PERFORMERS
LEADBETTER BAND
Leadbetter Band, based in Bend, OR, was formed in 2017 around Eric Leadbetter’s original songs and a wide-ranging sound that blends vintage rock, jam vibes, and eclectic songwriting. With two lead vocalists (Leadbetter and bassist Aaron Moore), plus Kaleb Kelleher on drums and backing vocals, their dynamic rhythm section and powerful live energy make each show memorable. While they focus on original material, their occasional covers are handpicked gems from across rock history.
The band has released two albums—Leadbetter Band (2019) and Howl (2021)—with a third, Cake, arriving March 2023. Past highlights include sharing the stage with ZZ Top and Blues Traveler at the Britt Festival. Whether rocking a big stage or a local venue, Leadbetter Band consistently delivers a captivating live performance.
LEADBETTER BAND
Leadbetter Band was born in 2017, built around Eric’s original songwriting and a sound that moves freely from vintage rock to soulful jams and an eclectic, modern blend of styles. Backed by a groovy rhythm section with Aaron Moore on bass and vocals and Kaleb Kelleher on drums and backing vocals, they bring a rich, dynamic energy to mostly original sets, with the occasional cover woven in from across the sacred map of rock history.
With four studio albums under their belt, from their 2019 self titled debut to “Howl,” “Cake,” and their latest release “Spell” in 2025, the band continues to evolve while staying rooted in powerful songwriting and musicianship. Based out of Bend and playing throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, they have shared stages with legends like ZZ Top, Blues Traveler, and Govt Mule, delivering high energy performances that pull you in and make it nearly impossible not to move.
FRACTAL
Fractal was formed in the winter of 2019 in Bend Oregon. Mostly formed from members of Watkins Glen and Cosmic Evolution they decided to bring a dance party vibe to Cental Oregon that the region had never seen. Heavily influenced by bands like STS9, Lotus, Phish, Umphrey's McGee and the like they launched into the scene with a big jamband and electronica sound that has been turning heads ever since. Building on a grassroots mentality of high energy dance party shows and no egos Fractal has quickly become a fan favorite around the Bend music scene.
BROTHER GABE
Brother Gabe & Fireonyx feat. Scarlet Rae We are pleased to feature another 2nd generation US Fester for our Saturday dinner set. Brother Gabe’s daughter and talented young chanteuse, Scarlet Rae has been coming to US Fest since she was in 1st grade. Scarlet is 15 now and over the last year has begun performing live with her Dad. Picking up where Brother Gabe’s pre-pandemic Funk band ELEKTRAPOD left off, FIREONYX features the same core 4 musicians as MFG & Watkins Glen and is far more song-oriented, focusing largely on original material and Soul/Pop covers w/ Scarlet Rae singing lead. Don’t miss this awesome multi-generational project!
MFG
MFG - Music Feels Good Malaika Angelica (nee Maxwell Friedman) is one of the most profoundly talented and expressive musicians this region has ever produced and she was raised going to Us Fest nearly every Spring with her parents. Her neo-soul jazz funk fusion group MFG (Music Feels Good) previously known as Maxwell Friedman Group, has been featured twice before on the Us Fest lineup of performers when Malaika was in her teens. Now 22 years young and having played half her life professionally, she has returned to the NW after 4 years in New York City, Malaika has re-booted MFG and has hit the ground running, including multiple tour dates supporting Karl Denson's Tiny Universe in January and a forthcoming EP featuring world-famous Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch. This incarnation of MFG features "Brother Gabe" Johnson (Watkins Glen, Sonic Benders) on guitar, Mark Karwan (Watkins Glen, Quattlebaum, Jenner Fox) on bass and Kyle Pickard (TEB, Watkins Glen) on drums. Prepare to get funked up Us Fest !
