MarchFourth’s MAGIC NUMBER Out Today, “Mighty, Explosive, Carnivalesque Brass Band Funk” Produced by Ben Ellman of Galactic

MarchFourth Releases First Studio Album of Original Material in Five Years, MAGIC NUMBER

OUT TODAY!
Get it at  iTunes and Bandcamp

Produced by Ben Ellman of Galactic = Irresistible NOLA Magic

MarchFourth: A SteamFunk Rock-n-Roll Circus Party!

Head on over to Live For Live Music for the Premiere of “Push It Back”
“MarchFourth continues to host some of the most exciting live performances today, as the giant band of 20 musicians, stilters, acrobats and more never ceases to amaze.”
Featuring Stanton Moore on drums → http://bit.ly/L4LM_MarchFourth_PushItBack

Portland, OR — Fifteen MarchFourth musicians traveled to New Orleans and spent ten days recording at The Parlor Recording Studio, making their fourth studio album, MAGIC NUMBER, their first in over five years. With Producer Ben Ellman (Galactic) and Engineer/Producer Mikael “Count” Eldridge (DJ Shadow, Tycho, Galactic, Trombone Shorty) at the helm, this album is full of the captivating grooves and brassy swagger you have come to expect from M4, plus a healthy dose of New Orleans magic, with guest appearance by Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore (drums), and Matt Perrine (sousaphone).The album was fan-funded through Kickstarter and is out today!

What folks are saying about MarchFourth’s Magic Number:

“If for some reason you’re not yet familiar with the brilliant multimedia assault [of MarchFourth], picture a multiplied Tower of Power—9 horns! 5 percussionists! 2 guitars!—dressing up like some alternate-universe high school outfit and performing with a less pretentious, burlesque Cirque du Soleil. It’s a perfect assault on the senses, one that’s been garnering them fans all over this great country.” —Offbeat, Robert Fontenot

“MarchFourth — Far from your average band” —Medium, Thomas Gerbasi

“Mighty, Explosive, Carnivalesque Brass Band Funk” —New York Music Daily

“The tunes are captivating and grow more infectious with each listen. Although you can sense the fun they are having, it is also clear that these musicians have had plenty of training and formal practice. I find it difficult to compare this to anything else I’ve heard except perhaps the aforementioned Sun Ra’s unit doing their improvisational versions of traditional jazz tunes like ‘King Porter’s Stomp.’ March Fourth, though, writes totally original material which further adds to the intrigue. You’re never sure where the song is going, but somehow the album stays focused and cohesive —Elmore Magazine, Jim Hynes

“Just when you think you’ve heard it all, suddenly a band crosses paths with your ears and changes everything… Full of auditory goodness…” —NYS Music, Sarah Bourque

“There’s something cool and sneaky about this one [“The Quarter”], like a spy going about his work. It begins as an instrumental, and then halfway into the track, the vocals come in. ‘Sitting in the window seat, the city in your sight.’ But it’s those horns during the next section that I especially love. Bloody wonderful! This song then breaks through to a bright, magnificent section, before returning to that cool opening section again.” —Michael Doherty

“It was groovy funk to start with a Caribbean bit tucked in there. All of the horns were beautifully synced and perfect. Everything had that old school big band feel. However, with their clothing and animated dances, they made sure to take it to another level. They honestly were in a world primarily their own. Jazz-funk was another of their genres as the trio of percussionists maintained a steady and addictive beat. Each horn had their moment to shine as each musician added their particular taste to the instrument. Whether it was the trombone, flute, sax, trumpet or beyond, they were quick on the feet. Their fingers and puffs of notes were sublimely fast and suave.” —Punchland, Myles Hunt, Review of a live show about The Jewel Rocks Off Concert Cruise in NYC

More about the Album:

“MAGIC NUMBER represents a shift in the band’s musical evolution, featuring more vocals and guitar than our previous records.” Founding member and band leader, John Averill, who also sings and plays electric bass says, “It is also the first record by ‘MarchFourth’ (Formerly MarchFourth! Marching Band; we officially dropped the “Marching Band” from our name).”

“Unlike M4’s previous albums, recorded over weeks and months in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, getting the band to NOLA for a ten-day recording session really created an intensity and electricity you can feel throughout MAGIC NUMBER.” Founding member, cymbal player, singer, and tour manager Dan Stauffer recalls, “After long days at The Parlor, the band members would go out to party on Frenchman Street and sit in on sets all over the city, meanwhile the producers, Ben and Count, would create mixes late into the night: that’s the mojo you can hear, everything going off for ten days straight.

“Working with a large group of talented songwriters and musicians in M4 made the project go really smoothly. Wherever the band goes they sort of set up camp… that led to a really creative working communal environment.” Producer Ben Ellman states, “It’s always exciting to work with a band that is open to experimentation and different possibilities. MarchFourth came in wanting to expand their sonic pallet from what they’ve done previously.”

Ellman attests, “The individual songwriters all had a clear vision of where the song should end up… there are different styles on the record, but as a whole it’s very cohesive. Very MarchFourth.” Four of the band’s members wrote the eleven songs on MAGIC NUMBER including John Averill, trombonist and singer Anthony Meade, trumpet player and singer, and project manager Paul Theodore Chandler, and electric guitarist and baritone sax Taylor Aglipay.

