, sit-ins and unexpected live music moments. Entertainment began in the typical fashion, with a sail away set on the Pool Deck featuring Lettuce, who brought the funk from start to finish. 

Toward the end of Lettuce’s frame, a fierce ensemble was gathering in the Pantheon Theater: John Medeski, Billy Martin, George Porter Jr., featuring Senegalese percussionist Aba Diop. Joining the group for much of the set was DJ Logic, who applied texture to the layered delivery on the turntables. 

Amongst the high points was a breathtaking cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Vietnam protest song in response to the Kent State Massacre (1970), “Ohio.” Porter took the lyrical lead, tapping into the intense feeling of the Neil Young-penned composition. To follow, the artists welcomed The New Mastersounds’ Eddie Roberts before his own band’s set, which landed after midnight . 

Elsewhere on the boat, moe. kicked off their first frame of Jam Cruise. Notably, one of the liveliest crowds on night one, viewers mimicked the band’s energy, singing back the treasured lyrics. Daniel Donato joined the Western New Yorkers after the halfway point of their stage time, previewing what’s to come this summer when the jammers team up on the road for a 12-stop summer tour . Watch a preview below. 

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe arrived in the Pantheon Theatre, delivering their classic blend of rock, soul and funk. Joining the group on stage was Vaylor Trucks, son of The Allman Brothers Band’s drummer Butch Trucks. Simultaneously, Eggy gigged in the packed Black and White room. At the same time, Magic Beans dipped into their first frame of Jam Cruise. 

During the early morning hours, at 1:45 a.m., TAUK Moore, featuring The Horn Section, took over the Pool Deck. At the top of the hour, more music picked up in separate locations from Roberts and company via The New Mastersounds (Pantheon Theater), old friends George Porter Jr. and Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (Jam Room) and DJ Soul Sister (Galaxy Disco). 

Scroll down to view photos shot by Hana Gustafson featuring stills from night one of Jam Cruise 20. 

Music will resume today, Monday, Feb. 26, at 12:30 p.m., with The HillBenders on the Pool Deck. 

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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).

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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.

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Jam Cruise Reveals 2023 Lineup: Umphrey’s McGee, The Fearless Flyers, Oteil & Friends, More

Jam Cruise has announced details for the festival’s 19th voyage along with the 2023 artist lineup, which includes Umphrey’s McGee , The Fearless Flyers ,  Oteil & Friends  (featuring  Steve Kimock , Eric Krasno , Jason Crosby , Jennifer Hartswick , and Johnny Kimock ),  The Word  (featuring  John Medeski , Robert Randolph , Luther Dickinson , Cody Dickinson , Rayfield “RayRay” Holloman ),  Galactic featuring  Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph ,  Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe ,  Lettuce ,  Cymande , Dumpstaphunk ,  Andy Frasco & The U.N. ,  Neal Francis , and many more.

Jam Cruise 19 will set sail aboard the MSC Divina on February 6th in Miami. Attendees will enjoy six days of performances and Masters Camp at Sea workshops with some of the most revered names in live music. The cruise will make stops in Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic before a two-day excursion at the private Ocean Cay island in the Bahamas. Jam Cruise will then return to Miami on February 12th.

Fan favorites Brews at Sea and Chefs at Sea will return in 2023, showcasing some of the top breweries and chefs from around the country. Wellness at Sea  will provide opportunities to engage in daily yoga, zen workshops, and mindfulness classes.

When aboard the ship, Jam Cruisers will have access to multiple dining options, a full-service spa, fitness center, and casino along with pools, hot tubs, and more luxurious amenities.

Pre-book cabin selection begins Monday, May 9th and cabins go on sale to the public beginning May 12th at 11 a.m. ET. Masters Camp at Sea passes will available as an add-on for fans who wish to participate in immersive learning programs with Isaiah Sharkey , Nikki Glaspie , Reed Mathis , Peter Levin , John Medeski , George Porter Jr. ,  VaylorTrucks , Adam Deitch , Robert Randolph , and  Roosevelt Collier while onboard.