WATKINS GLEN
Watkins Glen returns to Us Fest with their 6 piece Soulshine Daydream formation playing the music of the Grateful Dead & The Allman Brothers Band marinated in a rich 70s Funk/Soul stew. Leader "Brother Gabe" Johnson on guitar/vocals is joined by Pete Kartsounes on guitar/vocals, Malaika Angelica (aka Maxwell Friedman) on keys, Mark Karwan on bass, Kyle Pickard on drums and Jarrod Donatelli (Fractal) on percussion. This squad of sweet badasses truly honors the legacy and future of great American music, while they take US on an epic magic carpet ride of psychedelic rock adventures. Let's groove baby!
OREGON FRYER
Oregon Fryer
Us Fest’s unofficial house band, Oregon raised and woven into the heartbeat of this gathering, Oregon Fryer brings that timeless country blues swagger we all know and love. The new old guys don’t just play music, they open a portal into gritty parlors, speakeasy saloons, and funky, soul-stirring good times that keep the dance floor moving and the smiles wide. Pure homegrown American roots music. See you up the hill!
HEAVEN ZEST
Heaven Zest is Born from death and the knowledge thereof, Heaven Zest emerges as a sonic emissary of love, messenger of magic, and vessel of radical self-acceptance. Reborn and forged in the fires of pain, Zest’s life story reads like the origin of a modern day superhero.
Marked from infancy with Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable and fatal disease, he has survived two double lung transplants and spent years of his life in hospital rooms. From this crucible of suffering, a beaming and radiant vision of health has arisen—one marked by a boundless zest for life and an unshakable connection to spirit. What once threatened to end him has now become his greatest teacher, and what he calls his greatest gift.
Self described as Reggae Flavored electro-hiphop-medicine music with a twist of lemon, Zest’s musical style is united by a single thread of intention: to be a vessel for the higher works of God in order to bring listeners closer to the vibration of love and truth.
PETE KARTSOUNES
Pete Kartsounes is an award winning singer-songwriter, flat picker, and cutting-edge musician’s musician, No stranger to life out on the road, Pete has spent over two decades bringing his voice and guitar to stages all over the world.
After 19 years submerged in the Colorado bluegrass scene sharing the stage with bands such as Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass and Yonder Mountain String Band, Pete now resides in Bend, OR spending most of his days writing, recording, teaching guitar, song schools, doing photography/videography, touring as a solo act and performing with others.
Pete continues to push the boundaries of the eclectic world of acoustic music. Pete is a truly limitless artist and a craftsman, whose songwriting draws from a myriad of musical traditions. Writing ballads, blues, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and compositions that defy definition, he is best described as a story teller, weaving a tale through a soulful musical journey.
Referred to as a "must see", "truly one of a kind", and "as original as he is diverse" from critics, Pete has rapidly become one of the renowned songwriters of today.
DEAN MUELLER
Dean Mueller’s album Wishes Never Gone, released in November 2024, marks a significant evolution in his musical journey. Produced by Kevin McKendree and featuring longtime members of John Prine’s band—including Jason Wilber on guitar—the album fuses Americana, folk, and blues, with heartfelt tracks like “I Don’t Live There Anymore” and “Believe.” American Songwriter raved about the release, noting that “wishes never gone exemplifies his status as a gifted Americana/blue/folk singer and songwriter.”
Dean’s live shows transform any listening environment into an intimate experience that leaves audiences inspired and deeply connected. From his early days as a bass player to his breakthrough as a frontman, Dean has become a key figure in Oregon’s music scene, inviting every listener to embrace the authenticity, warmth, and humor woven into each song.
BEND BHAKTI COLLECTIVE
Rooted in Central Oregon, The Bend Bhakti Collective is a dynamic gathering of musicians united by a passion for building community through kirtan—a heart-opening practice of devotional call-and-response chanting.
Blending Sanskrit mantra with diverse singer-songwriter influences and richly textured Western instrumentation, they weave banjo, flute, harmonium, bass, and percussion into vibrant, high-energy soundscapes.
Through this immersive, participatory experience, the boundary between musicians and audience dissolves, inviting all into a shared field of connection, movement, and joy.
