Small Paul, Acapulco Lips, Warren Dunes

Small Paul was born in a Seattle basement In the early days of COVID as a happy accident between housemates Kevin Murphy from The Moondoggies,Chris King and Malcolm Roberts from Chris King & The Gutterballs with Seth McDonald from All Star Opera. Hailing from Seattle, Acapulco Lips delivers a vibrant blend of psych, garage, soul, and surf rock, transforming any space into a sun-drenched beach party. The five-piece—featuring Maria-Elena Herrell (lead vocals, bass), Christopher Garland (guitar), Brady Harvey (guitar, keys, percussion, vocals), Selina Gomez (guitar, percussion, vocals), and Jordan T Adams (drums)—channels the golden age of the '60s with an undeniable modern energy. Their sound, characterized by explosive guitar jangles, boogie-friendly basslines, interwoven harmonies, and Maria-Elena's disarmingly charming coos, offers a cathartic "half-goofy, half-serious" joy. Since forming in 2012, Acapulco Lips has become a Seattle staple, sharing stages with acts like Fred and Toody Cole, Night Beats, Mikal Cronin, Detroit Cobras, and Death Valley Girls, among many others. With performances at SXSW, Bumbershoot, Sasquatch, and Timber, and features on KEXP, they continue to build momentum. Their self-titled debut (2016) solidified their "good-time music" reputation, and critics from around the world continue to praise their latest album, “Now": Over the last 25 years or so, conventional rock has rarely impressed me, but Acapulco Lips’ songwriting and chops are so tight and well-contoured, it would be foolish to resist. Against the odds for a tiny indie release, Now screams HIT. - Dave Segal - Music Editor - The Stranger Led by keyboardist/vocalist Julia Massey, Warren Dunes’ signature sound is highlighted by Massey’s double keyboards and crystalline voice soaring over chiming guitars and thundering drums from husband Jared Cortese and his brother Dominic Cortese. A long-time favorite in Seattle, Massey’s newest project gained national attention after an In Studio performance on KEXP and broad airplay for their debut LP Get Well Soon on college radio. In 2024 Warren Dunes performed at notable festivals around the PNW including Treefort Music Fest, Capitol Hill Block Party, and Bumbershoot Music Festival, and their most recent release Aquamarine was voted one of KEXP’s listeners top 50 albums of 2024.