Team JamBase’s Favorite 2025 Live Music Moments
Take a look back at another impressive year of going to see live music.
By Team JamBase Dec 31, 2025 • 10:00 am PST
Team JamBase looked back through our JamBase calendars and selected the live music moments that stood out the most this year. The crew chose the concerts and festivals that delivered unforgettable experiences throughout 2025.
Team JamBase’s 2025 concert calendar matched the scope and diversity of our coverage of the live music landscape. From legendary icons performing in stadiums to rising artists in intimate club settings, from multi-day festivals in the mountains to benefit concerts bringing together multiple generations of musicians, the team’s favorite moments encompass the full spectrum of what makes live music so vital.
The following selections showcase performances spanning rock, post-rock, reggae, Americana, jam, folk and beyond. The team also highlighted artists either already on our 2026 JamBase show calendars, or who will hopefully be added soon.
Scroll on for a look at Team JamBase’s Favorite Live Music Moments Of 2025 along with audio/visual examples of the performers in action.
Pelican | Eulogy — January 17
Kyle Fortinsky – Director of Music Data & Listings
Pelican’s first show in Asheville, North Carolina in over 15 years brought passionate play and thunderous satisfaction. A treat to see them in a venue as fine and professional as Eulogy, too.
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
This answer could change on a monthly basis, but right now my eyes are firmly focused on January 23, when Sudan Archives arrives here in Atlanta at Masquerade’s Hell Stage. I’ve followed her music for a couple of years, but this will be my first opportunity to see a live show. The biggest draw for me is simply how different and refreshing the experience will be (if all the YouTube footage I’ve watched rings true).
Love Rocks NYC 2025 Finale | Beacon Theatre — March 6
Scott Bernstein – Editorial Director
As an attendee of each Love Rocks NYC benefit concert at The Beacon Theatre, I was thrilled when Trey Anastasio was included in the 2025 lineup. The Phish guitarist made his time at the ninth annual Love Rocks NYC show count by performing a multi-generational “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with Peter Frampton and Grace Bowers, a horn-driven “Everything’s Right” backed by the supremely talented house band, and letting it rip on a “Good Times Bad Times” sung by Luke Spiller.
However, the highlight of the night was the “Higher Ground” finale, which saw Anastasio vibe with new BFF Cher. The pair spent their time during the Stevie Wonder cover exchanging knowing glances, hugs and sharing a vocal mic.
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
sombr broke through this past year with his fantastic debut studio album, I Barely Know Her. The 20-year-old singer, songwriter, and record producer also drew raves and criticism for his wild stage presence. Sombr’s unpredictability and rawness make me want to see him perform even more. In 2026, he’ll graduate to bigger venues, and I hope to be there for it.
Explosions in the Sky | Jannus Live — March 26
Caroline Cabral – Production Manager
Seeing Explosions in the Sky live in 2025 felt less like attending a concert and more like stepping into a slowly unfolding emotional landscape. After years of anticipation, this was the first time I actually got to see them live. The moment carried a quiet weight before a single note was played, an unspoken understanding among the crowd that this was going to be something deeply felt rather than simply heard.
What made the performance especially powerful was how clearly the band communicated emotion without lyrics. The interplay between the guitars, the relentless precision of the drums, and the sheer physicality of the climaxes made the experience immersive in the truest sense.
Their setlist featured classics like “Your Hand in Mine,” “First Breath After Coma,” “The Only Moment We Were Alone” – songs that introduced me to their music in the 2000s. Their live shows are a deeply immersive instrumental experience. 10/10, highly recommend.
The Movement | Bowl In The Pines — June 28
Jeff Wagner – Sr. Account Manager
The guys in The Movement are like brothers to me, so it’s a real treat whenever I’m able to catch a show. Their live show, recorded music, and fanbase have grown so much over the years – it’s been a really fun progression to watch.