The Bend Bhakti Collective offers an invitation to step out of the mind and into the heart—to sing, dance, and experience music as communal, vibrational medicine.
GIANCARLO
Giancarlo is a DJ and Producer originally from the Philadelphia area, now residing in Bend, OR. A member of the Fantastic Voyage label family with more than two decades of experience behind the decks, he creates and performs music that spans multiple genres of dance music. His primary inspirations are Jungle, UK Garage, Techno, Hip-Hop, House, and Classic Underground.
ELLS
With a passion for House and Bass music, Ells, crafts an irresistible sonic experience leaning on sultry pitch down tracks that blend hip-hop samples and Afrobeats that keep the dance floor alive.
WELTERWEIGHT
With a deep collection of tracks and a love for music that spans nearly every genre, welterweight entered the music scene in 2013 and instantly set himself apart with his ability to play to any audience. he ignites dance floors with his high energy performances and unique mixing style that seamlessly blends decades of electronic music: from d&b to trap, house to bass, phonk to breaks - welterweight tells a story through music that takes his listeners on journey through space & time.
bPOLLEN
bPollen is eclectic, inviting Electronica. Creating a deep menagerie of Soulful infused Bassline rhythms, immersed with blends of Pacific NW honey.
CAPTAIN PEDRO
Hailing out Los Cerritos baja sur and Port Orford Oregon, DJ Pedro spins a mix of Fresh brand new riddims. An eclectic high-energy mix of House, Hip Hop, Dancehall Reggae, Afro Pop, and Tribal Beats.
G. GARRETSON
DJ Garretson may have been born and raised in Bend, but his style of mixing international jungle, world, funk, bass and hip hop beats is anything but local. Come get sexy and swervy and stay for the late night crunchy dessert
Based in rhythm, lyrics & harmony, while drawing inspiration from the likes of old Country & Americana with a big twist of Honky-tonk & Rock ‘n Roll, Oregon Fryer’s tight arrangements and hot improvisations are instantly timeless and inviting. Come along for the ride and you’ll be transported through gritty parlors, bluesy country speakeasy saloons, and funky good times.
OREGON FRYER
Fractal was formed in the winter of 2019 in Bend Oregon. Mostly formed from members of Watkins Glen and Cosmic Evolution they decided to bring a dance party vibe to Cental Oregon that the region had never seen. Heavily influenced by bands like STS9, Lotus, Phish, Umphrey's McGee and the like they launched into the scene with a big jamband and electronica sound that has been turning heads ever since. Building on a grassroots mentality of high energy dance party shows and no egos Fractal has quickly become a fan favorite around the Bend music scene.
FRACTAL
The Feel Goods are a touring PNW based band combining original country, folk, rock, and rhythm & blues driven by well-crafted songwriting and virtuosic instrumental playing. The band consists of an all-star cast of seasoned touring PNW artists that originally came together for a regular happy hour show in Eugene featuring local guest musician friends. Core members include Ky Burt (guitar, vocals), Jack McGaughey (keys, vocals), and Matt Keenan (bass, vocals), as well as drums, pedal steel, and fiddle.
Below you will find links to some of our most recent live recordings as well as some video highlights of our performances.
THE FEEL GOODS
Sonic Benders is a 5 piece dance-driven Roots Funk band made up of Central Oregon all-star musicians: "Brother Gabe" Johnson (Watkins Glen, MFG, Vibeshiftas) on guitars, Patrick Ondrozeck (Company Grand, TEB) on keys, David Watts (The Cutmen, Anastacia) on bass, Jarrod Donatelli (Fractal) on percussion and Dylan Bernal (Vibeshiftas, Mostest) on drums.
SONIC BENDERS
Heaven Zest is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, live looper, and vocalist, renowned for his spirit-infused messages of magic and love. His unique musical blend navigates through a landscape of genres, including Reggae, Dub, and EDM, while incorporating tribal rhythms with a distinctive hip hop essence. Zest excels in creating improvisational pieces that are not only unique but also specifically attuned to the audience, making each performance a singular experience.
