1000 Watt Prophets
1000 Watt Prophets are a Michigan-based roots-funk powerhouse blending Americana, New Orleans groove, and soul-forward rock into a high-energy, deeply musical live experience. Featuring veteran players from the Midwest festival circuit, the band delivers songs that feel both road-worn and urgent, driven by deep pocket rhythms, rich harmonies, and a relentless commitment to the groove.
1000 Watt Prophets is a band that has always strived to rise above. Born out of a 20+ year friendship and musical alliance between Zak Bunce (vocals/guitar) and Denny Richards (bass/vocals), the group has worked its way up from duo shows at small venues to a full-band lineup playing festivals and concert series throughout their home base of Northwestern Michigan.
2025 became a banner year for the group. They began taking a more serious approach to songwriting, drummer Sean Reisig (drums/vocals) passed the tenured mark, ending what had been a rotating lineup, and the band added multi-instrumentalist Brett McDowell (fiddle/sax/keys/vocals) to bring some extra musical color to the mix.
The band has evolved into an Original Soul-Drenched Roots Rock band with a hint of Backwoods Fire. November 2025 marks the online release of two original songs, "Gravity" and "Paint the Moon," recorded in a secret Northern Michigan studio lair, with a full album currently in the works for 2026.
Fully charged and ready, 1000 Watt Prophets are gearing up to showcase themselves at farther-reaching and larger venues for 2026.