Music is always a little extra-special when it's being played in the middle of the ocean. For instance, when the Titanic was going down, and the band played on. That was not normal chamber music.

Similarly, but in a much, much, much more cheerful way, the music aboard Jam Cruise is always outstanding. There are rare collaborations, sunrise acoustic sets, all-night just-not-gonna-stop-'cause-we're-on-a-freakin'-boat jams.

Next January, Jam Cruise shoves off for the twelfth time. And folks are already getting excited. The line-up has been announced, and to celebrate, Boca's Funky Biscuit will be hosting a Jam Cruise Launch Party Wednesday night featuring 2014 Jam Cruisers Orgone and local jazz-funk-fusion band Fusik.

In the spirit of getting fired up way ahead of time, here are five Jam Cruise 12 acts which are sure to be awesomely not normal.

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5. Les Claypool's Duo de Twang

Claypool always brings something interesting to a festival, floating or otherwise. For the Cruise he'll be alongside a man named Mirv, who will be rocking the slide guitar. The result will be weird, funky, and, well, twangy.

4. Bootsy Collins & The Funk Unity Band

Bootsy on a boat. Fishies below will be shaking their tails. Davy Jones will dance. Funk power!

3. Gigantic Underground Conspiracy

This project is the coming together of jamtronica act Conspirator, which features Marc Brownstein and Aaron Magner of the Disco Biscuits, and Big Gigantic, another live electronic act which brings together sax, drums, and computers. Bisco boys in the mix with a sax and other dudes with a passion for four-on-the floor ought to make for a raging set at sea!

2. John Popper & DJ Logic with George Porter Jr., Stanley Jordan, and Adam Deitch

John Popper, of Blues Traveler fame, will be playing harmonica like a madman though effects pedals as Logic, a jam scene favorite who has done very cool stuff with Medeski Martin Wood and myriad others, scratches on the ones and twos. 

They've done this before with fun results. What will make this session really special though, is the band they will have around them: bassist George Porter of Meters fame, legendary jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan, and drummer Adam Deitch, best known as the drummer of Lettuce, who has also worked with John Scofield, 50 Cent, and Pretty Lights.

1. Pork Tornado

Phish drummer John Fishman's side project, which first came to be in the late nineties and after a long spell of inactivity was recently revived. Fishman could make a funeral fun, so whatever he does on a cruise ship will probably make you smile, for days. Enjoy.

And here's the full lineup.

Jam Cruise Pre-Party with Oregone and Fusik. 9:30p.m. Wednesday, May 8 at Funky Biscuit, 303 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Tickets cost $12-$15. Click here.

Jam Cruise 12 featuring Les Claypool's Duo de Twang, Bootsy Collins & The Funk Unity Band, Gigantic Underground Conspiracy, John Popper & DJ Logic, Pork Tornado, and more. January 4-9, 2014. Departing from Miami Florida. Tickets cost $799-$3,599 and go on sale May 30. Click here.

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