Jam Cruise will once again partner with charitable organization  Positive Legacy  to offset the carbon footprint of traveling and support the local communities who welcome Jam Cruise to their shores. They will offer passengers the opportunity to participate in a Day of Service while in port and other onboard activities.

View the complete Jam Cruise 19 lineup below, and for more information, visit jamcruise.com .

Jam Cruise 19 Artist Lineup Umphrey’s McGee The Fearless Flyers Oteil & Friends ft. Steve Kimock, Eric Krasno, Jason Crosby, Jennifer Hartswick, Johnny Kimock The Word ft. John Medeski, Robert Randolph, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Rayfield “RayRay” Holloman Galactic ft. Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Lettuce Cymande George Porter Jr. & Dumpstaphunk perform The Meters* Andy Frasco & The U.N. Neal Francis Trouble No More ft. Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Daniel Donato, Dylan Niederauer, Jack Ryan, Nikki Glaspie, Lamar Williams Jr., Peter Levin, Roosevelt Collier The Bamboos Fruition The Lil Smokies Mihali phoffman The New Deal SunSquabi Doom Flamingo George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners* Dumpstaphunk* Polyrhythmics Honey Island Swamp Band Karina Rykman lespecial Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio Neighbor Butcher Brown Little Stranger* Punkadelick* Stranger Is Doomed* Dogs In A Pile Pixie & The Partygrass Boys Dave Watts Super Jam* Everyone Orchestra* The Sweet Lillies DJ Brownie DJ Airwolf Yesmann

Special Guests: The Horn Section Dan Lebowitz Mike Dillon Skerik Judith Hill Sammi Garett Tyree Woods

Masters Camp at Sea: Isaiah Sharkey Nikki Glaspie Reed Mathis Peter Levin Vaylor Trucks John Medeski George Porter Jr. Adam Deitch Robert Randolph

(All Artists will play two shows, except those denoted with * will play one show.)

What Is Jam Cruise: The Ultimate Music Festival at Sea

What is Jam Cruise?

Jam Cruise is a music festival unlike any other. It’s a floating party that takes place on a cruise ship, and it’s the perfect place to see your favorite jam bands perform in a unique and intimate setting.

The festival has been running for over a decade, and it’s grown in popularity each year. In 2023, Jam Cruise will be making its way to the Caribbean for its 14th installment.

This year’s lineup is stacked with some of the biggest names in the jam band scene, including The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, The Disco Biscuits, and more.

If you’re looking for a music festival that’s unlike any other, then Jam Cruise is definitely worth checking out. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t want to miss.

What Is Jam Cruise?

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |—|—|—| | Name | Jam Cruise | Music festival | | Location | Various Caribbean Islands | Annually | | Dates | January-February | 7-10 days | | Genres | Jazz, blues, funk, soul, reggae, world music | | Headliners | The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, The String Cheese Incident, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | | Notable Acts | Phish, Dave Matthews Band, The Grateful Dead, Bob Marley and the Wailers | | Attendance | Approximately 4,000 people |

History of Jam Cruise

Jam Cruise is a music festival that takes place on a cruise ship. The first Jam Cruise took place in 2005 and has been held annually ever since. The festival is typically held in January or February and features a lineup of jam bands, blues artists, and other roots music performers.

The idea for Jam Cruise came from festival producer Peter Shapiro. Shapiro had been organizing music festivals for several years and was looking for a new way to bring people together. He came up with the idea of hosting a music festival on a cruise ship, which would allow attendees to enjoy live music while also taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean.

The first Jam Cruise was a success, and it has continued to grow in popularity in the years since. The festival now attracts thousands of attendees from all over the world. Jam Cruise has become a major destination for music fans who are looking for a unique and unforgettable festival experience.

What is Jam Cruise Today?

