Photo Credit: Chris Baldwin

On Thursday, Sept. 12, Bender Jamboree returned after a five-year break. Day one was initiated with an onslaught of entertainment from genre-leaning ensembles that touched on jam, bluegrass, and wider musical influences. The celebratory feel of night one seeped into the weekend lineup as entertainment continued. 

The arrival of Day Two, Friday, Sept. 13, also beckoned the start of live music performances on the Relix Pool Stage at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Beginning with a frame from the modern bluegrass unit Big Richard, DJ Logic kept the music coming, spinning between sets and keeping the crowd loose ahead of Lindsay Lous’s stage time. Friday’s final slot on the Relix stage featured a high-energy performance from the New Jersey quintet Dogs in a Pile, who paid homage to the location with covers from The Hangover.

The band’s manager,  Ross Peterzell, explained the soundtrack pull to Relix, offering, “We wanted to pay tribute to the best Vegas movie of our generation with a set of tunes from The Hangover. A lot of those songs may never see the stage again, but we are so grateful for the memories of being able to pull that off. In Vegas on a pool deck nonetheless!

Meanwhile, on the Paradise Main Stage, The Infamous Stringdusters warmed up the audience with two hours of music, which preluded Umphrey’s McGee’s arrival and their expansive three-plus hours of jamming. As night shifted into the early morning hours, Ivan Neville & Friends brought the flavor of NOLA to Sin City prior to Joe Marcinek’s Dead Funk Summit, which came after the final notes of the Dumpstaphunk musician’s frame. 

Saturday continued a pour-out of live music on the Relix stage, beginning with Boulder, Colo.’s The Sweet Lillies, who played through an hour and a half of pulls that showed off their  Americana/bluegrass lean. Logic spun between frames, which would go on to include Keller Williams and, separately, Neighbor. Day three also included Mainstage sets from Kitchen Dwellers, Leftover Salmon, and another super-sized performance from The String Cheese Incident. 

The final day of music, Sunday, Sept. 15, had no energy shortage as final sets rang out from the Relix Pool Stage. Dipped in the celebratory nature tied to pulls from the Grateful Dead songbook, beginning with Thee Mess Arounds & Catfish John Ft. Bender Brass, followed by Grateful Dub and the setting’s final set, billed as Grateful Grass with Williams & The Hillbenders. Yonder Mountain took over the main stage one last time, setting the tone before The String Cheese Incident’s final pair of festival sets. 

On location were photographers Erik Kabik, Paul Citone, and Chris Baldwin. Scroll through the photos below. 

Friday, Sept. 13:

Saturday, Sept. 14:

Sunday, Sept. 15: