String Cheese Incident Tap Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman and Daniel Donato During Destination Mexico Festival

Wesley Hodges

The String Cheese Incident’s destination concert vacation officially commenced on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Dreams Sapphire Resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Following the annual welcome toast, the host band initiated the event’s musical offering with a two-set performance featuring added help from Trey Anastasio Band horn section members Jen Hartswick (trumpet) and Natalie Cressman (trombone). 

As a presumable ode to their surroundings, SCI commenced The Mexico Incident with “These Waves,” a song that eventually morphed into “Djibouti Bump” and “Black Clouds.” On the other side of the three-piece fused introduction, the group picked up Michael Kang’s “Shine” before moving into Bill Nershi’s “Windy Mountain,” which felt like a home reference, considering the rhythmic crash of waves against white sand beaches–a far cry from The Rockies. 

Before a mid-show break, the band added “Shantytown” to the mix before returning to the Beach Stage for part two of the concert, which picked up on an explorative “Rivertrance” that preluded an amalgamation of “Rhythm of the Road” into “Can’t Stop Now.” Set two would go on to produce “Into the Blue” > “Restless Wind” before the highpoint of night one, the arrival of Hartwick and Cressman, who added to an encore of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish.”

With their initial Mexico Incident in the books, SCI handed off late-night concert duties to Dirtwire, who kept the crowd dancing until the early morning of Dec. 8. Sunday eventually picked up with an afternoon poolside set from Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country–which winked at what was to come during the host’s secondary stand.

String Cheese Incident’s Sunday concert started in relatively standard fashion, commencing on 1998’s ‘Round the Wheel’s title track before traveling through time to 2001’s Outside Inside, “Close Your Eyes.” The initial frame would go on to produce the aforementioned LP’s namesake song, which included help from Donato. The cosmic country guitarist stuck around, adding his skill to The Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica.” 

Hartswick arrived to help with the onset of Sunday’s latter set and eventually reemerged for the encore alongside Cressman to assist on Kyle Hollingsworth’s “Rosie.” 

The band took off Monday, Dec. 9, making space in the schedule for other festival participants, Dirtwire, Donato’s Cosmic Country, moe., and a DJ set from Chromeo. The final day of the Mexico Incident picks up with a set from The Nershis today, Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m., followed up by SCI’s last frame and a final offering of live music by moe. 

As a bonus, on top of an already memorable experience, the band announced plans to return to Red Rocks this summer, July 18-19, 2025. According to the band’s post via social media, night one with feature added help from The Wood Brothers, and night two is scheduled to feature Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, Dec. 12.

Scroll down to view setlists and photos shared via the band’s official Instagram account.

The String Cheese Incident 

Dream Sapphire Resort – Puerto Morelos, MX

Dec. 7, 2024 

Set I: These Waves > Djibouti Bump > Black Clouds, Shine, Windy Mountain, Get Tight, Shantytown

Set II: Rivertrance, Rhythm Of The Road > Can’t Stop Now, Drifting, Can’t Wait Another Day, Into the Blue > Restless Wind

Enc.: I Wish+

Notes:

+ with Jen Hartswick (trumpet) and Natalie Cressman (trombone)

The String Cheese Incident 

Dream Sapphire Resort – Puerto Morelos, MX

Dec. 8, 2024

Set I: ‘Round The Wheel, Close Your Eyes, Beautiful, Lester Had A Coconut, One Step Closer, Sirens, Outside And Inside1 > Jessica#

Set II: The Ocean%, Hi Ho No Show, Eventually, It Is What It Is, Joyful Sound > Desert Dawn > Let’s Go Outside

Enc.: Rosie*

Notes

# with Daniel Donato 

% with Jen Hartswick on vocals and trumpet, 

* with Jen Hartswick (trumpet) and Natalie Cressman (trombone)

Setlists via friendsofcheese.com.