What made this particular Movement show stand out to me was the beautiful venue. Nestled on a lake about an hour north of Portland, Bowl In The Pines in Sidney, Maine, is truly a hidden gem. Buy the ticket, pack the car, and Go See Live Music!
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
I’m most excited to see one of my favorite songwriters, Michael Nau, performing at the Iron Horse in Northampton, Massachusetts at the end of January. The show is just a couple of days before my birthday, so I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect gift.
He always keeps things fresh with a new lineup of band members that varies from tour to tour. It’s always fun seeing your favorite songs played live in unique instrumental arrangements.
Frendly Gathering | Timber Ridge Resort — July 17 – 19
Katie Irwin – Data Operations Specialist
My favorite festival of 2025 was the return of Frendly Gathering in Timber Ridge, Vermont. This year marked the return of the festival, which took a break in 2018. What started as a gathering of snowboarders in Colorado quickly became a home for rising bands like Twiddle, Dopapod and Trevor Hall. Founders Jack Mitrani and Luke Mitrani wanted to move the fest east to the Green Mountains, and thus Frendly Gathering became an annual Vermont event.
The triumphant return included bands like Little Stranger, Moon Hooch, Satsang, Annie in the Water and Mihali. The vibes were high and the weather was perfect. Kicking off the festival was newcomer DJ Cheetatah, who got the crowd moving and set the tone for the weekend’s high energy. One particular highlight for me was when Hayley Jane came out during Cheetatah’s set and used her beautiful voice to add vocal harmony to the tracks being spun. It was such a cool and unforgettable live music moment and I look forward Frendly 2026!
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
One artist that I am stoked to see more of in 2026 is Night Zero. This super group consists of Rob Compa (Dopapod/Neighbor), Zdenek Gubb (Twiddle), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu) and Leon Campos. I was fortunate enough to see these guys play this past summer in Westport, Connecticut, and it was really good.
These four top-notch musicians have found a beautiful connection and it is apparent on stage. Their ability to transition between sounds, mixing jazz and rock and funk seamlessly, creating a danceable set that you don’t want to end. Dates in 2026 might be sparse, but don’t sleep on these dudes if they come close to your town – they are a super group for the ages.
Phish | SPAC — July 27
Jon McLennand – Music Data Coordinator
“They played the same song how many times?” 6.
“And that was a good thing?”
The 13-minute version in the first set was incredible, but the 23-minute version in the second set was even better.
Phish can sometimes make you give strange answers to simple questions. I didn’t think Phish had the capacity to be this good anymore…did anyone?
We all knew from the second song that it was going to be a special show, as the energy in the crowd was palpable from the first notes of the first “Tweezer Reprise.” But what separates the Tweeprise Fest from other famous shows with themes and gags is the quality of the show from start to finish. It was way more than a joke; it was a musical clinic.
The song selection, the jamming, and the flow make it a show worthy of repeated listens. It was an absolute masterpiece that rightfully belongs amongst the finest performances in their 40+ year career.
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
Rare are the times your favorite band reimagine themselves as something radically different. Rarer are the times they succeed. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have spent a career reimagining themselves, but no incarnation of the band is quite like the Rave Gizzard outfit that tore through Europe this Fall. The synth table (known lovingly as Nathan) is the center of the show. Old songs are reimagined into burbles and warbles, dotted with sax and aerophone. The impulse to jam is strong. There’s only one U.S. show on the schedule, on August 22 at Forest Hills. Don’t miss it!
Farm Aid | Huntington Bank Stadium — September 20
Andy Kahn – Editor-In-Chief
The first Farm Aid in Minnesota was my second time attending the event after going to Farm Aid in 1998 near Chicago. The day-long event at at Huntington Bank Stadium on the campus of the University Of Minnesota in Minneapolis presented a stellar lineup of musical performances, along with the stories of local independent farmers who have benefited from Farm Aid and the many people who have supported its cause for four decades.
