MUSIC ARTISTS
The 21st Fall Joshua Tree Music Festival
Where music lovers find their new favorite artists, and the intimate setting makes for a phenomenal live music experience for artist and audience alike. Deep dive workshops to uplift, inspire and feed the mind, body and soul. Random acts of mindfulness and serendipitous moments abound. Spontaneous eruptions of gratitude spread like wildfire, and a friendly, familial spirit is pervasive. Join us this October 8-11, 2026!
THE LINEUP
*Lineup & schedule subject to change
Cure for Paranoia is a powerhouse (Dallas) alternative hip-hop collective founded by visionary frontman Cameron McCloud, alongside dynamic collaborators Tomahawk Jonez and Jay Analog. Blending raw lyricism with genre-bending soundscapes, the group delivers an electrifying live experience that pulls audiences into every beat and bar. Cameron’s deeply personal storytelling transforms struggle into strength, channeling his journey through mental health into music that hits hard and heals deeper. What began as a personal form of therapy has evolved into a movement—an unapologetic, high-energy performance that leaves crowds inspired and wanting more. Bold, vulnerable, and unforgettable, CURE FOR PARANOIA isn’t just music—it’s a lifeline, a release, and a powerful connection shared from stage to soul.
Acido Pantera (Colombia) is the electrifying Bogotá-born duo of Juan Por Dios and Diego Veira, pioneering a bold fusion of Colombian roots and cutting-edge electronic sound. Since forming in 2013, they’ve ignited stages worldwide, from Glastonbury to Sziget, delivering high-energy performances that blur borders and genres. Their music pulses with traditional rhythms—gaita, marimba de chonta, and vibrant percussion—woven seamlessly with drum machines, hypnotic synthesizers, and Spanish vocals. The result is an explosive, unmistakable “acid tropical” sound that moves bodies and transcends cultures. Constantly evolving, ÁCIDO PANTERA continues to release new music, collaborate globally, and craft their next album, pushing their sonic vision forward. This is more than a set—it’s a rhythmic journey that connects heritage, innovation, and pure dancefloor energy.
The Breaks (New Orleans) This powerhouse trio uniting three legendary groove architects: guitarist Eddie Roberts, drummer Stanton Moore, and organist Robert Walter. Rooted in the spirit of late-’60s organ trios, boogaloo, deep funk, and soul-jazz, The Breaks channels vintage energy through a modern, electrifying lens. With hypnotic Hammond organ lines, razor-sharp guitar work, New Orleans-infused rhythms, and fearless improvisation, the trio delivers a sound that is both timeless and explosively fresh. Each member brings decades of acclaimed musicianship and stage mastery, combining into a tight, groove-heavy force built for late-night jams, dance-floor moments, and pure musical chemistry. The Breaks isn’t just a collaboration — it’s a meeting of funk royalty pushing the tradition forward with soul, swagger, and unstoppable rhythm.
Southern Avenue (Memphis) is the GRAMMY-nominated, Blues Music Award-winning Memphis family band redefining modern roots music with soul, fire, and fearless authenticity. Led by powerhouse vocalist Tierinii Jackson, alongside guitarist Ori Naftaly and sisters Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson and Ava Jackson, the group blends Memphis blues, gospel harmonies, and modern soul into a sound that is both timeless and urgent. Their music pulses with message-driven lyrics, electrifying guitar, and deep, groove-heavy rhythms that move hearts as much as bodies. Fresh off their album Family, Southern Avenue delivers unforgettable live performances that feel like a spiritual revival—uplifting, inclusive, and deeply human. This isn’t just a show—it’s a shared experience, expanding their musical family with every note played.
Elias Alexander (Portland) The one man, life-changing, accordion wielding dance floor detonator is coming back for more. He’s a boundary-pushing multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter crafting a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and electronic innovation. Blending Scottish and American folk roots with house, hip-hop, and lo-fi textures, he transforms centuries-old sounds into something deeply personal, modern, and healing. Armed with bagpipes, fiddle, guitar, whistles, and live looping, Elias builds immersive performances that surge with emotion—moving seamlessly from euphoric dancefloor energy to intimate, soul-stirring moments. His genre-defying style has earned comparisons to FKJ and Fred again., captivating audiences across major festivals and beyond. With viral hits like “FIDDLE DISCO!” and a rapidly growing global following, ELIAS ALEXANDER delivers a live experience that is as powerful as it is unforgettable—a sonic journey of identity, connection, and transformation.
