Few bands have experienced the kind of momentum that Sleep Theory has enjoyed over the past year. What started as a buzzworthy newcomer quickly evolved into one of modern rock’s fastest-rising acts, with packed festival appearances, successful headline tours, and growing crowds at every stop.
The band’s rise was impossible to ignore at festivals throughout 2025. By the time they hit the stage at events like Louder Than Life and Welcome to Rockville, fans were packing performance areas long before showtime. Their appearance aboard ShipRocked only reinforced that growth, with overflowing crowds and enthusiastic fan meet-and-greets throughout the voyage.
Between performances on the high seas, The Travel Addict caught up with vocalist Cullen Moore, bassist Paolo Vergara, and drummer Ben Pruitt to discuss the band’s breakout year, favorite travel destinations, upcoming European tour dates, and some of the wildest stories they’ve collected on the road.
It feels like Sleep Theory absolutely exploded this year. I remember trying to photograph your set at Louder Than Life and literally couldn’t get anywhere near the stage because of the crowd. What has changed over the last year?
Cullen Moore (CM): Honestly, it’s been momentum. We released our album Afterglow last May, and before that we’d been putting out singles that people were really connecting with.
We’ve stayed busy with headline tours and opportunities to get out on the road with larger bands. We spent most of last year on the road, and all of that hard work just kept building on itself.
Paolo Vergara (PV): We’ve been grinding nonstop. It’s definitely paying off.
When you finally get a day off on the road, what’s your favorite thing to do?
PV: Sleep.
Ben Pruitt (BP): Sleep and video games.
CM: I like finding good food. That’s one of the best parts about traveling—you get to try things you can’t find back home.
PV: We all game quite a bit, too. Everybody’s getting better, so the competition is getting tougher.
Still dominating Mario Kart?
PV: I’ve been losing a little bit lately.
CM: His competition has improved.
What are you watching while traveling?
PV: We just went through all of the Final Destination movies recently.
BP: Definitely not light viewing.
Any favorite ShipRocked memories?
PV: My first ShipRocked I got sick, so that wasn’t ideal.
CM: This year has been amazing. The crowd response has been incredible.
Your ShipRocked performance was packed. They were turning people away from the venue.
PV: Which is crazy to hear.
CM: It’s a good problem to have.
Any cities you’re particularly excited to revisit on tour?
PV: Milan.
BP: London. We’ve never played there before, so that’s exciting.
CM: Germany. We had a great experience there last time, and rock fans there are incredible.
Looking back at festival season, what were some highlights?
CM: Louder Than Life was huge for us.
BP: Rockville was another one.
PV: Rockville was awesome because people showed up really early in the day, and it was ridiculously hot.
CM: We also had one festival where weather forced our set to move. We ended up getting a later slot and essentially headlining one of the stages. That was really cool.
Favorite song to perform from Afterglow right now?
BP: “Gravity.” The drum parts are a lot of fun.
PV: “Worthless.”
CM: “Hourglass.”
Since you’re from Memphis, what are some local spots visitors should check out beyond the typical tourist attractions?
PV: I love Porch and Parlor. It’s a great steakhouse.
BP: I spend a lot of time around Shelby Farms Park and the Wolf River trails. It’s a great place to walk, relax, and get outside.
What’s the craziest travel story you’ve collected on the road?
CM: There are so many that it’s hard to keep track of them.
PV: We had a tour where we blew multiple tires on the bus.
CM: We’ve also had some pretty wild crowd-surfing experiences over the years. Let’s just say people should respect performers’ boundaries and remember basic concert etiquette. I’ve been groped many times.
Final Thoughts
For a band that spent years building its audience one show at a time, 2025 felt like the year everything clicked for Sleep Theory. Whether it was drawing massive festival crowds, packing venues on headline tours, or becoming one of the most talked-about acts aboard ShipRocked, the group’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
With a European tour, major festival appearances, and high-profile support dates ahead, Sleep Theory appears poised to make an even bigger impact in the year to come. If the crowds at Louder Than Life and ShipRocked were any indication, the secret is definitely out.