Biography
Ryan Yoskovich - Drums, Vocals
Ryan Stafford - Keyboards, Saxophone
Will Richardson - Guitar, Vocals
Danny Flynn - Bass, Vocals
Act Casual, Detroit’s preeminent music festival band, brings its signature sound, Fast Lane Funk, to stages across the Midwest and beyond. Blending funk, blues, and rock with extended improvisation, haunting harmonies, and infectious pop melodies, the band has carved out a distinctive place in the regional music scene. From its roots in intimate basement jam sessions to sold-out performances at renowned venues like Detroit’s Magic Stick, Ann Arbor’s Blind Pig, and Columbus’s Woodlands Tavern, Act Casual has built a dedicated following through its dynamic live shows and adventurous musical approach.
The band’s music festival resume includes Summer Camp Music Festival, Great Blue Heron Music Festival, Hookahville, Weekend at the Cave, Solshine Reverie, Summer’s End Smokeout, Ann Arbor Hash Bash, Arts Beats & Eats, and many more. Act Casual was also invited to perform at a Bernie Sanders campaign rally and has shared the stage as direct support for an impressive roster of national and touring acts, including Bootsy Collins, Wishbone Ash, Larry McCray, Laith Al-Saadi, The New Mastersounds, Ekoostik Hookah, Spafford, Dopapod, Moon Hooch, The Werks, Omega Moos (featuring members of Umphrey’s McGee and The New Deal), Octave Cat (featuring members of Lotus and Dopapod), Mihali, Magic Beans, Dixon’s Violin, and The Nth Power. The band’s collaborative spirit is on display with guest appearances including Ben Carrey of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Muruga Booker and Gabe Gonzalez of Parliament-Funkadelic, and Chris Houser of The Werks.
Act Casual’s growing profile has earned coverage in Rolling Stone, Detroit Metro Times, Music Connection Magazine, Local Spins, and The Stratton Setlist. The band’s latest album, Livin’ a Lie, has surpassed 70,000 Spotify streams and received airplay on 101 WRIF and 101.9 WDET, further expanding its reach beyond the live circuit.
Following a 30-plus-date summer tour in 2026 and a recording session at Plymouth Rock Recording Co., Act Casual is gearing up for its next chapter. With new music slated for release in late 2026 and a larger touring schedule planned for 2027, the band continues to build momentum while bringing Fast Lane Funk to new audiences.
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Music
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achievements
Performed at an official Keller Williams after party in 2017
Tied for winner of the 2017 Short’s Brewing battle of the bands resulting in opening for Laith Al-Saadi
Performed in front of 1,000+ crowd at Ann Arbor’s historic Hash Bash 2017
Held a six month residency at Otus Supply in Ferndale, MI in 2019
Hosted official Umphrey’s McGee after parties in 2019 and 2020
Was requested to perform at the 2019 Macomb, MI Bernie Sanders campaign rally
Sold out performances at Blind Pig, Centennial Hall, Lager House, Magic Stick, Woodlands Tavern, and Tip Top Deluxe
Hosted sit-ins from artists including Chris Houser (The Werks), Ben Carrey (Pigeons Playing Ping Pong), Gabe Gonzalez and Muruga Booker (Parliament Funkadelic)
Selected as “local up-and-coming Detroit artist“ to perform at Detroit Funk Festival 2023 opening for Bootsy Collins
Winner of the Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 battle of the bands resulting in performance at the festival
Winner of the Solshine Reverie 2024 battle of the bands resulting in performance at the festival
Winner of the Albion Walk the Beat 2024 battle of the bands resulting in 40 hours of free studio time at Third Coast Recording Company and performance at the 2025 Albion Festival of the Forks
Winner of the Woodlands Tavern 2024 battle of the bands resulting in performing as direct support for Dopapod at their sold out 2024 New Years Eve show which was their final performance
Press
“WARREN, MICHIGAN. The day after the Madison rally, a much sunnier afternoon. A Detroit blues-acid-funk band called Act Casual blasts out “Hillbilly Disco” in the parking lot of Macomb County Community College.”
“The metro Detroit jam fusion quartet ... douses listeners in a funky, exhilarating rush of inspiration on the latest single, “Fresh (Out the Shower)”.
Act Casual brings an irresistible swagger to “Fresh (Out the Shower)” as radiant electric guitar, slapping bass, smooth drums, shivering cymbals and lively keys instantly summon the right mojo. It’s the ideal, jam-tastic anthem for approaching that special someone when you’re clean and dressed to the nines.
“Fresh (Out the Shower)” also serves as Act Casual’s second new single this fall. In September, the band dropped the soulful, funkified track, “Livin’ a Lie,” to eloquently recount the everyday struggles of overcoming a romantic rough patch.
Throughout “Livin’ a Lie,” vivid, wah-wah electric guitars, climbing bass, fluid drums, tingly cymbals and sheeny keys engulf love-stricken fans and provide them with bluesy-induced relief.
Filled with lush vocal harmonies, “Livin’ a Lie” also serves as a powerful anecdote about the common arguments people have with their loved ones and the strong emotions that accompany them.”
“Act Casual is a group of highly skilled musical chefs that each stirs into the pot their own batch of scintillating ingredients. A dash of funk, a dollop of country, a pinch of jazz and a helping of blues are all essential in making this stew a success. Their tunes are original and span the gamut...
“Act Casual” is, perhaps, an apt name for the way the band “casually” communicates on stage in a seemingly free and sub-conscious manner. Much like Phish, Jimmy Herring or The Grateful Dead, their stock in trade relies heavily on the “jam” aspect.”
“Act Casual diverts from the typical preconception of jamming, (or “fusion”), that of a noodly band getting entranced in their own sonic spell and being lost in the moment; this quintet is supremely in the groove—to where you, dear listener, never lose your own grip even if a time signature swerves.”