Today, legendary jam band moe. officially releases their highly anticipated new album, Circle of Giants (ATO Records), marking a monumental moment as they celebrate 35 years as a band. A testament to their resilience, evolution, and boundless creativity, the album arrives alongside an exclusive studio performance of their lead single, “Ups and Downs,” capturing the band’s raw energy and musicianship in a live setting. Circle of Giants is now available on all major streaming platforms, CD, and as a special-edition vinyl release.
“It feels good to celebrate after the amount of shit we’ve been through,” says bassist/vocalist Rob Derhak with a good-natured laugh. Guitarist/vocalist Al Schnier adds: “We have always found our way forward because we have each other.” Chuck Garvey, guitarist/vocalist and co-founder, concludes: “It’s this brotherhood and our extended moe. family that always gets us through.”
Blending blues-infused rock, ethereal psychedelia, and expansive improvisation, Circle of Giants channels personal loss into songs filled with grace, humor, and hard-fought wisdom. With the addition of keyboardist Nate Wilson, who officially joined the band in 2023, the album marks a new chapter for moe., capturing their most collaborative and dynamic sound yet. Glide Magazine praised the album, writing, “Circle of Giants captures moe. in their most collaborative state with plenty of creative energy left in the tank.”
Founded 35 years ago at the University of Buffalo, moe. emerged from freewheeling jam sessions bursting with genre-defying creativity and tongue-in-cheek humor. Since then, their tireless work ethic, DIY resourcefulness, and fiercely loyal fanbase—the Famoe.ly—have propelled them to become one of the most enduring and influential bands in the jam scene.
Circle of Giants is a reflection of perseverance in the face of adversity. As the band prepared for their 30th-anniversary celebration, bassist/vocalist Rob Derhak triumphed over cancer, only for the pandemic to bring everything to a standstill. Just as they regained momentum, co-founder Chuck Garvey suffered a life-altering stroke. Against the odds, Garvey made a remarkable recovery and returned to the stage, only for Derhak to face another devastating personal loss with the passing of his son.
Channeling their grief into music, moe. turned their pain into a collection brimming with emotion and musical brilliance. “Making this record started off very joyfully, but then we experienced a severely traumatic event,” says Schnier. “The way through the darkness was to do what we do—make music.”
With fresh energy and no shortage of new material, the band entered Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, Vermont, working with longtime engineer Ben Collette (Phish, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Snarky Puppy). “My wife and I made a decision to be honest and open up a dialogue about mental illness to benefit others who may be contemplating taking their lives,” Derhak shares.
As a creative catharsis, moe. reconvened at Derhak’s barn studio after the initial sessions to record more material, including Wilson’s song “Giants.” The album concludes with the imaginatively arranged “Living Again,” a Schnier-penned track with a sweeping narrative and expansive group improvisation.
In support of Circle of Giants, moe. is currently on an extensive U.S. tour, bringing their high-energy performances to fans across the country. Stops include The Fillmore in San Francisco, Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia, and The Eastern in Atlanta. Later in the year, they’ll headline major festivals including Mountain Jam and Northlands, sharing the stage with acts like Goose, Khruangbin, and The String Cheese Incident. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://moe.org/tour.
moe. - Tour Dates
Friday, January 31 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR
Saturday, February 1 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA
Monday, February 3 - The Crystal Bay Club Casino Crown Room - Crystal Bay, NV
Wednesday, February 5 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA
Thursday, February 6 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA
Friday, February 7 - The Bellwether - Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, February 8 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, February 11 - The Commonwealth Room - Salt Lake City, UT
Thursday, February 13 - Strings Music Pavilion - Steamboat Springs, CO
Friday, February 14 - 10 Mile Music Hall - Frisco, CO
Saturday, February 15 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
Sunday, February 16 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
Thursday, February 27 - The Wellmont Theater - Montclair, NJ
Friday, February 28 - Brooklyn Bowl Philly - Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, March 1 - Brooklyn Bowl Philly - Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, March 2 - Mr. Smalls Theatre - Millvale, PA
Wednesday, March 5 - The Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
Thursday, March 6 - The Ritz - Raleigh, NC
Friday, March 7 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
Saturday, March 8 - The Eastern - Atlanta, GA^
Monday, March 10 - Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC
Wednesday, March 12 - The Senate - Columbia, SC
Thursday, March 13 - The Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works - Jacksonville, FL
Friday, March 14 - Jannus Live - St. Petersburg, FL
Saturday, March 15 - Miami Beach Bandshell - Miami Beach, FL^
Friday, May 23 - Sunday, May 25 - Dark Star Jubilee - Thornville, OH**
Friday, June 13 - Sunday, June 15 - Northlands Music & Arts Festival - Swanzey, NH**
Saturday, June 14 - Sunday, June 15 - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD**
Friday, June 20 - Sunday, June 22 - Mountain Jam Music Festival - Woodstock, NY**
^ with Sierra Hull / Mihali
** with Dark Star Orchestra, Warren Haynes Band, Leftover Salmon, Goose, JRAD, String Cheese Incident, Khruangbin, Mt. Joy & more
