Thursday and Friday will have the festival in high gear, featuring national and regional acts with a range of styles, including funk, punk, boogaloo, jam, grass, and so many more. On top of that, the festival features four great artists at large. Joe Marcinek will sling his guitar with several acts, and the Sooza horns will be bopping around from set to set. On top of that we have the queen, Kanika Moore, and Alex Steele on vocals bouncing from stage to stage. Let’s take a look at who’s on the Friday and Saturday lineups and mark your calendars for February 18 to 21, 2026!
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Friday Preview
Thumpasaurus headlines the Friday night madness. The Los Angeles-based “punk-funk” quintet emerged in 2015 from USC’s Thornton School of Music. Their music is a blend of virtuosic musicianship and viral success, most notably for their hit “Struttin’,” which became a TikTok sensation and was featured in a global Samsung campaign. Thumpasaurus delivers an absurdist, high-energy spectacle referred to as the “Thumpaverse.” They play relentless grooves with eccentric visuals using Microsoft Paint and PowerPoint and theatrical elements like chainsaw guitars or appearances by “Space Barn” aliens.
Guavatron is an improvisational, jamtronica quartet out of West Palm Beach, FL and another three-time Whippersnap artist. Guavatron has spent nearly a decade evolving from a local Southeast favorite into a “jamtronic” powerhouse known for its seamless fusion of progressive rock, disco-funk, and electronica. In March 2025, the quartet—comprised of Adonis Guava, Roddy Hansen, Casey Luden, and Cory Ricardy—headlined their own inaugural Guava Fest.
MiniM is another band that I caught for the first time at Whippersnap 2024 and I was duly impressed. They mix funk, rock, and jamtronica with atmospheric elements and were definitely one of the more spacey sets. MiniM is renowned for its “high-powered” originals and “electro-funk-therapy” jams that seamlessly meld rock, funk, and jamtronica. I expect performances to have some spontaneous collaboration with Artists at Large.
Cope evolved from a family project into a cornerstone of the Florida jam scene, known for their eclectic “psychedelic southern-fried funk-rock”. Led by the Stadelman brothers and featuring multi-instrumentalist Juan “Juanjamon” Montero, the band has a reputation for “intelligent originals.” Cope is renowned for its performances that weave through diverse landscapes of jazz, reggae, and “electro-grass,” punctuated by Montero’s fiery saxophone solos and four-part vocal harmonies.
S.P.O.R.E. (Special People Organically Releasing Energy) has a reputation for high-intensity, improvisational, and deep-pocket grooves that bridge the gap between organic funk and heavy electronic dance music. The band’s dense, polyrhythmic foundation and soaring melodic peaks will deliver a heady mix.
Antelope has established itself as the premier Florida-based tribute to Phish, meticulously recreating the legendary Vermont quartet’s sound through a career built on technical precision and deep improvisational exploration. Antelope delivers an immersive performance that mirrors a classic Phish show, blending high-fidelity compositions with unpredictable, tension-and-release jams. Their sets have an authentic sound that captures the communal spirit and auditory complexity of a true “Phish-y” environment.
Brain Emoji is four sonic shapeshifters who improvise their way through post-rock textures, ambient electronica, experimental jazz freakouts, and antic-laced performance art—often all within the same set. Formed in 2018 when Joe Marcinek and Mike Bryant were struck by the same bolt of light, the band eventually stabilized its rotating portal with the arrival of Vinny Svoboda and Jamie Newitt. Live shows are ritual chaos: music from nowhere, antics from everywhere.
Light the Wire makes heartfelt, indie-folk rock with powerful vocal harmonies, thoughtful lyrics, and driving bass and drums. Light the Wire began as a covid lockdown internet collaboration between long-time friends and musicians in the jam and rock scene of Tampa, FL. Forming the current lineup in 2023, the band has performed on stages at festivals such as Gasparilla Music Festival, Whippersnap, Sunshine Get Down, and venues all over Florida From St. Augustine to Naples.