Jam Cruise is a one-of-a-kind music festival that offers a unique and unforgettable experience for attendees. The festival features a lineup of top-notch jam bands, blues artists, and other roots music performers. In addition to the music, Jam Cruise also offers a variety of other activities, such as swimming, sunbathing, and dancing.

The festival is typically held in January or February and lasts for seven days. The ship departs from Miami, Florida, and cruises to various destinations in the Caribbean. Attendees can choose from a variety of cabin types, including inside cabins, oceanview cabins, and suites.

Jam Cruise is a great way to escape the winter blues and enjoy some live music in a beautiful setting. The festival is also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. If you’re looking for a unique and unforgettable music festival experience, then Jam Cruise is definitely worth considering.

Here are some of the things that make Jam Cruise a special experience:

• The lineup of artists is always top-notch. Jam Cruise has featured some of the biggest names in jam band and blues music, including Phish, The Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, and Blues Traveler.
• The atmosphere on Jam Cruise is relaxed and friendly. Attendees are there to have a good time and enjoy the music. There’s no pressure to dress up or act a certain way.
• The activities on Jam Cruise are endless. In addition to the music, there are a variety of other activities to keep attendees entertained, such as swimming, sunbathing, dancing, and playing games.
• The ship is a beautiful setting for a music festival. The open decks offer stunning views of the ocean, and the pool area is the perfect place to relax and cool off.

If you’re looking for a music festival that offers something truly unique, then Jam Cruise is definitely worth considering. The festival is a great way to escape the winter blues, enjoy some live music, and make new friends.

Jam Cruise Lineup

The Jam Cruise lineup is always an exciting mix of established jam bands, up-and-coming artists, and surprise guests. In the past, Jam Cruise has featured artists such as Phish, Widespread Panic, The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, The Disco Biscuits, and many more.

The 2023 Jam Cruise lineup has not yet been announced, but we can expect to see a wide variety of artists from the jam band, electronic, and roots music scenes. Some of the artists who have been rumored to appear on the 2023 lineup include:

• Widespread Panic
• The String Cheese Incident
• Umphrey’s McGee
• The Disco Biscuits
• Greensky Bluegrass
• The Revivalists

The Jam Cruise lineup is always changing, so be sure to check back for updates as the event gets closer.

Jam Cruise Destinations

Jam Cruise has been held in a variety of destinations over the years, including the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas. The 2023 Jam Cruise will be held in the Bahamas, and the exact location will be announced closer to the event.

The Jam Cruise destination is always a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a week of music and fun. The ship is docked in a safe and secure harbor, and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy during the day and night.

Some of the activities that are offered on Jam Cruise include:

• Concerts by some of the best jam bands in the world
• Yoga and meditation classes
• Swimming, snorkeling, and diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas
• Beach parties
• Late-night dance parties
• And much more!

The Jam Cruise is a truly unique and unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for a week of music, fun, and relaxation, then Jam Cruise is the perfect vacation for you.

Jam Cruise is an amazing experience that is unlike any other music festival. The lineup is always top-notch, the destination is beautiful and relaxing, and the atmosphere is one of pure joy and celebration. If you’re a fan of jam bands, then Jam Cruise is a must-see event.

Jam Cruise is a music festival that takes place on a cruise ship. It features a variety of musical genres, including jazz, blues, soul, funk, and rock. The festival is known for its relaxed atmosphere and its emphasis on community.

Who attends Jam Cruise?

Jam Cruise attracts a wide range of people from all over the world. The festival is popular with musicians, music lovers, and people who are looking for a unique travel experience.

What kind of music is played at Jam Cruise?

Jam Cruise features a variety of musical genres, including jazz, blues, soul, funk, and rock. The festival is known for its eclectic lineup, which includes both established artists and up-and-coming acts.

What is the atmosphere like at Jam Cruise?

Jam Cruise is known for its relaxed atmosphere and its emphasis on community. The festival is a great place to meet new people, make new friends, and enjoy the music.

What are some of the activities offered at Jam Cruise?

