BY MAUREEN PARKER for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 7/17/2026
OK, so . . . Booooooom!!!
I have been waiting for this one!
When I first got this gig, I had been chomping at the bit to write about this band. I finally got the opportunity this weekend, and when I tell you I am hella geeked right now . . . I mean it.
I was introduced to Champagne Sunday in the most wonderfully roundabout, organic way, and it still tickles my goofy little soul.
A few years ago, I went to a Gritty City Sirens burlesque show at a local venue. Jessi was one of the performers, and Jared was the MC. I had no idea they were a couple, but I was absolutely mesmerized by Jessi because that woman was born to perform. She’s bubbly, flirty, sensual, and you can tell she genuinely enjoys being a girl.
That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Performance is in her blood. Jessi’s parents were entertainers, and her father, Mitch Reems, was “Elwood” in The Blues Revue, a Tacoma-area tribute to The Blues Brothers that entertained audiences from the 1980s through 2023. Picture her dad and his bandmate being escorted into town and sometimes to their venues by the actual police department. That’s the kind of larger-than-life entertainment she grew up around, and it shows. She knows exactly how to read a room, captivate an audience, and make every performance feel like an event.
Jared has an infectious, playful charisma of his own. He knows how to command a room without demanding it, and together they’re the kind of duo you can’t help but watch. Safe to say . . . a time was had, and I was hooked.
Now let’s talk about how these two got together because, baby, if this story landed in a Hallmark or Lifetime writers’ room, they’d probably throw their pencils in the air and call it a day.
Jared actually sang Jessi down the aisle when she married her first husband. (Yeah . . . I know.)
Then one day, while they were sitting at the kitchen table, he looked at her and said, “I think you’re with the wrong guy.”
Naturally, she looked at him like he’d lost his mind and asked, “Well, who do you think I should be with?”
His answer?
“Jared.”
They talked. Life happened. And within a relatively short time, one husband moved out, and Jared moved in.
Now, we all know life is usually a lot messier than that, but every once in a while, it really is that simple.
Cue the strings. Roll the credits.
One of the things I love most about Champagne Sunday is its original music centered on hope, encouragement, and human connection. In a world full of cover bands, Champagne Sunday is building a catalog that’s entirely its own.
They told me one of the compliments they hear most is, “When I listen to you, I feel like you’re telling my story.” Honestly, I get that.
Giving people hope in humanity and relationships through connection is at the heart of what they do. Their goal is to remind people that life doesn’t always have to feel so heavy. They create music that reminds us there’s still goodness in the world and that genuine connection is something worth celebrating.
They also set out to become the kind of band that could play anywhere, from intimate rooms to large festival crowds, without ever sacrificing the connection they have with their audience. Whether they’re playing for a handful of people in a cozy venue or hundreds at a festival, they bring the same authenticity and intimacy every single time. That’s not easy to do, and it’s one of the things that truly sets them apart.
They’ve performed at venues like the Spanish Ballroom and, this month, at the Old Town Music Festival. Big stage or small room, they know how to make every audience feel like they’re part of the show.
They’ve already released ten albums, with an eleventh expected later this year or early next year.
Like so many musicians, they’ve paid their dues. They’ve played in different bands, lived the RV tour life with other musicians, stretched every dollar, figured out how to book shows and perform night after night, and somehow still managed to enjoy each other’s company. Anyone who’s ever toured knows that’s no small accomplishment. Those experiences helped shape the band they are today, and we’re all benefiting from it.
And here’s the best part . . .
This summer, they’re heeeeere!
Champagne Sunday has several local shows coming up, including its first-ever Porchfest appearance. Yes, I’ll absolutely be there! The band also has performances at a local winery and at the Elks at Allenmore Golf Course this month. They’re usually touring outside the area during the summer, so having them home is a real gift.
And while we’re talking about Porchfest . . . more than 400 bands will perform this year. Four hundred! We talk all the time about supporting local music, and here’s your chance. It’s summer, we need to get outside anyway, and our musicians deserve packed crowds. So grab a friend, pick a porch, and go support some live music. Better yet, make Champagne Sunday one of your stops.
Oh . . . wait! Let me circle back with one more fun fact.
The name Champagne Sunday actually came from Jessi’s ex-husband.
(I KNOW!)
They were tossing around ideas, he wrote the name on a piece of paper, everyone saw it, loved it, and it stuck. Funny how life works sometimes.
Serendipity has a way of showing up when you least expect it.
And honestly, it’s the perfect name for a band that serves up love, encouragement, and hopeful vibes. Their music leaves you feeling just a little lighter than when you walked in and makes you want to come back again and again and again.
