Magic Beans Blow Up Jam Cruise, Huge Tour on Tap

Magic Beans are about to jump back into the frying pan after two stunning sets on Jam Cruise 20. The tour commences Thursday, March 7, at Devil’s Craft in Winter Park CO. After a brief pause, they will really turn up the heat with shows out West and then back East, including festival appearances at Solar Express in Grand Rapids OH, Northlands Music & Arts Festival in North Swanzey NH, and High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy CA. They are headlining Mojo Family Fest in Oregon City OR, and then there’s the matter of Beanstalk Music Festival, the Beans’ very own event, at Rancho del Rio in Bond CO in August!

Magic Beans are: Cody Wales, drums; Chris Duffy, bass, vocals; Casey Russell, keyboards, vocals; and Scott Hachey, guitar, vocals.

Magic Beans – Jam Cruise 20. 📸: Jesse Faatz

Their first Jam Cruise set was sail-away Sunday night (February 25) on the Brews at Sea Stage at the opposite end of the Pool Deck stage. They drew a great crowd, and they adhered to one of life’s most important rules: BRING YOUR “A” GAME. From first note to last, they absolutely crushed with their superb jamtronica and deep, deep funk. Wales and Duffy form a brilliant team, providing an amazing trance-dance platform for Hachey and Russell to dance on. Ms. Adryon de León graced the stage to join them on “Be My Lover,” and the boys closed the set with “All I Know.”

Adryon de León w/ Magic Beans – Jam Cruise 20. 📸: Scout It Out

Their next set was Tuesday night in the Black & White Lounge, a tough night with four overlapping sets. Nonetheless, they drew a full house, and sound was good (the B&W is a hit-or-miss proposition). The Beans threw down another epic set, packing the dance floor. Russell is a true keyboard wizard, and he and the band were locked in tight. The set also featured a sit-in from Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove, and he is encouraging them to schedule a run together!

Brock Butler with Magic Beans – Jam Cruise 20. 📸: Ariel Opal Feldman

THIS THE WAY. Blow up your Jam Cruise debuts! They and Diggin Dirt from Northern California were two of our major highlights. We cannot wait to see them again!

Many thanks to all of the Jam Cruise photographers for use of their images, especially Courtney Scout, Ariel Opal Feldman, and Jesse Faatz!

Important note about this photo! The tall zebra in the inflatable costume was a brilliant dancer; he rocked the Cory Wong and Cool Cool Cool sets before this one!