Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for
nearly 27 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t
fit that traditional mold; and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward,
Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set,
too. Amongst 2,500+ gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments
include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember
those?) than any other act on the bill. A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee
became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net,
which houses recordings of every gig since 2005. The service has since grown and now
lives on through Nugs.net, which is used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and
more.
Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s
McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans
access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at
shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time
and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another
realm altogether by integrating themselves into the VR Platform Endless Riff. All of the
above has earned the band status as kings of the live music scene with standing yearly
engagements at iconic venues, their own events in Iceland (Rockjavick) and Mexico
(Holidaze), and co-hosting Chillicothe, IL’s long-running Summer Camp festival. In April
2025, Umphrey’s McGee will lead their faithful fans on another bucket list musical
adventure: Morockshow will feature three nights in Marrakech, Morocco, marking another
signature event in an exotic location. Umphrey’s McGee’s latest release Asking For A
Friend showcases more evolved songwriting and thoughtful arranging from a band
continuing to grow and mature with their droves of die-hard, longtime fans.