Jimetta Rose (Los Angeles) and the VOC is a radiant soul and jazz choir born in Los Angeles, founded in 2019 by visionary vocalist Jimetta Rose and organist Jack Maeby. Rooted in healing, community, and spiritual connection, their music rises with warmth, power, and purpose – blending rich harmonies, dynamic movement, and heartfelt expression. From Grand Park to international stages like We Out Here and North Sea Jazz Festival, they’ve captivated audiences with performances that uplift and unite. Their sound is both intimate and expansive, grounded in faith, love, and collective energy. Beyond the spotlight, they remain deeply committed to their community, gathering weekly in Leimert Park to sing, grow, and give back. This is more than a choir—it’s a movement of joy, connection, and transformative sound.
Future Joy (Colorado/Florida) is the electrifying duo of Emily Cooper and Zach Simms, a genre-defying force blending DJ culture with live instrumentation into a high-energy, feel-good explosion. Fusing funk, house, bass, pop, drum & bass, hip-hop, and beyond, they create a vibrant sonic playground where every set becomes an unforgettable celebration. Both artists sing, spin, and play keys, while Zach ignites the stage with powerhouse saxophone, adding a raw, live edge to their dynamic sound. From Bonnaroo to Joshua Tree Music Festival, they’ve lit up major stages and shared bills with boundary-pushing acts across the scene. Their debut album NOW captures their infectious spirit—uplifting, playful, and deeply human. FUTURE JOY isn’t just a performance—it’s a movement of connection, community, and pure, unstoppable joy.
Mak Nova (Santa Cruz) is a Santa Cruz-based rapper, producer, and performance artist delivering explosive, high-energy shows that turn every stage into a full-on celebration. A gender-expansive force with undeniable presence, she blends bold lyricism, infectious beats, and striking visuals into a sound and performance style that’s entirely her own. Whether commanding an intimate club or a festival main stage, MAK NOVA creates an electrifying connection that pulls audiences straight into the moment. A standout on the West Coast scene, she’s lit up stages at Joshua Tree Music Festival and shared bills with legends like George Clinton, Myka 9, and The Jungle Brothers. Fearless, dynamic, and unapologetically original, MAK NOVA isn’t just performing—she’s building an immersive, unforgettable experience where everyone becomes part of the energy.
Nola Is Calling (New Orleans) is a boundary-pushing collective merging the deep-rooted spirit of New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian traditions with bold, modern electronic and funk-driven soundscapes. Featuring the powerful voices of Big Chief Romeo and Big Chief Jermaine alongside producer David Walters, the project transforms ancestral chants and stories into a vibrant, future-facing sonic experience. Their music pulses with rhythm, history, and innovation—honoring the legacy of Black Indian culture while reimagining it through cutting-edge production. With releases like Sewing Machine Effects, NOLA IS CALLING delivers performances that are both hypnotic and celebratory, bridging past and present in real time. This is more than music—it’s a living, breathing cultural expression that invites audiences into a powerful, rhythmic journey unlike anything else on stage.
Mystical Joyride (Los Angeles) is a genre-fluid, psychedelic world-pop experience where the cosmic, the spiritual, and the unapologetically playful collide. Founded by dynamic duo Leah Van King and Joel Van Dijk, the project fuses soul-searching lyricism with bold, boundary-pushing production into a sound that’s as expansive as it is infectious. Blending global influences, hypnotic grooves, and vibrant energy, their music feels like a journey through dimensions—equal parts dance party and spiritual awakening. With a live show that invites everyone—humans, creatures, and cosmic travelers alike—into the experience, MYSTICAL JOYRIDE creates a space where connection, curiosity, and pure vibe take center stage. This isn’t just a performance—it’s an invitation to explore the mystery, together, on a joyride beyond the ordinary.
We Them Grays is a (Dallas) born sibling trio redefining soul, jazz, and funk with a sound rooted in family, feeling, and fearless creativity. Kierra, KJ, and Kwinton Gray have been making music together since childhood, transforming living room jams into a polished, genre-blending force that captivates every stage they touch. With Kierra’s rich, gospel-infused vocals, KJ’s dynamic basslines and rhythmic versatility, and Kwinton’s masterful keys and improvisational flair, the trio crafts a sound that is both timeless and refreshingly modern. Their chemistry is undeniable, their groove is infectious, and their performances are filled with heart and soul. WE THEM GRAYS isn’t just a band—it’s a powerful musical bond that resonates far beyond the stage.
