Performers
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About
"The California Honeydrops...evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone." - Rolling Stone
Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They've become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B. B. King, DrJohn, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint.
Led by the enigmatic and energetic frontman Lech Wierzynski and percussionist Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own right. The band's lineup includes:
- Lech Wierzynski — frontman
- Benjamin Malament — percussionist
- Yanos "Johnny Bones" Lustig — saxophone
- Lorenzo Loera — keyboards/guitar
- Beaumont Beaullieu — drums
- Miles Blackwell — bass
They are regularly accompanied by:
- Oliver Tuttle — trombone
- Leon Cotter — saxophone/clarinet
- Miles Lyons — trombone/sousaphone
They navigate a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night. What truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation — a skill so finely honed that they have completely abandoned the use of set lists and no two shows are ever the same.
Off stage, their music has been streamed more than 200 million times and has been placed in TV and films, including "Dead To Me," "Alaska Daily," "Black-ish" and more.
Their new album "Redwood Highway" was released August 8, 2025.