In addition to the music, Jam Cruise offers a variety of other activities, including swimming, sunbathing, dancing, and yoga. The festival also has a number of workshops and talks, which are led by experts in a variety of fields.

How much does it cost to attend Jam Cruise?

The cost of a Jam Cruise ticket varies depending on the cabin type and the number of days you want to attend. Tickets typically start at around $1,000.

How can I book a ticket to Jam Cruise?

Tickets for Jam Cruise are sold through the festival’s website. Tickets typically go on sale in the spring.

What are some of the benefits of attending Jam Cruise?

There are many benefits to attending Jam Cruise, including:

• The opportunity to see a variety of talented musicians in a unique setting
• The chance to meet new people and make new friends
• The opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives
• The chance to relax and enjoy the beauty of the ocean

Is Jam Cruise right for me?

Jam Cruise is a great option for people who are looking for a unique travel experience and who enjoy music. The festival is a great place to meet new people, make new friends, and learn about different cultures and perspectives. If you’re looking for a relaxing and enjoyable vacation, Jam Cruise is a great option for you.

Jam Cruise is a unique music festival that offers an immersive experience for fans of all ages. The festival features a wide variety of musical genres, from jazz to blues to rock, and it attracts some of the biggest names in the music industry. In addition to the music, Jam Cruise also offers a variety of other activities, such as yoga, swimming, and beach volleyball. Whether you’re a music fan or just looking for a fun and relaxing vacation, Jam Cruise is the perfect destination for you.

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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.

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Gulf Coast Jam organizers announce new music festival

Kickoff jam is a three-day festival on labor day weekend in panama city beach.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A new music festival is coming to Panama City Beach.

Kickoff Jam will occur over Labor Day weekend, August 30 through Sep. 1.

Featured artists include Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, and Alabama. Gulf Coast Jam Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady announced the artists on social media Wednesday morning.

Tickets go on sale on Apr. 24.

Gulf Coast Jam is a multi-day festival over Memorial Day weekend, featuring country music artists.

This year’s Gulf Coast Jam will take place May 30 through June 2 at Frank Brown Park with Morgan Wallen as the headliner.

Copyright 2024 WJHG. All rights reserved.

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Thank You Jam Cruise 20 Pre-Book For JC21 Now!

Thank you jc20 - pre-book for jc21 now.

• JC20 Lineup
• JC20 Schedule
• Masters Camp At Sea
• Conscious Cruising
• Pre-Book Jam Cruise 21

Download The PDF

Sunday, february 25th, monday, february 26th, tuesday, february 27th, wednesday, february 28th, thursday, february 29th, pantheon theater, black & white lounge, around the ship.

2:00AM Jam Room

Pickin’ Lounge

12:15AM – 1:30AM Brews At Sea Stage

2:00AM Galaxy Disco

7:45PM – 8:30PM Piano Set

Garden Pool

Golden Jazz Bar

12:00AM – 1:30AM Golden Jazz Bar

Brews At Sea Stage

7:30PM – 8:15PM Piano Set

10:15PM – 11:30PM Brews At Sea Stage

11:15PM – 12:30AM Golden Jazz Bar

8:30PM – 10:00PM Golden Jazz Bar

7:15PM – 8:00PM Piano Set

10:45PM – 11:30PM Piano Set

Galaxy Disco

Russia Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945

In May 9th Russia celebrate the day of victory of Soviet troops over Nazi Germany. On this day, parades, commemorative events, and festive fireworks are held solemnly throughout the country. The main military parade of the country takes place in Moscow on Red Square. Throughout the city, at special concert venues, art groups perform, songs of the war years are heard everywhere. People dance, relax. Many older people cry, remembering the horror of years gone by.

Night of museums

Museum Night is an annual project that will take place in Moscow 15 times. Most of the city’s cultural institutions traditionally take part in it. Most of the city’s museums and exhibitions are free to visit. In parks, country estates, thematic performances and entertainment cultural events are held. About 200 museums, exhibition halls and art spaces take part in the festival. Many sites prepare special projects on the topic for visitors.