As a pivotal figure in the band Indubious for nearly two decades, Zest’s solo project takes flight as a testament to life affirming positivity and overcoming all odds through the power of the human spirit. His personal triumphs, including overcoming Cystic Fibrosis, surviving 2 double lung transplants, and surpassing all doctors medical predictions, add a profound depth to his music's empowering messages.
HEAVEN ZEST
Pete is an award winning singer-songwriter, flat picker, and cutting-edge musician’s musician, No stranger to life out on the road, Pete has spent over two decades bringing his voice and guitar to stages all over the world.
After 19 years submerged in the Colorado bluegrass scene sharing the stage with bands such as Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass and Yonder Mountain String Band, Pete now resides in Bend, OR spending most of his days writing, recording, teaching guitar, song schools, doing photography/videography, touring as a solo act and performing with others.
Pete continues to push the boundaries of the eclectic world of acoustic music. Pete is a truly limitless artist and a craftsman, whose songwriting draws from a myriad of musical traditions. Writing ballads, blues, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and compositions that defy definition, he is best described as a story teller, weaving a tale through a soulful musical journey.
Referred to as a "must see", "truly one of a kind", and "as original as he is diverse" from critics, Pete has rapidly become one of the renowned songwriters of today
PETE KARTSOUNES
Dean Mueller’s album Wishes Never Gone, released in November 2024, marks a significant evolution in his musical journey. Produced by Kevin McKendree and featuring longtime members of John Prine’s band—including Jason Wilber on guitar—the album fuses Americana, folk, and blues, with heartfelt tracks like “I Don’t Live There Anymore” and “Believe.” American Songwriter raved about the release, noting that “wishes never gone exemplifies his status as a gifted Americana/blue/folk singer and songwriter.”
Dean’s live shows transform any listening environment into an intimate experience that leaves audiences inspired and deeply connected. From his early days as a bass player to his breakthrough as a frontman, Dean has become a key figure in Oregon’s music scene, inviting every listener to embrace the authenticity, warmth, and humor woven into each song.
DEAN MUELLER
BeLoveSki and Friends will take you on a journey! This highly improvised band creates their soundscapes depending on the needs, intention and energy of each unique show. Genre-bending, meditative, innovative, chill, high energy, ecstatic…Beloveski and friends will take you where you want to go and beyond. Trap, rock, pop, funk, folk, originals, covers, meditative music medicine, and things you’ve never heard before… this rotating cast of some of Bend’s finest improvisational musicians will delight and surprise you with their range and expertise. They also love to get the audience involved and facilitate from the stage to make sure everyone is having a great or a deep time, depending on what the vibe calls for. The heart-brain child of Andrew Belinsky, this curious collective consists of Central Oregon's most revered sacred improvisers. Beloveski and Friends are musicians, facilitators and community builders whose life mission it is to unlock the transformative force of music within individuals and communities around the world.
Check out the Beloveski's music on Spotify! His EP and single releases were created by Andrew Belinsky with multiple collaborators. These tunes will take you on a dance journey a get you moving, feeling and give you a taste of the eclectic and innovative range of Beloveski and friends.
Andrew homesteads in Bend, OR where he hosts transformational music workshops and retreats on his land, in the community and in the forest.
BeLoveSki & Friends
Awakening the Voice Within:
Community Choir Experience
We can have a collective of people come from 5-50. I would have a drummer and perhaps other musicians around to create a live band with a community choir to support the music! (Ie Max Ribbner like).
I’m a passionate community music facilitator with a deep belief in the transformative power of shared song. With a year or so of experience leading song circles and community choirs, I specialize in creating warm, inclusive spaces where every voice is celebrated. My approach blends diverse musical traditions with a focus on collective creativity, encouraging participants to connect, share, and uplift one another through music. I’m excited to bring this spirit of community and joy to Us Fest, where I aim to foster a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere that resonates with all spirits you want to join!
