Dozey Dubs melded reggae bubble rhythms, grunge‑funk guitar and jam‑band improvisation to create a community party at Boise Brewing.
On a sunday evening, we saw a steady stream of festival‑goers wandering toward Boise Brewing, drawn by the smell of hops and the promise of an all‑ages jam. Inside, Dozey Dubs; a Garden City‑born reggae‑funk jam band; delivered exactly what their fans hoped for: a high‑energy set that felt like a backyard gathering blown up to festival size. Treefort thrives on these moments when a local act commands as much love as the headliners.
Frontman Andrew Wigginton, a dread‑headed singer‑songwriter from La Grande, Oregon, formed Dozey Dubs with a motley crew of friends to “bring friendship and love to the world”. The current lineup features drummer Israel Hadden, saxophonist Kaitlyn Patton, lead guitarist MJ Baybado, and bassist Luke Leger, with trombonist Kyle Love and percussionist Rick Walters joining on occasion. After four years of touring the western U.S. and releasing the album Sublett Malta in 2024, the band has honed a blend of reggae bubble rhythms, slinky bass lines and grunge‑inspired guitar.
Their Treefort set began with a dub‑infused groove that slowly built into a funk explosion. Wigginton’s laid‑back vocals rode atop Patton’s sax riffs, while Baybado shredded through guitar solos that recalled 90s grunge but stayed rooted in reggae’s offbeat skank. Midway through the performance, the band launched into a jam that swirled through jazz, funk and rock, leaving plenty of room for spontaneous improvisation. The audience; families sipping IPAs alongside college students and older Deadheads, clapped along, danced in clusters and shared smiles. Scheduled for 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, the show felt like a communal send‑off to the week.
Dozey Dubs’ ability to create an inviting party underscores why Treefort invests in local talent. Their message of love, positivity and community echoed long after the final notes faded, reminding us that sometimes the best sets are the ones that feel like home.