Bad Snacks (Los Angeles) From underground LA clubs to iconic stages across the country, Bad Snacks delivers a genre-bending electronic experience packed with cinematic textures, infectious grooves, and electrifying live energy. Blending jazz, hip-hop, electronica, and classical influences, the Boston-born producer and violin virtuoso first captured global attention after her breakout appearance on 4 Producers Challenge. Since then, she’s built a reputation for immersive performances driven by soaring synthesized violin, deep basslines, and dynamic rhythms that keep crowds moving. A former assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, Bad Snacks combines elite musicianship with fearless creativity, earning spots at legendary venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre and sharing stages with artists including Anomalie.
Bicicletas Por La Paz Straight from (Oakland) Bicicletas Por La Paz ignites the stage with an explosive fusion of psychedelic cumbia, Colombian folkloric rhythms, chicha grooves, funk, and hip-hop energy. This electrifying seven-piece outfit delivers infectious dance beats, lush harmonies, and vibrant bilingual vocals that transform every performance into a celebration of movement, unity, and community. Rooted in the spirit of people power, Bicicletas Por La Paz channels messages of joy, resilience, and connection through music that bridges cultures and generations. Their modern psychedelic twist on traditional cumbia creates a sound that feels both timeless and forward-thinking — hypnotic, soulful, and impossible to stand still to. Whether lighting up festivals, dance floors, or outdoor celebrations, Bicicletas Por La Paz brings a powerful live experience designed to move hearts as much as feet.
Groovement (Bay Area) Body of Sound leads you on an immersive rhythmic journey—dropping you straight into the pocket of GROOVE. Founded in 2006 by Alyssa DeCaro, the project uplifts and inspires through music, movement, and community, tuning the body as its most essential instrument. Alyssa has opened the TED Conference, led retreats at Esalen, and facilitated programs for Genentech and Roche. She has guided thousands in synchronized rhythm at festivals including Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, High Sierra, Joshua Tree Music Festival, SoulPlay, Bahootenzie, and more. With 23 years of experience as a yoga teacher, dancer, and musician, she creates interactive ensemble experiences fueled by humor, skill, and connection – transforming any room into a space of collective joy and embodied play.
August Lee Stevens (Bay Area) Emerging from the East Bay town of Hercules, August Lee Stevens is a captivating voice in modern soul, folk, and jazz-infused storytelling. With velvet-smooth vocals, poetic lyricism, and a magnetic stage presence, Stevens crafts deeply human songs that resonate with warmth, vulnerability, and timeless artistry. A classically trained pianist from the acclaimed Oakland School for the Arts, she blends intricate fingerstyle guitar, soulful piano, and rich vocal textures into performances that feel both intimate and cinematic. August has shared stages with legendary artists including Smokey Robinson and Rhiannon Giddens, while appearing at celebrated events such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and performances at the Kennedy Center. With a sound rooted in heritage, emotion, and masterful musicianship, August Lee Stevens is an artist whose star continues to rise.
Las Tías Rooted in the heart of the (Coachella Valley) Las Tías brings timeless Latin classics to life with elegance, soul, and modern spirit. Formed by Giselle Woo and Janine Rivera, the duo blends rich harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and deep Mexican American roots into performances that feel both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary. Drawing from the enduring traditions of boleros and rancheras, Las Tías creates intimate musical conversations that honor heritage, resilience, love, and community. Their warm stage presence and emotionally charged vocals have captivated audiences throughout the region, including standout performances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the Sonora Tent. With every song, Las Tías bridges generations through music that is timeless, deeply human, and impossible not to feel.
Jesus Gonzalez (San Diego) creates immersive, soul-stirring music that feels both deeply personal and universally uplifting. Inspired by nature, poetry, and the wonder of simply being alive, Gonzalez blends original songwriting with live improvisation to craft performances rooted in presence, connection, and emotional depth. Using loopers, layered harmonies, percussion, and lush instrumentation, he builds cinematic soundscapes that invite audiences into a space of reflection, joy, and awe. His ethereal falsetto and heartfelt lyricism have drawn comparisons to the emotional intimacy of Bon Iver while carrying a style entirely his own. Praised for performances that feel transcendent and transportive, Jesus Gonzalez delivers music that is tender, expansive, and filled with wonder — a live experience that reminds audiences of the beauty and magic woven into everyday existence.
