New Music Release - The Elovaters release their fifth studio album, 'Shark Belly Motel' - 15th May 2026
Artist Name - The Elovaters
Release Name - Shark Belly Motel
Release Date - 15th May 2026
Genre - Reggae Rock, Dub, Surf Rock
Label - Loop Recordings & Ineffable Music Group
Loop is proud to partner with US label Ineffable Music for the Australasian release of The Elovaters new album SHARK BELLY MOTEL.
Following a strong run of singles over the past nine months, their fifth studio album arrives, showcasing their genre-blending mix of soulful reggae with tinges of alternative rock and pop. After touring through Australasia in 2024 supporting The Original Wailers, and with a return visit to these shores on the horizon, their new album serves as an introduction to one of the most beloved artists in the roots-music scene.
SHARK BELLY MOTEL continues the band’s upward trajectory. Known for their uplifting, surf-influenced sound, The Elovaters have become a leading act in the US progressive roots scene since forming in 2014. The release coincides with a sold-out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, following a year of extensive touring.
Recorded with producer Jon Joseph, a member of the band Børns, and producer/collaborator with the likes of Sublime and illuminati hotties, the album showcases the wide range of influences from a band who grew up listening to rock, pop, and hip-hop, as well as more traditional roots music.
Known for their uplifting, surf-influenced sound, The Elovaters have become a leading act in the US progressive roots scene since forming in 2014. From their early days playing dive bars in Boston, the band built momentum through a powerful live show and consistent releases. Their 2018 album DEFY GRAVITY reached number one on both Billboard and iTunes reggae charts and was recognised as album of the year by multiple publications.
SHARK BELLY MOTEL is more than an album title for The Elovaters and their growing fanbase; it’s a shared state of mind, a place to escape the everyday and get lost in music. For frontman Jackson Weatherbee, that sense of transcendence is deeply personal. As a child, he overcame a severe stutter after discovering he could sing without it, encouraged by his mother to sing instead of speak. It’s a formative story that reflects the band’s belief in music as a force for positive change.
That experience set Weatherbee on an early musical path, studying Italian opera and briefly signing with Jay-Z’s Island Def Jam before the label folded. Undeterred, he returned to grassroots gigs on the South Shore, honing his craft through relentless live shows.
The Elovaters formed in 2014 when Weatherbee met drummer Nick Asta, and the pair quickly built momentum, selling tickets by hand, grinding through East Coast tours, and earning a reputation for unforgettable live performances. Their breakthrough came in 2018 with the Billboard #1 album DEFY GRAVITY, launching them into wider acclaim and sold-out shows, including the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
SHARK BELLY MOTEL sees the band refine their sound - a seamless blend of soulful reggae and alternative rock, rooted in Boston but feeling just as at home on the shores of California and Aotearoa.