Saturday Preview
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe continues its reign as a premier force in the global funk and jam scene, celebrating its silver anniversary throughout 2025. Fronted by legendary saxophonist Karl “Diesel” Denson, one of my all-time favorites, the band has built a formidable career by blending acid jazz, soul-funk, and rock into what Denson calls “electro-funk-therapy.” KDTU is renowned for “booty-shaking” marathons that bridge the gap between technical jazz precision and raw, James Brown-inspired energy. Denson’s searing saxophone and flute solos and the soulful powerhouse vocals of recent addition Danielle Barker will make this a Whippersnap highlight closing out the fest on Saturday night.
Ajeva is a “progressive funk” staple of the Southeast jam scene. The band’s time slot is a full circle moment for me because I first met Reed Skahill, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the group, right before a KDTU set at Hulaween 2018 when he encouraged me to come check them out. The quintet entered 2025 with massive momentum, supporting Spafford on their Florida tour and releasing several live albums, including Live at Whippersnap 2025. Ajeva weaves together deep funk grooves, soulful melodies, and heavy psychedelic rock.
The Heavy Pets, formed in Ft. Lauderdale, are one of the most resilient and versatile staples of the national jam scene, celebrating two decades of “American Rhythm & Roll.” The band’s sets seamlessly bridge jazz-funk, reggae, and guitar-driven rock and roll through tight vocal harmonies and intricate dual-guitar interplay. I’m looking forward to power-funk grooves and dance-heavy improvisations that have cemented their reputation as a must-see live act.
Greenhouse Lounge is another multiyear Whippersnap performer and good friends of FunkCity.net. The Jacksonville, Florida, band has spent over 15 years at the forefront of the “jamtronic” movement, crafting a sophisticated fusion of house, drum and bass, and psychedelic rock. The trio—comprised of bassist Dave McSweeney, drummer Jason Hunnicutt, and guitarist Steven Honig—blends computer-based production with soulful rock leads and heavy analog bass. I dig their hypnotic grooves and soaring improvisations and expect they’ll have some fun guests like they did at the fest in 2025.
Flow Tribe, the New Orleans powerhouse, has spent over two decades pioneering “backbone-cracking music,” evolving from high school friends into global ambassadors of modern Louisiana funk. Throughout 2025, the sextet has celebrated their enduring career with high-profile sets at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and major national stops. They’re another group that are friends of mine, and I captured their set this year at Aisle 5 in Atlanta. Flow Tribe fuses funk, soul, and rock with a heavy Latin influence and second-line swing. Frontman KC O’Rorke’s dual-threat vocals and trumpet, virtuosic dual-guitar interplay, and a relentless rhythm section that embodies the vibrant spirit and raw energy of their native city.
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression are a soul sensation out of Kentucky fueled by the powerhouse vocals of Joslyn Hampton and the sharp arrangements of her stepfather, guitarist Marty Charters. The band bridges the gap between classic Stax-era soul and contemporary funk, driven by a razor-sharp horn section and a relentless rhythm pocket. Joslyn’s commanding, gospel-inflected delivery and a tight, professional polish has earned them a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in modern R&B.
Tire Fire has established itself as a “trashgrass” powerhouse, blending high-speed bluegrass fusion with elements of psychedelic rock and punk. The sextet—featuring Trey Miller (banjo), Dani Jaye (fiddle), Arrie Bozeman (mandolin), Justin Davis (guitar), Sean Hartley (bass), and veteran Florida drummer Dave Gerulat—is renowned for an “A+” live experience where every member contributes to rich, three-part vocal harmonies and rapid-fire instrumental trade-offs.
Zenzi is the new project of Whippersnap Fest organizer, Shane Lavigne. It’s a 10 piece band with a full horn section and incredible female vocals from Kat Hines. Shoutout to my buddy, Mac Schmitz from Voodoo Visionary on drums. I’ve gotten a peek at the initial set list and all I can say, is people get ready for some classic 70s and 80s funk and fasten your set belt! So excited for that!
Stick & Ditty are two of the best rappers in Tampa Bay amd also perform everything from. Old-school Rock N’ Roll, Country, Blues, and more. The pair’s musical breadth spans several genres (both Covers & Originals)—with a live performance achieving the sound of a full band, by means of looper pedal mastery and each artist playing multiple instruments.