The Duppies

After a brief intermission it was the Duppies turn to entertain the crowd. The seven-man rocksteady group out of Gainesville, Fla. did not disappoint. From start to finish, they delivered a wonderful ska/reggae performance that could easily rival some of the genre’s greatest acts. As they place a well designed mix of original songs and covers of old favorites, their practiced sound could only be rivaled by the band’s endearing stage presence. What made the Duppies’ performance truly special is the way they slowly infected the crowd as the show went on. What started with five or six people in the front, spread across the room like a plague of dancing joy with each passing measure. By the end of their set, every soul in the room was displaying the symptoms of bouncing and jubilation that the rocksteady fever of The Duppies had produced. Truly a masterful performance by the entire ensemble. - the dropp

After a brief intermission it was the Duppies turn to entertain the crowd. The seven-man rocksteady group out of Gainesville, Fla. did not disappoint. From start to finish, they delivered a wonderful ska/reggae performance that could easily rival some of the genre’s greatest acts. As they place a well designed mix of original songs and covers of old favorites, their practiced sound could only be rivaled by the band’s endearing stage presence. What made the Duppies’ performance truly special is the way they slowly infected the crowd as the show went on. What started with five or six people in the front, spread across the room like a plague of dancing joy with each passing measure. By the end of their set, every soul in the room was displaying the symptoms of bouncing and jubilation that the rocksteady fever of The Duppies had produced. Truly a masterful performance by the entire ensemble. - the dropp

"And then they played “I Need You Around” by the Smoking Popes, one of my favorite bands from that era (Hey “Clueless” soundtrack!). It was raucous, in a classy way. Loved it." - Palm Beach Post

"The Duppies took the stage next. They’re always fun to watch and didn’t disappoint as they performed their specialized brand of rock steady/ska/reggae. You could tell they love what they do as front man Brian Hiebel smiled, laughed and danced around while playing various percussion instruments I can’t pronounce. He usually spreads good vibes over the crowd, but Saturday night he seemed to be having the time of his life, infecting the room with his eternal grin. I imagine he was probably just happy not to be stuck working behind the bar like he was Friday night." - Lead Us Down

"The Duppies took the stage next. They’re always fun to watch and didn’t disappoint as they performed their specialized brand of rock steady/ska/reggae. You could tell they love what they do as front man Brian Hiebel smiled, laughed and danced around while playing various percussion instruments I can’t pronounce. He usually spreads good vibes over the crowd, but Saturday night he seemed to be having the time of his life, infecting the room with his eternal grin. I imagine he was probably just happy not to be stuck working behind the bar like he was Friday night." - Lead Us Down

"There was also an energy exuding from the band members that poured out into the crowd. Along with the sounds of the horns, very positive vibes were resonating throughout the bar. Their rocksteady tunes will not soon be forgotten. You could even say their sound will stick with you or haunt you, just as their band name somewhat alludes. A Duppy is a West African term for a ghost or a spirit. A term quite often used in reggae music and popularized by the likes of Bob Marley and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

The Duppies are under the radar now but with their tight sounds and charisma on stage their success should have no boundaries." - BreakThru Radio

"...local ska lords..." - Scene

"By this point, thousands of local music-goers have seen the Duppies, considering they've been one of Gainesville's hardest working bands since 2004. If you haven't seen the Duppies though, I can say they put on one of the better live shows it town.

Their music is fun, upbeat, and the attitude of the band matches the music's carefree appeal. They let loose and play their hearts out, and naturally when a crowd watches a band have fun, it has fun. It's not unusual to see lots of people dancing at a Duppies show, and if you go see them downtown on Friday, you may be dancing too." - The Gainesville Sun

"By this point, thousands of local music-goers have seen the Duppies, considering they've been one of Gainesville's hardest working bands since 2004. If you haven't seen the Duppies though, I can say they put on one of the better live shows it town.

Their music is fun, upbeat, and the attitude of the band matches the music's carefree appeal. They let loose and play their hearts out, and naturally when a crowd watches a band have fun, it has fun. It's not unusual to see lots of people dancing at a Duppies show, and if you go see them downtown on Friday, you may be dancing too." - The Gainesville Sun