Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 28 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t fit that traditional mold, and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward, Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set, too. Pushing 3,000 live gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember those?) than any other act on the bill. A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which houses recordings of every show since 2005. The service has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net, used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another realm altogether by integrating themselves into VR platforms and 360 video. All of the above has earned the band status as kings of the live music scene, with standing yearly engagements at iconic venues, their own events in Morocco (Morockshow), Iceland (Rockjavick) and Dominican Republic and Mexico (Holidaze), and co-hosting Chillicothe, IL’s long-running Summer Camp festival. In April 2025, Umphrey’s led their faithful fans on another bucket list musical adventure: Morockshow, a three-night event in Marrakech, Morocco. This marked yet another signature international destination for the band’s one-of-a-kind live experiences. Following their 2022 full-length Asking For A Friend, which showcased more evolved songwriting and thoughtful arranging, the band released the Out of Focus EP in July 2025 followed by their full length Blueprints album in September 2025. The new material draws from deep fan engagement, with compositions born from live “Raw Stewage” segments voted on by the UM faithful. These songs were recorded live during their exclusive Top Note Sessions at Chicago’s Metro, fusing the raw energy of improvisation with studio-quality fidelity. As Umphrey’s McGee steps into their next chapter, they remain a band in constant evolution—restless, fearless, and deeply connected to their audience.

Headed by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy–winning percussion duo of Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth, Ghost-Note is an explosion of sound. With an expansive roster of next-level musicians—representing members of Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, Justin Timberlake, and more—the band is pushing funk music into the future, building on the uplifting, pioneering foundations laid out by the likes of James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone and infusing their fresh take with tastes of afrobeat, hip-hop, psychedelia, world folklore, and more.  With the release of 2018’s Swagism, Ghost-Note has made their mission clear. The album puts rhythm at the forefront, with irresistible, heavy-hitting beats underlying the group’s wild, rich music. Featuring numerous guest collaborators, including Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks, Nigel Hall, Taz, and others, Swagism showcases the band’s stunning ability to meld and amplify sounds, ultimately adding to Ghost-Note’s sharp, complex collaborations.  Fearless, both in Swagism’s sonic depth and conscious social commentary, the band easily translates this adventurousness in a live setting. Ghost-Note’s live performances are bold and in your face, with the group offering up none of the tight-laced pretenses frequently associated with the band’s jazz roots. Focused on creating seductive danceable grooves and a contagious feel-good energy, each show is an opportunity to let loose and connect, for both fans and the musicians alike. After forming in 2015, Ghost-Note has already begun to take the world by storm. The group’s two studio albums—2018’s Swagism and 2015’s Fortified—have earned critical acclaim and popular success around the globe, with both albums hitting the #1 spot on the iTunes Jazz Charts. Furthermore, the ever-growing family of musicians has mounted successful headlining tours in the United States, Canada, and Japan and performed at high-profile international music festivals and events.