Champagne Sunday

A truly unique DIY powerhouse of an act, Champagne Sunday has been rumbling the underground scene for nearly twenty years, creating a devoted following from all across the country and all walks of life. With a musical style that falls somewhere between folk and rock, (they call it “Glam-Folk”), their shows have the ability to arouse all manner of emotions from sheer joy to deep introspection, but almost always with an inspirational and positive twist.

Their eclectic musical style is the result of Jessi's upbringing as a musical theater and Funk/R&B fan from Southern California and Jared's as a Seattle grunge and Americana fan from rural Pennsylvania. So imagine if Bette Midler and Michael Jackson formed a band with Pearl Jam and John Prine, and that will give you an idea of their sound. Kinda. Both Jared and Jessi studied music in college, but Jared was more on the theory side while Jessi was more on the performance side. Together, they make music that is deceptively complex, but played with an ease and passion that is simultaneously surprising and new, while also comforting and familiar.

“I’ve seen bands where I might like one or two of their songs, but these guys come out with a whole show where every song is great . . . There’s no good comparison to them, because what they’re doing hasn’t really been done before.”
- Bernie Larsen (Touring guitarist for Melissa Etheridge)

Because their shows consist of all original songs, the husband and wife duo Jessi and Jared Fredeen share stories and anecdotes behind the songs to help acclimate the audiences to their music and give them a starting point for the listening experience. By the end of the show, there’s a closeness and familiarity with the band and their optimistic message.

Members Jared and Jessi met and formed Champagne Sunday in Ventura, CA in 2005 along with a few other guys, but as they fell off the roster bit by bit, the duo became stronger and stronger until they realized that they didn't really need the extra instrumentation for their live shows.

After relocating to Tacoma, WA in 2012, they had the pleasure of recording with Geoff Ott (Candlebox) at London Bridge Studios in 2016, Jon Rook (Octopizo) in 2018, and Shawn Simmons (The Head and the Heart, Dave Matthews, Lemolo) and Javier Garavito (youryoungbody) in 2022 with drummer Sean Lane (Pedro the Lion, Ann Wilson of “Heart”). Most recently, they recorded an album with J.P. Hesser (Chuck D, Chris Robinson Band) that will be released in 2025, marking both their tenth release and their twentieth year as a band.

Since their inception, they've toured the country extensively, garnering rave reviews, and sharing the stage with the likes of John Craigie and Richie Havens, while also opening for R.E.M.'s longtime auxiliary guitarist Scott McCaughey's band The Young Fresh Fellows.

“Rich musical artistry and seamless delivery set Champagne Sunday miles ahead of the crowd of musical talents clambering for an online presence. Reminding us that we are each ultimately in charge of our own reality, this talented duo is clearly in an absolute state of joy when they perform––the perfect example of following your bliss, staying present and appreciating each moment. This is what true musicianship looks and feels like when passion is front and center.”
– Music Connection

With the highly anticipated recent release of their 10th album in May 2025, Champagne Sunday is a band at the top of their game and rolling strong.