Sublime celebrates Bradley Nowell’s birthday at Innings Festival 2026

It felt less like a set and more like a family gathering turned full-on punk rock celebration when Sublime hit the stage at Innings Festival 2026.

The Long Beach, California roots ran deep throughout the performance, which doubled as a birthday tribute to original frontman Bradley Nowell, who would have turned 58.

We’re celebrating “the birthday of Bradley Nowell, my father,” frontman Jakob Nowell told the Tempe, Arizona crowd. “I see him in all of you tonight.”

With that, the tone was set – reflective, grateful, and ready to explode into something communal.

Jakob noted the timing wasn’t lost on the band, pointing out that his late grandfather and bassist Eric Wilson had also just celebrated birthdays.

“It’s just everyone’s birthday, man,” he laughed. “Keep your loved ones in mind. Let’s dedicate this set to them. Let’s have a good fuckin’ night.”

And they did.

From the jump, the energy surged. Jakob even gave a nod to the local crowd by flipping the lyrics in “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” to “riots on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona,” drawing a roar from the audience.

The set unfolded like a celebration of both past and present, with a rotating cast of guests joining the band onstage. Jakob’s friend Zane Vanderbilt – jokingly introduced as his “illegitimate half-brother” – handled guitar duties for multiple songs, while Arizona artist Gabo of Fayuca jumped in for a lively rendition of “Caress Me Down.”

Original Sublime guitarist Michael Happoldt also made an appearance late in the set, adding another layer of legacy to an already nostalgia-soaked performance.

Across 23 songs, the band ripped through fan favourites and newer material, including “Ensenada,” showcasing Jakob fully stepping into the role his father once held – not replacing, but carrying forward.

There were lighter moments too. Jakob’s dog, Melvin, made an onstage appearance, and the singer proudly told the crowd, “I can walk again,” after recovering from a broken leg that had previously slowed down with a boot and scooter during last month’s ALTer Ego appearance.

But the heart of the set was connection.

Jakob encouraged the crowd to “push each other” – but “with love” – and later paused to soak it all in.

“At this moment, I’m overwhelmed by love,” he said.

After closing with “Santeria,” and as the band exited, fans carried the moment one step further — singing “Happy Birthday” back toward the stage in honour of Bradley.