Bumpin Uglies

Annapolis, Maryland outfit Bumpin' Uglies craft a melody-rich, freewheeling mix of ska, reggae, and punk that places heavy emphasis on lyrical content and infectious rhythmic drive. The road-hardened ensemble formed in 2008 and has since crisscrossed the country with explosive performances at venues and festivals, extending the ska-punk tradition established by earlier stalwarts Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug, and Voodoo Glow Skulls. Guitarist and vocalist Brandon Hardesty, bassist Dave Wolf, and drummer TJ Haslett launched the project, with versatile keyboardist Chad Wright coming aboard partway through its history. Drawing from a mutual admiration for kindred spirits such as Sublime, Beach Boys, and Bad Religion, the band advanced from regional popularity to nationwide recognition through a series of EPs and well-received albums including Go Folk Yourself (2012), Keep It Together (2016), Beast from the East (2018), and Mid-Atlantic Dub (2022).