Biography

Sun-Dried Vibes provide a fresh twist to the reggae/rock genre with their high-energy live performances that crank out infectious sing-a-longs laced with a positive message. Since their inception in 2010, the group has performed around 275 dates a year. This band of road warriors have three full length albums under their belt, including their latest release, “Stay Hopeful,” which dropped on August 31st, 2018. The new album, “Stay Hopeful” debuted at #1 on the iTunes Reggae Charts and at #3 on the Billboard Reggae Charts. The record features some of the biggest and best names in the American Reggae/Rock Scene such as Rebelution, The Movement, Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies and more. The album was tracked by Jeff Leonard and Eric Rickert at Ocean Industries Studios (Charleston, SC), Jim Georgeson and Clay Miller at Echo Mountain Recording Studio (Asheville, NC) and was mastered by Chris Gehringer of Sterling Sound (New York, NY).

Sun-Dried Vibes took home South Carolina’s Rock Band of the Year Award in 2012, 2013, and 2016 as voted on by the SC Music Awards and were voted Charlotte NC’s Best Local Band 2012 by the Readers of Creative Loafing. On August 28th 2011, SDV released ‘Give Thanks’ as their debut album and began filling up rooms along the east coast. The group toured relentlessly in support of their debut album and the hard work paid off. On April 8th, 2014 their sophomore album “Back2Square1” debuted on the iTunes Reggae Charts at #6 and the hit single “Young One” ft. Jeremy Anderson (TreeHouse!) was featured as the MP3 Leak of the Week by The Pier (www.thepier.org). It was then, in 2014, that one of the most progressive promoters in the world took notice and added SDV to the major festival ‘California Roots: Carolina Sessions, sharing the bill with the Rebelution, Matisyahu, Collie Buddz, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad, Katchafire and more in Wilmington, NC. This festival along with a 12 show, headlining tour in the US Virgin Islands was the icing on the cake in 2014. 

2015 was the year of opportunity for Sun-Dried Vibes. SDV set out on a national tour that summer highlighted by an appearance at one of the largest reggae music festivals in the world: California Roots Music & Arts Festival, which took place May 2015 in Monterey, CA. The group was humbled to share the bill with SOJA, Steel Pulse, Dirty Heads, Chronixx, The Roots and many more at this festival. 2015 also brought a new opportunity for SDV as the band was added to a world class roster at SEG: Sweetwine Entertainment Group based out of Denver, CO.

2016 shaped up to be the one of the biggest and best yet for Sun-Dried Vibes as they kicked off the year with a SOLD OUT show in their hometown of Charlotte, NC on New Years Eve. The group follows up the sellout with a 20 show national tour in 9 states including a stop at a SOLD OUT One Love Cali Reggae Fest in Santa Ana, CA. The boys also made appearances at Reggae Rise Up Festival in St. Petersburg, FL, a return to the 3rd Annual California Roots: Carolina Sessions on April 9th in Myrtle Beach, SC and the 5th Annual California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey, CA. 2016 also included SOLD OUT SHOWS in 5 other major cities (Washington, DC | Atlanta, GA | Wilmington, NC | Columbia, SC | Austin, TX) and support tours for national touring artists Ballyhoo!, Through the Roots & Zach Deputy. 

In 2017, the group experienced their first major line up change and introduced Jono Cheverez to the family as their new full-time drummer. This did not slow SDV’s momentum though, as the band did two national tours supporting Badfish: Sublime Tribute as well as  one headlining national tour. The band also founded their own music festival in 2017, Surrounded by the Sound Music & Arts Festival, which was a major success, bringing over 1,000 people together for its inaugural year. To cap off the year, the boys hit the studio and began working on their 3rd full length album, “Stay Hopeful.”

In 2018, the boys kicked things off proper by signing with Empire Booking Agency and hitting the road on another national tour supporting Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds. The group experienced their second line up change, as founding bassist Evan Tyler left the group. SDV made the most of this time and added three new members, Tyler Vickery on guitar/vocals, Cliff Bundick on bass and Kody Farris on auxiliary percussion. Now with a more full and powerful sound, the new line up debuted at Surrounded by the Sound Music Festival, creating a new found excitement for both the band and the fans. SDV also dropped their 3rd full length album, “Stay Hopeful,” on August 31st, 2018. The album debuted at #1 on the iTunes Reggae Charts and at #3 on the Billboard Reggae Charts. The band is slated to hit the road for another national tour spread across three seperate legs, starting in October, supporting their brand new release. 

It’s not a secret that the Sun-Dried Vibes family includes a very loyal fan base, the higher ups have definitely taken notice. SDV has had the pleasure of supporting major acts of all genres including The Dirty Heads, 311, Slightly Stoopid, Ballyhoo, The Movement, Passafire, The Expendables, Badfish: Sublime Tribute, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Through the Roots, Zach Deputy, The Aggrolites, The Supervillains, Less Than Jake, AWOL Nation, Neon Trees, The Nappy Roots and many more. The group is considered the Pioneer’s of Southeast Reggae/Rock and they intend to continue forging the path for many years to come.