Christmas Festival

This is the most favourite festival of Muscovites and guests of the city. Interesting events take place at 80 venues throughout the city. Numerous ice rinks, food zones, hockey courts, slides, a children’s snowboard park are open. Every day, in special chalets around the city, puppet shows and fairy tales are read. Concerts and master classes await visitors, where you can try yourself in Gzhel painting, clay modelling, decoupage. You can make jewellery, toys and gifts to loved ones, as well as send a letter to Santa Claus. On Red Square, everyone is interested in not only skating on the rink themselves, but also enjoying the colourful ice show from the famous Russian skaters.

Festival “Moscow Maslenitsa”

One of the brightest, longest events in Russia, dedicated to the seeing off of winter and the meeting of spring. Everyone will be able to learn how to cook pancakes, attend a lot of creative and craft workshops. Take part in traditional Shrovetide fun. Build a huge stuffed animal from straw and burn it, ride on crusts, take part in a masquerade parade. At numerous venues it will be possible to see street performances and performances by the best vocal ensembles and folk artists.

New Year on Red Square

The festive concert begins at 20.00. Then everyone lights the New Year tree together. At midnight, guests will be surprised by festive fireworks. Tickets are on sale in advance at the expected symbolic price of 2,025 rubles.

International exhibition NEFTEGAZ-2022

Neftegaz (Oil and gas exhibition) is the largest exhibition in Russia, which is one of the ten most significant in the industry. Lots of business meetings. Sighning of contracts. Experience exchange. The exhibition is attended by over 500 companies from around the world.

Moscow International Film Festival

The film festival has been held since 1935. Second oldest after the Venice Film Festival. Moscow International Film Festival is one of the most important events in the film industry. This is not only an influential professional venue, but also an interesting event for muscovites and guest of the city.

Easter Gift Festival

Easter festival is one of the most striking and major events of the city in April. Guests and residents of the city will be able to learn about the traditions of Easter, taste various options for Easter cakes, try other holiday treats. And also take part in charity events.

The solemn ceremony of the changing of the guard at the walls of the Moscow Kremlin

The ceremony is held every on the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin. This is a colourful sight introducing Russian military traditions. Every year, the organizers introduce new elements into the program, preserving the classic part. To enter the territory of the Kremlin, an entrance ticket is required.

Fish Week festival

This year the festival will be held in Moscow for the sixth time. Everyone can taste a variety of seafood dishes, as well as purchase fish, shrimp, caviar «take away”. Every day, gastronomic shows and various master classes for both adults and children will be held at the festival venues.

A cappella Moscow Spring international festival

Bright and talented performers and bands from different countries come to Moscow to demonstrate all their singing a cappella skills. The show takes place at different open-air scenes in the center of Moscow. Everyone can visit any city concerts, creative workshops, music, theatre performances.

Horse racing events

In Moscow, the racing season lasts from May to September. Purebred racehorse competitions are held at the Central Moscow Hippodrome. Throughout the entire period, horses demonstrate all their power, beauty and strength. By tradition, in the spring a big holiday is held, dedicated to the opening of the race.

Day of Russia

On this day, all cities of the country host ceremonies, entertainment programs, holiday concerts with the participation of popular performers. Everyone can participate in sports and youth flash mobs, visit museums and improvised fairs. And the culmination of the holiday will be a big fireworks.

Flower Jam Festival

Within the framework of the festival, the international competition of urban landscape design of the same name takes place. The task of the contestants is to come up with gardens, compositions that will beneficially affect the emotional and physical condition of the city residents. Across the city will appear compositions of fresh flowers. The city is blooming.

International Festival "Russian Cuisine"

This year the festival of Russian cuisine will be held for the forth time. Guests will be able to taste a wide palette of dishes from multinational Russia. Appreciate the skills of the best chefs in Russia. Taste ready-made dishes according to old Russian recipes. The largest outdoor food court in Moscow will open. Performances of famous pop singers and folk artists will complement the holiday atmosphere.

