UKIAH, CA., 6/5/25 — On a hot summer night in downtown Ukiah, is there anything better than grabbing a blanket, a few snacks and watching an iconic band perform nostalgic musical hits? This weekend, people can enjoy a relaxing evening at the opening show of this summer’s “Sundays in the Park” free concert series, an annual event that has been popular with locals and tourists since it began in 1992.
The first Sundays in the Park free concert of the summer will take place this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Todd Grove Park. Ukiah-based musical group Top Shelf will open for The Expendables, a Santa Cruz band that blends various genres including ska, surf rock, punk and reggae.
Carter Lane, singer for Top Shelf and the talent buyer and promoter for the concert series, said in an interview that while Top Shelf has decreased the number of shows they perform each year, they are thrilled to be performing in their local community.
“Around 2012 or 2013, we started to scale back from touring and began focusing on other aspects of life,” Lane explained.
He said that in addition to Sundays in the Park, they have also toured other local venues. “But Ukiah knows us pretty well, it’s home. We usually play here once or twice a year. We used to do shows at the brewery, but now we’re at the Thirsty Axe and they usually sell out,” Lane said.
Lane, a man who wears many hats as a musician, master of ceremonies, artist and podcaster, is a longtime local who left the area for Chico for a short period of time in the early 2000s. There, Lane started the band with his best friend Drew Nicoll, who is the drummer for their ensemble.
Lane described the group’s genre as deeply influenced by Sublime and punk rock sounds, including local legends AFI. He also noted that the group focuses on themes of love and positivity, key topics throughout a great deal of reggae music.
“We were influenced by both reggae and punk growing up. When we got old enough and started our own band, we fused those two styles together in a kind of Sublime-like way, blending punk rock and reggae,” Lane added. “Our lyrics and message have always been uplifting and positive, leaning more toward reggae. Themes about fighting for your rights, loving one another, and spreading good vibes.”
Lane said that The Expendables, who have similar stylistic roots to Top Shelf, chose the group out of a list of musicians who were available to perform.
“We’ve been playing with The Expendables, who we toured with the year before last,” he stated. “They’re good friends, and they chose us to open for them. Usually the headlining bands have a big say in that.”
The Expendables, who were formed in 1997 in Santa Cruz, have performed with iconic reggae-rock groups such as 311, Rebelution and Slightly Stoopid. Over the past few decades, they’ve released 10 full-length albums.
The Expendables and Top Shelf will perform on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Todd Grove Park, 600 Live Oak Ave. in Ukiah. Admission is free, and local vendors will be selling food and drinks.