From noon to well past midnight, the first Farm Aid in Minnesota was one memorable musical moment after another. Years, and in some cases decades, had passed since I saw many of the Farm Aid 40 artists live on stage. Founders — Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young — are still able to command the attention of an entire stadium.
Minnesota native Bob Dylan made a home state return to Farm Aid and was the set I was most looking forward to. Experiencing Dylan performing songs like “All Along the Watchtower,” “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” some 200 mile south of where he was born was something I’ll never forget.
Fellow board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price embraced the collaborative spirit of Farm Aid. Along with his set with Tim Reynolds, Matthews also joined Lukas Nelson for Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker.” Price’s set included an outstanding version of Dylan’s favorite “Maggie’s Farm” with Billy Strings and Jesse Welles joining in.
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
The closest contender for my Favorite Album of 2025 was Getting Killed by the rapidly rising New York City-based band Geese. While I was hoping for standalone show in the Twin Cities next year, the band landing on the lineup of the 2026 Minnesota Yacht Club festival solidified my first time attending the event coming back for a third year in St Paul.
Paul McCartney | Coors Field — October 11
Nate Todd – Associate Editor
To say seeing Paul McCartney at Coors Field in Denver this past October was a bucket list item may be an understatement. While I never had a chance to see John Lennon, and George Harrison’s live performances were limited during my lifetime, I had also somehow missed Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney for 40 years. First time seeing a Beatle: October 11, 2025. The concert at the home of the Colorado Rockies was also McCartney’s first time in the Mile High in 15 years.
The 83-year-old musician and his stellar band pretty much played everything you’d want to hear, including Beatles classics, Wings standouts and newer favorites. Personal highlights in those respective categories were “Hey Jude,” “Let Me Roll It” and “Come On to Me.”
The Beta Band | Royale — October 29
David Onigman – CTO
I had been waiting a very long time for The Beta Band to reunite, and I was far from alone. The band played a couple of dozen dates in 2025, their first shows since 2004, and seeing them live after all those years felt genuinely special. I also went in without many expectations, having avoided most live footage over the years, which made the experience even better. From the moment the humorous intro video rolled to the opening DJ set by keyboardist John Maclean, I was completely locked in.
What struck me most was how much I loved everything about the performance: the constant instrument switching, the way they moved seamlessly between playing to a track, and live drums mid-song, and the confidence with which they let grooves sit without overplaying them.
As someone who loves both indie rock and your classic jam band, there were moments that felt beautifully jam-adjacent – familiar chord progressions and little pockets of groove that wouldn’t feel out of place in something like a “Slave To The Traffic Light” jam, just without the melodic solo on top.
Add in the sharp, funny stage banter – including pointed zings about merch and capitalism from our Scottish friends – and the whole thing felt effortless and self-aware. More than once, at the end of a song, I caught myself quietly muttering, “These guys are fucking great.”
Artist Most Excited To See In 2026
I’m just going to say it: I really want a new Yebba album-and a proper headlining tour to go with it.
Her only full studio LP, Dawn, came out back in September 2021, and it still feels as powerful now as it did the first time I heard it. Four-plus years later, it feels like she’s due. Very due.
There’s nothing official that I’ve seen about a new record or tour, but there are a few encouraging signs. She’s listed on the lineup for All Points East, which alone is enough to get my attention. And I swear I remember seeing an Instagram post in the last couple of months where she was auditioning backup singers. That feels like tour prep, right?
On a more personal note, Yebba’s music has been in my orbit for a while. A band I used to play bass in covered “October Sky,” and spending time inside one of her songs – even in a small, local-band way – gave me an even deeper appreciation for how special her writing and phrasing really are.
So yeah, I’m hoping 2026 is the year we get the next chapter: new songs and some live dates. Fingers crossed!
Top image credits: Brian Bruner, MJ Kim, Bryan Lasky, Jamie McCarthy (Getty Images), Adam McCullough, Ian Rawn, Susan Weiand.
