G. Love & Special Sauce

G. Love & Special Sauce is an American Hip-Hop Blues band known for its unique fusion of hip-hop, blues, funk, and soul. Formed in 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the band originally featured Garrett Dutton, aka G. Love, as the lead vocalist and guitarist, Jeffrey Clemens on drums, and Jim Prescott on bass. The trio quickly gained attention for their laid-back, groovy style and G. Love’s unique vocal delivery, blending rap-like spoken word with bluesy singing. Their debut self-titled album, G. Love & Special Sauce, was released in 1994 on Epic Records and included the hit single “Cold Beverage,” which became popular on alternative radio stations and MTV, solidifying their presence in the music scene. The band’s style has been described as a mix of “slacker blues” and “alternative hip-hop,” as they frequently incorporate elements of 90s hip-hop beats with classic blues rhythms. Over the years, G. Love & Special Sauce has released numerous albums, including Coast to Coast Motel (1995), Yeah, It’s That Easy (1997), The Electric Mile (2001) and the GRAMMY nominated The Juice (2020). Their sound evolved to include more soul, R&B, and rock influences, though they retained their laid-back vibe and clever lyrical play. Their 2014 album Sugar saw a reunion of the original lineup after several years, and they continued to tour and produce music with a loyal fan base.Known for their energetic live performances, G. Love & Special Sauce has played at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Garrett Dutton also frequently collaborates with other artists, including Jack Johnson, with whom he shares a similar vibe, and has released solo projects that dive deeper into his blues influences. G. Love & Special Sauce remains a beloved name in the music scene, blending genres in a way that feels fresh and authentic.

Makua

Hailing from the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Makua Rothman is a WSL World Tour Big Wave Champion and musician. Alongside multi time Diamond and Platinum artist, producer and writer Jimmy Messer, they have achieved great success with their distinct blend of reggae, rock, rap, and soul, appealing to an international audience. During the Volcom Pipe Pro in 2023 on the infamous north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Rothman suffered a horrifying wipeout that resulted in a severe knee injury, requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Forced to reassess his career path and consider alternative avenues to express his creativity, Makua reflected “What was I gonna do? Give up? Run and hide? Or use this adversity as a blessing and an opportunity to grow?” During his recovery period, he turned to his second passion—music. Growing up in a family with a rich musical heritage, he had always carried a love for music and was greatly influenced by his family and the gifted musicians of the North Shore. Coming from a lineage of talented musicians, including his uncle Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Rothman was exposed to the power of sound from an early age. Enter Jimmy Messer. Multi diamond and platinum selling musician, writer, composer and producer, Jimmy Messer has a long standing successful career, writing, producing and composing original music for famous artists like Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson ,AWOLNation, Kygo among many others. His music has been used in large TV ad campaigns for BMW, Wix.com during the Super Bowl. In addition, Jimmy, a multi-instrumentalist has composed original themes songs for companies like Apple+, NBC, VH1, among others .A match made in heaven with a shared passion for both music and surfing, the pair have headlined intimate gigs and supported artists on global tours such as AWOLnation, Sublime, Matisyahu, Slightly Stoopid, Steel Pulse and more. October2024, Makua and his band opened Eddie Vedder’s annual, Ohana Festival 2024, where Vedder introduced Makua and graced the stage to play a song together. The response was overwhelming. Thus far in 2025, Wiz Khalifa joined Makua on the bands “Clear the Air” track and music video, followed by a 30 show North American tour with AWOLnation that included an international leg with stops in 8 different countries. Following the tour, the band made an appearance at BottleRockNapa Valley and is booked for a triumphant return at Ohana Festival 2025.