AC Sapphire (Portland) crafts expansive, soul-searching music that blends cosmic Americana, desert folk, and emotionally charged rock ’n’ roll into a sound that feels timeless yet unmistakably modern. On her acclaimed album Dec. 32nd, Sapphire delivers soaring harmonies, fiery guitar work, and deeply personal songwriting inspired by wide-open landscapes, wandering spirits, and the emotional weight of modern life. A finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and winner of the Relix Sonic Showdown, she has shared stages with artists including Sunny War and Son Little while performing at celebrated festivals such as Philadelphia Folk Festival and Treefort Music Fest. With haunting vocals, cinematic songwriting, and a fearless emotional core, Ac Sapphire creates music built for long drives, late nights, and unforgettable moments under open skies.
Rags Rosenberg (Santa Cruz) crafts powerful Americana rooted in sharp storytelling, weathered wisdom, and the uneasy beauty of modern life. Raised beneath the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, Rosenberg grew up on folk traditions and the belief — inspired by Bob Dylan — that songs can still change the world. His music blends gritty instrumentation, poetic lyricism, and cinematic emotional depth into songs that confront uncertainty, unraveling institutions, and the search for humanity in chaotic times. With a voice that carries equal parts witness, wanderer, and truth-teller, Rosenberg delivers performances that are both intimate and urgent. Rich with thoughtful musicianship and fearless songwriting, his music invites listeners to reflect, question, and imagine something better beyond the noise. Rags Rosenberg creates songs for restless souls — music that lingers long after the final note fades.
All Kinds (Joshua Tree) Raised on desert dust and powered by pure joy, All Kinds returns to the Joshua Tree Music Festival stage with heart, soul, and serious young talent. This dynamic collective of High Desert musicians channels the spirit of Bowie, Green Day, Four Non-Blondes, Vance Joy, George Thorogood, Metallica, and beyond into a genre-hopping celebration of self-expression. Led by Erik Kramer Webb and Jeff Tedtaotao, the band radiates the kind of raw enthusiasm and fearless creativity that reminds us why live music matters in the first place. More than a band, All Kinds Music is a Morongo Basin program dedicated to helping youth and adults discover confidence, connection, and joy through music. Their performances don’t just entertain — they uplift, inspire, and leave crowds grinning long after the final note fades.
Sun Kissed (Joshua Tree) Sister-powered and impossible to ignore, SunKissed brings a radiant blend of rock grit, cinematic strings, and soaring harmonies to the stage. Made up of sisters Kayli, Kari, and Kassi — ranging in age from 17 to 22 — this Arizona trio has spent most of their lives making music together, building a sound that feels both fiercely modern and timeless. Kayli’s driving guitar work, Kari’s electrifying violin riffs, and Kassi’s thunderous drumming collide beneath lush, magnetic vocal harmonies showcased in originals like “Know Better” and “I Won’t.” A standout on the Phoenix music scene, SunKissed earned recognition as the only all-female finalist in Alice Cooper’s “Proof Is In The Pudding” competition, placing third overall. With undeniable chemistry, fearless musicianship, and songs that pulse with heart and fire, SunKissed is a band on the rise.
Ding Dong (San Francisco) House music lifer. Funk architect. Dance-floor instigator. Ding Dong returns to the Joshua Tree Music Festival with another ecstatic Boogaloo throwdown built for sweaty smiles, sunrise shuffles, and full-body liberation. For more than 25 years, this Bay Area selector has been crafting outrageously groove-heavy sets that blur the lines between house, funk, disco, soul, and pure late-night magic. Festival veterans still talk about his legendary sunrise-closing Headphone House session at JTMF 2023, along with the scorcher he delivered on the Boogaloo Stage later that fall. As a core member of San Francisco’s beloved Brass Tax DJ Crew — famous for unforgettable free parties in unexpected places — Ding Dong embodies the collective’s spirit: serious about music, never too serious about themselves. Expect deep rhythms, joyful chaos, and a dance floor united in blissful motion.
Manila Vanilla (San Francisco) Equal parts sweat, sparkle, and sonic mischief, Manila Vanilla is the dance-floor detonating duo of DJ Kinki and The Djred Panda. Partners in life, rhythm, and late-night groove alchemy, these Bay Area selectors have spent years igniting parties with a wildly infectious blend of house music in all its forms — deep, funky, soulful, disco-laced, bass-heavy, and irresistibly euphoric. With more than 25 years of combined experience behind the decks, Manila Vanilla knows exactly how to read a crowd, raise the temperature, and keep bodies moving deep into the night. Their sets are vibrant, high-energy journeys built for smiling strangers, hands-in-the-air moments, and full-spectrum dance-floor release. When Manila Vanilla rolls through, expect serious vibes, nonstop bounce, and the kind of communal joy that only great DJs can summon.
