The Road to Red Bluff Fest: A Conversation with DJ Logic April 16, 2025 15:19

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival represents one of Montgomery, Alabama's latest annual celebrations, and we're counting down the days to the third installment on May 16th - May 18th. The 3rd annual festival will be held at Red Bluff Bar (Friday) and Riverwalk Amphitheater (Saturday & Sunday), featuring a wide variety of national and regional acts across a diverse musical spectrum.

As we prepare for this year's festival, we're catching up with each of this year's performers to gain and share some additional insight for anyone planning to attend the festival. It felt like there was no better option for kicking off this series than speaking with DJ Logic, who will be performing throughout all three days of the festival. DJ Logic has been a staple of the jam / music festival scene since the late 90s, and his sets are sure to be amongst the most entertaining moments of the weekend.

Born and raised in The Bronx, New York, DJ Logic (Jason Kibler) displayed an early interest in hip hop, funk, and jazz music. He began practicing on the turntables and collaborating with various musicians, creating recordings best described as a contemporary soul jazz with a string hip hop feel. 

He often tours with his own group, Project Logic, and has recorded or performed with Vernon Reid (Living Colour), moe., John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bob Weir's Ratdog, Bob Belden, Jack Johnson, OAR, Chris Whitley, Uri Caine, Christian McBride and others.

On September 10, 2001, Project Logic performed the final official show at Wetlands Preserve before the closing of the venue, featuring special guests Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, Stanley Jordan and Phish's Mike Gordon. 

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival

I always like to start these interviews with some general background info. Can you tell me about the path that led you to become a DJ / producer?

DJ Logic: Just growing up in New York City in The Bronx. My early passion was hip hop. I grew up listening to a lot of that, and then I started broadening my musical interests and opening up to other genres as well. I started playing downtown at Wetlands and The Knitting Factory. My passion for music in general, specifically hip hop, funk, and jazz, initially led me down this path. 

I really love bringing my people and my community together. Seeing how all genres of music communicated with people. It could be the beat, sound, or melody that attracts any individual in any way. It's amazing to see what music can do to bring people together from all walks of life. It's a really spiritual thing.

Who were some of the key artists that made a notable impact on you as an artist? Was there anyone in particular that influenced your approach?

DJ Logic: A lot of the music that was being played in my house. There are too many to name them all, but I'd start with artists like Sly & The Family Stone, Miles Davis, Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, Erik B & Rakim, AC/DC, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, James Brown, and Run DMC, of course. 

Your specific corner of the music world has always fascinated me. It seems to have taken on a whole new life in the past 15 years. How would you explain the difference in your craft / speciality versus the more mainstream, electronic / dubstep producers?

DJ Logic: Well, what I do is very open-format and very eclectic. The dubstep artists are typically straight up electronic and more straight forward. I really like to be eclectic, with a lot of different sounds, patterns, and variety. That's what I've been doing since I got started. Trying my best to be open minded and blend certain things tastefully. 

To expand on the previous question, I’m curious about your songwriting process. How do you go about bringing these ideas to life?

DJ Logic: I bring these ideas to life in many ways. Sometimes, I'll just wake up with a certain idea. Sometimes I will collaborate with other musicians. Play around with a beat, work it out on a keyboard in my studio. 

I’ve always considered you to be one of the OG DJs in the modern music scene. I say that mainly because you became such a staple in jam band scene many years ago. Can you share a few favorite memories from collaborating with bands over the years?

DJ Logic: Oh yeah, man. Since I'm coming to Alabama, I've gotta say that one of my memorable collaborations was with Widespread Panic at Orange Beach back in 2007. I played the first Bonnaroo Music Festival as well, when it was just a grassroots festival. I played with everyone from Jack Johnson to Gov't Mule and Widespread Panic that weekend. Such a cool thing to see happening in the South and Tennessee, specifically. 

There have really been so many great moments. I spent some time touring with John Mayer, Vernon Reid from Living Colour, and the list goes on. They've all been unique and different experiences. One day I would be with Panic, and the next day Questlove or Mononeon. Back in 2023, we played a really special DJ Logic & Friends show at The Blue Note (New York City) night with Mononeon, Fred Wesley (James Brown), and Karl Denson.

You’ll be performing throughout the weekend at Red Bluff Music & Arts festival on May 16-18th. What can the Montgomery faithful expect to hear from your sets? Any chance you’ll be sitting in with any other performers?

DJ Logic: People will hear a very eclectic set each and every night. A lot of different genres of music catering around the festival. Always a chance of collaborating with Mononeon and some of the other great musicians performing. I'm really looking forward to an amazing weekend in Montgomery. 

-