Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on December 6, 2025
Dizgo + Space Bacon + Solar Circuit Mashup | photo by Jamie Huenefeld/Killahwave
Jazz legend Herbie Hancock once said, “music is the tool to express life, and all that makes a difference.” In the jam scene, that truth feels especially sharp right now. Over the past few years, we’ve watched several beloved touring bands fade from the road—Twiddle, The Magic Beans, Dopapod, Papadosio, and others who shaped rooms, festivals, and friendships over the last decade. Their absence leaves a real void, not just in the touring ecosystem, but in the hearts of fans who rely on live music as their way of life.
That’s why we put this list together. If the scene is shifting, then it’s time to shine a light on the next wave of bands that you’re going to start hearing more about. Many websites have covered the rise of more well-known bands like Eggy and Dogs in a Pile. This list contains relatively unknown artists grinding on the road, releasing new music, building communities, and carrying the spirit forward in real time. We ranked our list based on Bandcamp or Nugs releases from 2025, their upcoming show count, social media engagement metrics, and overall internet buzz.
In a second companion article, we’ll highlight a group of smaller, more regional bands who may not have national tours yet, but who absolutely will blow your mind when you catch them in a club or bar that barely fits a hundred people. First, here are the twelve emerging bands who you haven’t heard of but are likely to see on festival posters, stacked bills, and after-show parties in 2026—the acts humbly keeping the jam world alive, wide open, and evolving.
Bloomington, Indiana’s Dizgo is one of the hardest working bands in the jam scene right now, and their sound hits that sweet spot between a Goose-like emotional build and Disco Biscuits–style dance floor intensity. They blend electronic rock, soulful vocals, deep grooves, and improvisation in a way that feels modern without losing that classic jam-band heart. Their peaks are huge, their jams are fluid, and their live releases show a band evolving in real time. They are also touring heavily with thirteen dates scheduled, including appearances on Jam Cruise 22 and at the Northlands Music Festival. They have a stunning light rig made for mid-size theaters, and also released almost one hundred shows on Nugs in 2025. If you’re looking for the next act that is ready to elevate major festival stages, Dizgo is up for the challenge.
Hailing from Asheville, NC, Fireside Collective is a bluegrass-rooted powerhouse that plays with the soul and stamina of a jam band. They are everywhere right now, and that includes twenty upcoming tour dates and nearly fifty shows on Nugs in 2025, with a loyal following that knows all the words. They hit that magical cross section between The Lil Smokies, Greensky Bluegrass, and the improv spirit that the jam scene thrives on. They’re tight, emotional, and they shred with purpose. They also love playing covers, and recently unfurled a raging, fire-themed Halloween set in Asheville, NC, which included classics like “Disco Inferno” and “Burning Down the House.” If you love bands that can play, these guys deliver every time.
Big Shrimp from Bridgeport, CT might be the most slept-on funky jam machine in the country. They’re pure heat: long sets, huge grooves, and a rhythm section that feels like it could carry an entire block party by itself. Guitarist Jared Sage Cowen leads this squad on guitar to deliver a dance-worthy blend of prog rock, blues rock, and funk. Their fan base is growing fast because the shows are fun, joyful, sweaty, and full of personality. They crushed their August 2025 performance at Karnival of the Arts. They’re touring hard right now with nineteen upcoming dates, and absolutely deserve the love they’re beginning to get.
Houseplant has quickly become one of the most exciting new voices in the jam world. This Louisville, KY–based band’s sound is breezy but deep, groovy but exploratory, perfect for fans who want something funky, fresh, and psychedelic. Led by mandolinist Tavis Conley, they’re popping up on festival bills, hitting the road steadily, and drawing bigger crowds every month. They are currently on the lineup for the Dark Star Jubilee at Legend Valley in May 2026, and along with eight dates at smaller clubs in the Northeast and Midwest. If they’re in your ZIP code, go. They’re that band. They also feature Berklee alum and jam-scene veteran Ben Atkind from Elephant Proof.
Colorado’s Squeaky Feet is that band everyone leaves talking about. Their blend of progressive rock, fusion, and long-form improvisation makes every set feel like an adventure, and their musicianship is off the charts. If you like bands that push boundaries (think TAUK meets Umphrey’s with a sprinkle of King Crimson), these guys are your next obsession. On top of releasing forty shows on BandCamp in 2025, they’re young, hungry, and only getting better.