International Fireworks Festival Rostec

The largest festival of pyrotechnic art in Russia. The strongest pyrotechnics from different countries gather to show the audience all their highest skills and compete for the title of best. A diverse program is provided for guests and residents of the city: creative and sporting events, thematic spaces, quests and games, performances by musical groups and much more.

International Military Music Festival Spasskaya Tower

This holiday festival takes place on Red Square. This is one of the most ambitious and vibrant events of the year. Spectators are waiting for the parade of military bands, musical groups from around the world. Music from classical to pop sounds in the city center. Military bands from many countries demonstrate entire dance performances, performances with weapons. Colorful laser and pyrotechnic shows decorate this event. The grand fireworks on the closing day are unforgettable.

Moscow City day

Bright, large-scale and spectacular holiday. In 2022, Muscovites will celebrate the 875th anniversary of their city. Moscow greets this day on a grand scale. The whole city is seething. At various venues there are concerts and live music. Sports competitions for families, fairs for all are held. Everywhere – an atmosphere of joy and emancipation.

Moscow Balloon Festival

The festival will be held at the Expocentre on Krasnaya Presnya. This is the largest festival in Europe in terms of the number of participants, guests and sponsors. The best professional graphic designers from all over the world compete here. The program includes: an air show, master classes, an exhibition of sculptures from balloons, as well as exciting seminars from professional aero designers.

XI Moscow International Festival Circle of Light

One of the largest light festivals in the world. Grand multimedia shows await guests and residents: 3D mapping, pyrotechnic effects using high-altitude fountains, fire flames, laser projections. Many light installations of fireworks with musical accompaniment.

XVIII Moscow Gastronomic Festival

Hundreds of restaurants in Moscow present a signature tasting menu. It offers new tastes, unusual food combinations, bold culinary experiments. Special brunches take place all month. The city has a lot of thematic entertainment, promotions from the partners of the festival. At the end of the festival, a magnificent ball is held at which members of the international jury will choose the winner.

National Unity Day of Russia

In Moscow, the program of this general public holiday is especially solemn and vibrant. A variety of patriotic events, rallies, parades are held. In the evening, festive concerts of pop stars and musical groups will take place.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Gulf Coast Jam 2024 tickets sold out, on track for one of the biggest years yet

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Country music stars will soon take the stage at arguably the largest event on the Beach.

The Gulf Coast Jam is once again gearing up to attract thousands of people to Panama City Beach. Slated to occur May 30 to June 2 at Frank Brown Park, here's what we know about the four-day country music festival.

Are tickets still available?

As executive director of the Gulf Cost Jam, Rendy Lovelady said Monday that tickets to the concert have been sold out since November. He expects about 25,000 attendees this year − the same as in 2023, which set the record for having the largest turnout in the event's history.

"It's humbling to be involved in the show that's close to 13 years old (and) see it grow over the years," Lovelady said. "I've been doing this for years ... and I've never see the excitement I've seen this year toward the festival."

What artists will perform?

According to the event's website, the headliners for the 2024 Gulf Coast Jam are Parker McCollum, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen.

Other artists slated to perform include Shane Smith & the Saints, Priscilla Block, Chase Matthew, Corey Kent, Kidd G, Austin Snell, Sadie Bass, John Morgan, Heartland, Peytan Porter, Deana Carter, Shelby Darrall and Chandler Flint.

Looking back: 'Massively successful': 2023 Gulf Coast Jam sets records; Morgan Wallen booked for 2024

"We sold out last year, so it should be about the same as last year," Lovelady said of this year's festival. "It's exciting to see multiple years sell out. I wish we had more land. We could (sell) more tickets, but we really (are) just at capacity with Gulf Coast Jam."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Gulf Coast Jam 2024 tickets sold out, on track for one of the biggest years yet