From Solstice Firelight to Southern Starlight

Hey Hivers!

What a wild and beautiful few weeks it’s been! Since we last wrote you, we’ve been crisscrossing the southern United States, guided by music, friendship, and moments of unexpected magic. From solstice celebrations under the stars to family-style festivals in mountain towns and surreal visits to outer space (yes—NASA!), here’s a heartfelt look back at what’s been unfolding on the road.

From the Rockies to the Red Earth: New Mexico’s Enchantment
We left Colorado with full hearts and winding roads ahead, landing in Taos, New Mexico—truly an oasis in the desert. A place where creativity hangs in the air like incense smoke, and the desert wind whispers stories. Our show at Mary’s Place was one for the books. Tucked inside a charming furniture store-turned-venue, this quirky, intimate setting felt like playing music in a living room built by dreamers.

From there, we continued on to the Albuquerque Press Club—a venue with real soul. Perched on a hill in a 1903 log cabin, the club was originally a private home and later a Prohibition-era gathering space. With stained glass windows, creaky staircases, and stories etched into the walls, it’s a place that feels like music never really leaves. We played into the night beneath the gaze of old portraits and the sparkling lights of Albuquerque.

Solstice at the Haunted House: Fire, Music, and Magic
We returned once more to the Haunted House for a two-day Solstice Festival, where music met firelight and the energy of transformation. Collaborations were spontaneous and fiery—literally. The solstice was celebrated with blazing passion, shared rhythms, and kindred souls dancing under moonlight. The walls of that house have now absorbed another unforgettable chapter.

Houston, We Had a Blast
After San Antonio, we took some well-earned days of rest in Houston, Texas, catching our breath and nourishing our creative tanks. And of course, we visited NASA, which blew our minds.
Some fun facts from our visit:

The Saturn V rocket on display is 363 feet long and never actually launched—it was built for Apollo 18, which was canceled.

NASA’s Johnson Space Center houses the Mission Control Room used for all Apollo missions—including the famous Apollo 11 moon landing.

The original lunar rovers were tested in the Texas desert because the terrain mimicked the Moon’s surface!

Space exploration reminded us that human ambition, like music, thrives in the unknown.

Back to the Bayous and the Blue Ridge
We rolled into Ocean Springs, Mississippi to reunite with dear friends and play a spirited show filled with warmth, laughter, and familiar faces. Then on to Brock’s Gap Brewery—a family-friendly, joy-filled evening that reminded us just how powerful community gatherings are.

Mountain Laurel Jam Fest – A Day of Music, Mountains, and Meaning
Nestled in the valley, along the meandering Catawba River, surrounded by forests and winding trails, something truly special bloomed: the Mountain Laurel Jam Fest — held this year at an exciting new location: Foothills Watershed, a mountain bike park and community space tucked into the hills of Old Fort, North Carolina.

From the moment we arrived, we could feel it — that quiet hum of purpose and connection. The Watershed was buzzing with energy. It wasn’t just a festival. It was a gathering of values—of people united by a love of music and community.

The first edition of the Mountain Laurel Jam Fest was created as a fundraiser to support the expansion of the Mountain Laurel Montessori School, a project led by our dear friend Jen and her incredible team. Their dream? To build a middle school campus rooted in the same nurturing, curiosity-driven philosophy that defines their early education programs. That dream brought together an entire town—and it was felt in every note played, every conversation shared, and every dollar raised.

The lineup was stacked with soul:

The transcendental harmonies of Dangermuffin washed over the crowd like a breeze through the trees.

The ever-energetic Get Right Band turned up the fire, blending funk and rock into pure electricity.

And ourselves.

But beyond the music, it was the people that made the day unforgettable.
The entire day was run on love, generosity, and the kind of grassroots spirit that reminds us what’s possible when a community gathers behind a cause. This was the first-ever festival held on the site, and if the success of this gathering is any indication, it certainly won’t be the last. As the sun set behind the mountain ridge and fireflies began to flicker above the grass, Dangermuffin played their final notes to a crowd bathed in golden light and genuine connection. There was no barrier between artist and audience—just one shared heartbeat.

Mountain Laurel Jam Fest 2025 is already echoing in our hearts— It was a living example of what happens when art, education, nature, and community intertwine.

Music, Pizza, and Purpose
After the mountains, we played a heartwarming show in Lenoir, NC at the Happy Valley Filling Station, where wood-fired pizza, great beer, and live music brought the town together. We were thrilled to reconnect with our friend Hector—whom many of you know from San Francisco—who’s been instrumental in helping us organize parts of this tour. His support, belief in our music, and heart-centered kindness continue to lift us.

Final Notes Among Sheep and Strings
Finally, we made it to Freeland, Maryland, to the Feeder Brook farm belonging to our friend Lisa. There, we played at her Vernissage—a true celebration of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Art, music, and community merged in a little brewery. Due to the rain we had to squeeze inside and shared a fabulous energetic night. It was a reminder that music can live and breathe in the most unexpected places.

We are beyond grateful to be living this journey—and to be able to share it with you. You, our troublemaker family, are the reason we can continue this work. Your belief, your support, your listening hearts make every note more meaningful.