Songs and Synergy: Jam Cruise Day Two [A Recap]

February 16, 2025

Photo Credit: Dave Vann

On Saturday, Feb. 15, the 21st annual Jam Cruise continued into its second day of music-filled fun. After establishing the event’s collaborative energy on night one, gears were greased, and another rollout of surprises seeped into the afternoon and evening offerings.

The Day at Sea [no port stop] allowed for more music, meaning sets began a quarter past noon, with Hot Buttered Rum delivering bluegrass splendor after day one’s funk-heavy lean, which was brought back during Polyrhythmics’ frame on the Pool Deck–a hot spot for near back to back performances.

With a seemingly permanent crowd in front of the aforementioned outdoor main stage, ALO kept up the flow of synergy during their set, featuring a guest appearance from Allie Kral, who added fiddle to the band’s typical jam-pop display. Also included was Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s Jeremy Schon, who assisted on fan favorite “Plastic Bubble.”

The Nth Power tapped special guest Shira Elias and one-time keyboardist Courtney Smith, nodding to the festival’s cherished tradition of bringing performers together, which was further emphasized during lespecial’s set in the Pantheon Theatre.

The power trio spoke about feeling like orphans in the jam scene until they discovered this particular festival format and so-called “Jazz Dad” Mike Dillon, who started the band’s string of sit-ins. The stage swelled with the arrival of Skerik–Dillon’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade bandmate and Dumpstaphunk powerhouse Alex Wasily–for his first time sitting in with lespecial.

lespecial featuring Skerik served as a preview for Daze Between New Orleans, where the aforementioned players are slated to team up once again. Notably, Wasily and his fellow members of the Dumpstaphunk Horns, Ashlin Parker and Brad Walker, are also on the Daze Between lineup and are scheduled to join moe.

Saturday night’s lespecial and friends showed the exhilarated might of the amalgamated group, adding an exclamation mark next to April’s gathering in Crescent City with jam-fueled interplay, an instrumental and vocal toss between players.

Australia’s own Mildlife turned heads in the Black & White Lounge, eliciting a groove-heavy display that percolated a vintage flair mimicked by their dress. The band’s Jam Cruise debut caused a stir, and the crowd grew throughout their 90-minute stage time.

BERTHA: Grateful Drag brought the night’s theme, Fear and Jamming in Las Vegas, into full view, with covers like “Dire Wolf” [“I cut my deck to the Queen of Spades, but the cards were all the same”] and “Deal.” A high point was Erik Yates’ sit-in with BERTHA, donning drag and assuming the name Erika Yates’ during his lead on “Dire Wolf.”

Andy Frasco brought out The Horn Section, [separately] Allie Kral, and capitalized on the collaboration and positive reinforcement. Frasco also tipped his hat to tours past, with Pigeon Playing Ping Pong showing up and sitting in.

Officially, on Sunday morning, music stretched till 5 a.m.; for the masses that sought to keep the party going, there was no shortage of music or fun.

After a day in Cozumel, Mexico, live performances will resume on the Pool Deck at 6 p.m., on the third day of the Jam Cruise.

Go to Relix’s official Instagram page for a behind-the-scenes look at Summer Zen Ft. Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr., Robert Walter, Lebo and John Morgan Kimock’s practice session, and more.

Or scroll down to view.