Allen Stone grew up in Chewelah, Washington, singing in church and soaking up classic soul records. Ripe formed at Berklee in Boston, carving a horn-led pop-funk sound built for bounce and melody.

Church soul meets campus funk

Together they deliver gritty vocals, bright brass, and a rhythm section that favors head-nod grooves over flash. Ripe released Bright Blues, a recent album that leans into tighter song craft, while Allen Stone keeps his set loose and conversational.

What they might play and who shows up

Expect Unaware, Brown Eyed Lover, Little Lighter, and Settling to land as communal singalongs. The crowd tends to be a friendly mix of twenties through forties, with bright sneakers, vintage denim, and a few floral shirts near the horns. Trivia: Allen Stone first built buzz with DIY touring and viral live clips, and Ripe started as an eight-piece playing campus parties before club residencies. You might also catch Allen Stone leading a long breakdown in Unaware while the horns from Ripe pop by for a guest vamp. Treat the setlist notes and production guesses here as informed speculation, not a promise.

Scene Notes: Sweet nights with Allen Stone and Ripe

Wear your groove

The scene skews relaxed and bright, with thrifted jackets, patterned shirts, and clean sneakers more common than costumes. You will hear pockets of the crowd practicing three-part hums before the house lights drop, then loud claps on the backbeat once the horns start. Allen Stone fans tend to sing the whole hook of Unaware, and he often turns his mic to the room to let them carry it.

Shared moments to expect

Ripe regulars bounce in place and mirror the horn stabs with quick hand gestures when the band hits. Merch lines favor fruit imagery for Ripe and retro script fonts for Allen Stone, with soft pastels and deep blues selling fastest. You may spot small handmade signs asking for Brown Eyed Lover or Settling, which usually sparks smiles even if the request does not happen. Post-show chatter is about grooves that stuck, harmonies that clicked, and which song let the room sing the loudest.

Silk Grit and Brass Snap

Voice out front, band in the pocket

Allen Stone sings with grain and glide, often resting on a note before snapping into a run so the beat breathes. His band rides warm Rhodes, clean guitar, and round bass, leaving room for his falsetto flips to cut through. Ripe leans on crisp drums, percussive guitar, and trumpet-trombone lines that answer the vocal like a second singer.

Little switches that land big

Live, Allen Stone sometimes stretches a verse so the crowd can echo a line, then cues a sudden drop to silence before the final chorus hits. Ripe often shifts a bridge to halftime and sprints back into double-time, turning the horn tag into a quick burst of fireworks. Arrangements favor simple shapes with small twists, like moving the bass up an octave for a chorus or swapping piano for clav to add bite. Lighting stays supportive, with warm ambers for soul slow-burns and saturated colors when the grooves lift. Those details make the show feel shaped by music first, with visuals backing the pulse rather than chasing it.

Cousins in the Crates: Allen Stone and Ripe fans overlap

Kindred sounds on the road

Fans of Leon Bridges will appreciate the warm retro-soul polish and patient grooves. If you lean into rhythm and charisma, Anderson .Paak scratches a similar itch with funk snap and hip-hop swing. Lake Street Dive shares the pop-soul songwriting focus and crowd-friendly harmonies. For those who love tight pocket playing and playful stagecraft, Vulfpeck is a natural neighbor. Lawrence brings brass-forward pop energy that lines up with Ripe's dance side and Allen Stone's sing-along choruses. All of these acts value strong melodies, nimble bands, and shows that move without rushing. If these names live in your playlists, this bill will make sense.