Sleep Stampede
“Scarecrow” available on all streaming platforms.
Sleep Stampede: An Introduction.
Jacqueline Thompson & John Ford are the songwriters behind Sleep Stampede. They met at an open mic in Flagstaff, Arizona—an unlikely match at first. Jacqueline’s silver-toned style leans toward intricate vocal melodies and soft intimacy, while John’s gravelly and raw vocals lend themselves to story-driven tunes. What actually brought them together was that they both played nearly identical old roadhouse parlor guitars. After their initial meeting, they didn’t reconnect for over a year. That changed in 2020 when Jacqueline’s wilderness guiding season was cut short by the pandemic. Broke and in need of a place to stay, she crashed on John’s couch, where the songwriters began co-writing on slow sunny mornings over coffee.
From fingerpicking over hummed melodies, Sleep Stampede was born on the porch. Over the years, they’ve gigged from Orcas Island to San Diego, hosted solstice and equinox gatherings that have become Flagstaff staples, and written over 50 songs together.
They will release their debut album in summer 2025—an ethereal yet raw dreamscape of open skies and high deserts, inspired by artists like Gregory Alan Isakov and Agnes Obel. Haunting yet familiar, their music exists in the liminal spaces between comfort and heartbreak.
Their imagery-rich songwriting, intimate performances, and community-centered events in Flagstaff evoke the felt space that can hold both hope and melancholy, comfort and heartbreak.
Bookings
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Weddings
Forget the overplayed clichés and cheesy wedding playlists. Sleep Stampede brings an earthy, heartfelt vibe to your special day, creating a meaningful and unique atmosphere for your wedding.
We work with you to hone the feel & vibe you want to create. Whether you are looking for live music to accompany your cocktail hour, your walk down the aisle, or anything in between, Sleep Stampede has you covered.
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Special Events
Sleep Stampede transforms your special events into intimate experiences that resonate deeply with your guests.
Between their original music and authenticity on stage, Sleep Stampede set the vibe for moments that feel personal, meaningful, and unforgettable. Book them for your festival, party, event, fundraiser or celebration where you want to set a laid-back vibe.
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Public Venues
Sleep Stampede is a great fit for restaurants, cafes & coffee shops, lounges, outdoor patios, cocktail bars, and small music venues.
Their performance style thrives in quiet, laid back public spaces.
Contact us for booking availability and pricing
EMAIL / sleepstampede@gmail.com
INSTAGRAM / @sleepstampede
🌙 3-hour repertoire of original music.
🌙 Option to request songs/covers (with additional fee).
🌙 Ability to travel up to 6 hours from Flagstaff, AZ for your event (with travel fee).
🌙 High-quality PA system for audiences up to 100 people.
“We were fortunate enough to have Sleep Stampede play at our wedding this past fall. Jacqueline and John are both phenomenal musicians and their folk vibes fit in perfectly with our desert bohemian wedding. They were willing to learn songs for our ceremony and also even played one of their amazing original songs. All of our guests thoroughly enjoyed their performance and our special day would not have been complete without it.”
“Having Sleep Stampede play at our wedding was a wonderful experience. The music itself was beautiful, it fit perfectly with all the big emotions of a wedding, and they were also good at playing within the context of the event. We wanted someone who could add beauty to the experience of walking down the aisle without being distracting from the event itself, and they found that middle ground perfectly. In the midst of a stressful wedding setup, they were able to play the perfect way, in the perfect place, without adding any stress to the situation. I highly recommend having them join you for your wedding day, they are lovely musicians, and wonderful people.”
“We hired Sleep Stampede to perform at our wedding cocktail hour. They were absolutely wonderful. We got so many compliments after our wedding about the musicians. Jacqueline’s voice is beautiful and the overall vibe was perfect. They were kind enough to do a few songs we requested that were so special to us and coordinating with them was easy. 10/10 would recommend!”