FITZY
Giancarlo is a DJ and Producer originally from the Philadelphia area, now residing in Bend, OR. A member of the Fantastic Voyage label family with more than two decades of experience behind the decks, he creates and performs music that spans multiple genres of dance music. His primary inspirations are Jungle, UK Garage, Techno, Hip-Hop, House, and Classic Underground.
GIANCARLO
Ecstatic Dance
Workshop/Class Details: Sunday Ecstatic Dance,
an immersive 90 minute movement journey.
DJ GeoCache is a world fusion ecstatic dance DJ from Bend, Oregon, blending global rhythms, deep bass, and tribal beats into transformative journeys. With sets that move both body and spirit, DJ GeoCache crafts immersive soundscapes designed to awaken, connect, and elevate dancers on the floor.
DJ GEOCACHE
Ells, Oregon native, is a DJ and producer with a passion for crafting energetic sets that blend elements of House, Bass, and Hip Hop sounds. Performing everything from festivals to bars, he continues to bring innovative sounds and vibrant performances.
ELLS
Submerged in Colorado’s tight-knit and exploding underground electronic music scene back in the early 2000’s, Matt Wax discovered a new medium to shift his musical focus to, coming from an upbringing where he was classically training on trumpet and piano. Not only did his musical focus shift, but he returned to Bend, Oregon where he now hosts Beat Lab Radio. When not running the radio show, Matt plays at clubs and festivals, producing live shows for both international artists and his friends alike. He focuses on creating harmonic vibes while feeding his crowds with high energy mash-ups and mixes in every single set.
MATT WAX
bPollen is eclectic, inviting Electronica. Creating a deep menagerie of Soulful infused Bassline rhythms, immersed with blends of Pacific NW honey.
bPOLLEN
With a deep collection of tracks and a love for music that spans nearly every genre, welterweight entered the music scene in 2013 and instantly set himself apart with his ability to play to any audience. he ignites dance floors with his high energy performances and unique mixing style that seamlessly blends decades of electronic music: from d&b to trap, house to bass, phonk to breaks - welterweight tells a story through music that takes his listeners on journey through space & time.
WELTERWEIGHT
DJ Garretson may have been born and raised in Bend, but his style of mixing international jungle, world, funk, bass and hip hop beats is anything but local. Come get sexy and swervy and stay for the late night crunchy dessert
G. GARRETSON
Hailing out Los Cerritos baja sur and Port Orford Oregon, DJ Pedro spins a mix of Fresh brand new riddims. An eclectic high-energy mix of House, Hip Hop, Dancehall Reggae, Afro Pop, and Tribal Beats.
CAPTAIN PEDRO
Influenced by his father and raised as a hardcore junglist, Starskreem brings audible ecstasy through his carefully curated selections of oldskool rave music from around the globe. Blending Jungle DnB, Oldskool Hardcore, Gabber, and beyond, his sets are designed to give you goosebumps and pull you deep into the rhythm. Through a seamless mix of atmospheric calm and explosive energy, Starskreem tells a story that will move your mind and your body until the very last beat.
STARSKREEM
Jam Wagon
Description: The Jam Wagon is a rolling beacon of rhythm and connection, weaving through the Us Fest grounds with spontaneous song, dance, and celebration that links camps, workshops, and stages while inviting everyone to join in and keep the beat alive. On Sunday at 6 PM, it leads a Memorial Parade from Family Camp to the Heaven Zest main stage at 7 PM, offering a soulful journey of remembrance, rhythm, and revival where music becomes medicine.
Bio: Bradley facilitates ecstatic dance, contact improvisation, and tango. After a year of intensive tango study in Buenos Aires, he began teaching classes focused on musicality, connection, and presence. He leads contact improv lessons exploring trust and fluid lead/follow. He also hosts a weekly Wednesday "jam" in Bend to deepen embodied connection.
BRADLEY PIZZIMENTI
Us Fest Oregon
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