A hit at the 2026 Summer Fest, Top Chefs are a San Francisco hip-hop fusion band blending hip-hop, jazz, R&B and soul into a live experience that is both forward-thinking and rooted in tradition. With performances at the Barbican in London and the Vienna Hofburg Royal Palace, they command stages across four continents.

Their lineup features an all-star cast led by emcee and frontman Afterthought, with vocalists Sunday and ASH, alongside Shogun on bass, Loveberry on guitar, Jabari on drums, Des on keys, Will Shannon on trombone and TJ on saxophone. The Top Chefs perform Afterthought’s original music alongside R&B, soul and early 2000s classics, and have backed legendary Bay Area artists including Mistah F.A.B., Nef The Pharaoh and Dru Down.

More than a backing band, The Top Chefs create an immersive live experience that pushes musical boundaries while bringing audiences together. That spirit fuels Stoop Sessions, their live performance series filmed on the stoop of Afterthought’s childhood home in the Fillmore District. What began when the band recorded a Tiny Desk audition on the front steps and drew a spontaneous crowd has grown into a viral, community-rooted platform where a rotating cast of Bay Area artists have their songs reimagined live by the band. Paired with their 2026 debut album, it’s a project born from a desire to bring joy to the neighborhoods that shaped them.

(Check organizer/venue website to confirm event details.)

Info & Tickets