Exploring the 2026 Blissfest Lineup, Part VI
Reggae, Funk, and Fun Highlights
In this edition of our lineup expo, we continue to find the intertwining threads of music that criss-crossed oceans and cultures. The more we dig in, the more we realize how much more there is to learn. One thread we’re finding across the genres we’re exploring is that music was not just an outlet for creative expression but also a voice for the people during times of oppression. It might not always be explicitly political, but music served as a catalyst for community gatherings amid that oppression. We know firsthand that at Blissfest, music truly does bring us together.
In the late sixties, on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, Reggae music evolved from genres like Mento, Ska, and Rocksteady, and had a distinct message for peace, love, and unity with the soon-to-be iconic slow-beat, bass-heavy, “one-drop” rhythm. You can feel it now, can’t you? Artists like Toots and the Maytals, Little Roy, and Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer started a musical revolution whose essence was also a social revolution, and it found popularity around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom and later the United States. Rising as a leader of Reggae was Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Al Anderson first recorded with Bob Marley on his Natty Dread album in 1974, playing on classics like Lively Up Yourself, No Woman No Cry, and Revolution. The band's name captures the vibe of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. The 'Original' means that they remain true to the original sound, feeling, and message of this powerfully evocative music. Their message of love and unity truly represents the values of Blissfest. Make your plans to catch their Sunday Main Stage set.
Artist Alysha Brilla’s songs echo the spirit of Reggae as a tool for transforming both the self and society. Performing with her powerhouse ensemble one-man-band Sammy Duke and Jamaican reggae percussion royalty Gerima Harvey, Brilla’s concerts are vibrant celebrations of sound and soul. The group’s chemistry transforms each show into an immersive journey that blends folk, world, soul, and pop, weaving global percussion, percussive finger picking, and soaring harmonies into a tapestry that uplifts and connects. Whether commanding large outdoor festival stages or intimate theatres, Brilla’s performances radiate warmth, technical brilliance, and the magnetic charisma of an artist fully at home in her craft. Alysha’s sets will encourage you to break the mold, be playful, and be you!
Carrying on our theme of Reggae, Funk, and Fun, we have two iconic Blissfest and Michigan staples. These next two bands never seem to disappoint our audiences, AND you never seem to get tired of them. While some festivals are driven by “novelty” and “big names written in the stars.” Blissfest LOVES Michigan musicians. It’s like family, and you show up for your family.
Whether The Galactic Sherpas are playing late night on Second Stage, squeezing in at Third Stage, pouring into the woods at the BlissTro Dome or filling the Main Stage lawn, you are there. Their musical DNA certainly reflects reggae roots along with elements of a funky rhythm section and extended jams. When this band starts to play, you want to be a part of it.
Wrapping up, we close with a band that might be the essence of fun and spreading positivity, Michigan favorite Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers. Don’t be fooled by theirwhimsical on-stage look (think a rainbow cape, “the coat of many colors?”) and giant sunflower props; this band is nationally recognized as musically rich and compelling. In their own words, “A ride on the Rainbow will take you across the mountains of Motown, through the fjords of folk, over the archipelagos of Americana, and, at last, into a funky firth, where only the fiercest of friendships can be found.”
This collection of musicians really lives out the Blissfest spirit!