Brooklyn’s Space Bacon has quietly become one of the most reliable late-night weapons in the modern jamtronica world. Known for longform improvisation, deep pockets, and a willingness to get weird, their sets often feel like a cross between Bisco-style tension-and-release and the gritty electronic edge of an underground rave. They’ve built a strong, loyal following through relentless gigging and a massive archive of live releases — including more than twenty recordings on Nugs from 2025 that show the band at their sharpest yet. Their Vermont appearance on March 8, 2025, a.k.a. the video-game-inspired Super Bacon show, turned heads for good reason: big jams, bold risks, and a crowd that absolutely fed off the energy. With five upcoming dates already on the ledger and a ton of momentum behind them, Space Bacon is poised to make 2026 their biggest year yet.
Philly’s Solar Circuit brings deep-space vibes with a dance floor engine. Their shows feel like a journey through psychedelic trance, livetronica, and jam rock — all woven together with tight transitions and big peaks. They are weekend warriors with seventeen releases on Nugs in 2025, and have cultivated a fan base that absolutely gets it. The band is anchored by the husband-wife duo of Nick Orlove and Becca LeVan. Their throw-down at Beard Fest 2025 is nothing short of legendary. They recently debuted at The Caverns in Pelham, TN for the Subterranea Festival, and continue to score better bookings. If you want jamtronica with a human heartbeat, this is your band.
St. Petersburg, Florida’s Ajeva mixes soulful vocals, funky rhythms, a tight horn section, and massive feel-good energy. They effortlessly move a crowd, blending a little Lettuce, a little Motet, and a lot of their own flavor. They’ve been building momentum steadily and have the chops to break out nationally. They also released a whopping twenty eight shows on Bandcamp in 2025. Their performance at Whippersnap 2025 was nothing short of legendary. Catch them before the rooms get bigger.
Yak Attack is Portland, Oregon’s answer to late-night festival sets. They blend live synths, drums, bass, and electronic textures into a non-stop dance party. Think STS9 meets a renegade set in the woods. They’re tight, polished, and a must-see for anyone who loves livetronica with teeth. They dropped twenty live releases on BandCamp in 2025, and their Pacific Northwest following is strong and growing.
Buffalo, NY’s Organ Fairchild is a groove-forward trio with a vintage sound and modern jam sensibility. Their Hammond-driven funk is warm, energetic, and incredibly up-lifting. These guys are scene veterans who know exactly how to deliver a set that keeps the crowd smiling. This trio is perfect for fans of Soulive, MMW, and classic organ-trio magic.
South Florida’s TAND is a psychedelic rock trip with huge jams, surprising transitions, and a ton of personality. They’re the type of band that can go from funky to heavy to atmospheric without ever losing the groove. Their sets feel intentional and adventurous, as they are the kind of band that rewards you for showing up early and staying late. With seven dates on the ledger and fifteen releases on Bandcamp in 2025, this band is ready to get cooking.
This final entry is not exactly a jam band — but they produce absolute jam-adjacent fire. New York City’s Stolen Gin exploded with a young audience thanks to their massive stage energy, strong NYU following, and viral NYC shows. They even landed a spot on Good Day NY, and recently released multiple live videos from their sold out show at the Bowery Ballroom in April 2024. Several band members are also huge fans of the Grateful Dead. Their crowds are electric, diverse, and mostly under 30 — which makes them one of the most exciting gateway bands for the next generation of live-music fans. If you want a party, this is it.
Music never stops moving. It shifts, it mutates, it travels — from basement shows to festival fields, from small-town bars to neon-soaked late-night sets. Even as some of our scene’s brightest lights dim or drift away, new ones spark to life, ready to burn just as bright. These twelve bands are proof that the spirit of improvisation, experimentation, and community is still pulsing strong. So chase the jams, feel the joy, and let these rising acts lead you somewhere new. The next chapter of the jam world isn’t waiting, but rather it’s already here.
Alexius Lipot aka The Jamily Chick and Vincent Vallely contributed to this article.