Stanton Moore makes a guest appearance on drums on the song “Push It Back” carrying the listener off on a royal litter of afro funk. Trombone Shorty blows a fiery solo on “Inventing the Wheel,” a musical journey into a heavy hypnotic groove; the track also features Ben Ellman on harmonica. Matt Perrine of Bonerama plays sousaphone on the uplifting and soul searching “Science (Free Your Mind)” which radiates all the energy of a street party in a full-on brassy explosion.

MarchFourth will continue to tour all over the United States in support of this album through the fall and into 2017 with their colorful stage show full of energy and groove. Widely recognized for the allure of their live show, MarchFourth breaks ground with their music in the forefront on MAGIC NUMBER.

Check out the behind the scenes footage of the making of MAGIC NUMBER at  https://youtu.be/Appen5B33pk

For more information, tour dates, and news from the road, visit M4 at www.MarchFourthBand.com, instagram.com/m4mb, facebook.com/marchfourthmarchingband, twitter.com/m4mb, and on YouTube.

MarchFourth’s ‘Magic Number’ Tour Dates
9/30-10/1 Fri-Sat – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest – Chico, CA
10/4 Tue – Harlow’s – Sacramento, CA
10/5 Wed – Don Quixote’s International Music Hall – Felton, CA
10/6 Thu – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
10/7-8 Fri-Sat – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest – Chico, CA
10/15 Sat – Fed Up Fest – Kansas City, MO
10/28 Fri – Revolution Hall (2 shows!) – Portland, OR
12/14 Wed – Domino Room – Bend, OR
12/15 Thu – The Egyptian Theater – Boise, ID
12/16 Fri – The Hive – Sandpoint, ID
12/17 Sat – Winthrop Barn Auditorium – Winthrop, WA
1/20/2017 Fri – Broadway Center for the Performing Arts – Tacoma, WA
1/21/2017 Sat – Vern Burton Center – Port Angeles, WA

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Irresistible & NOLA Inspired, MarchFourth on Tour with ‘Magic Number’ – Due Out 9.30

MarchFourth set to release first studio album of original material in five years, Produced by Ben Ellman of Galactic = Irresistible NOLA Magic

MarchFourth: A SteamFunk Rock-n-Roll Circus Party!

Head on over to Live For Live Music for the World Premiere of “Push It Back” Featuring Stanton Moore on drums → http://bit.ly/L4LM_MarchFourth_PushItBack

Portland, OR — Fifteen MarchFourth musicians traveled to New Orleans and spent ten days recording at The Parlor Recording Studio, making their fourth studio album, MAGIC NUMBER, their first in over five years. With Producer Ben Ellman (Galactic) and Engineer/Producer Mikael “Count” Eldridge (DJ Shadow, Tycho, Galactic, Trombone Shorty) at the helm, this album is full of the captivating grooves and brassy swagger you have come to expect from M4, plus a healthy dose of New Orleans magic, with guest appearance by Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore (drums), and Matt Perrine (sousaphone). The album was fan-funded through Kickstarter and will be independently released September 30, 2016.

“MAGIC NUMBER represents a shift in the band’s musical evolution, featuring more vocals and guitar than our previous records.” Founding member and band leader, John Averill, who also sings and plays electric bass says, “It is also the first record by “MarchFourth” (we officially dropped the “Marching Band” from our name).”

MarchFourth is a genre-breaking force of entertainment. This explosion of brassy funk, rock, and jazz emanates from twenty or so performers: musicians, acrobats, stilters and more, touring the country year-round, stealing the festival wherever they appear, taking audiences on a joy-inducing, booty-shaking, soul-stirring journey that defies categorization. Word on the street: You have to see it to believe it!

“From the first note to the last, the sound was pumping and the fun never stopped,” exclaimed USA Today. “It’s worth noting that there are serious musicians behind all the fun. I was a music major in college and it’s obvious these guys (and gals) have had lots of training and formal practice. Talented band geeks turned rebels. When one of the horn players steps up to improvise a solo, you know it’s going to be a treat.”

“Working with a large group of talented songwriters and musicians in M4 made the project go really smoothly. Wherever the band goes they sort of set up camp… that led to a really creative working communal environment.” Producer Ben Ellman states, “It’s always exciting to work with a band that is open to experimentation and different possibilities. MarchFourth came in wanting to expand their sonic pallet from what they’ve done previously.”

“Unlike M4’s previous albums, recorded over weeks and months in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, getting the band to NOLA for a ten-day recording session really created an intensity and electricity you can feel throughout MAGIC NUMBER.” Founding member, cymbal player, singer, and tour manager Dan Stauffer recalls, “After long days at The Parlor, the band members would go out to party on Frenchman Street and sit in on sets all over the city, meanwhile the producers, Ben and Count, would create mixes late into the night: that’s the mojo you can hear, everything going off for ten days straight.

Ellman attests, “The individual songwriters all had a clear vision of where the song should end up… there are different styles on the record, but as a whole it’s very cohesive. Very MarchFourth.” Four of the band’s members wrote the eleven songs on MAGIC NUMBER including John Averill, trombonist and singer Anthony Meade, trumpet player and singer, and project manager Paul Theodore Chandler, and electric guitarist and baritone sax Taylor Aglipay.

“The decision to work with Ben Ellman was a decision to make a modern sounding horn-driven record. This is certainly the biggest, punchiest, and rockinest M4 has ever sounded on an album. We certainly pushed the bounds of what we’re comfortable with genre-wise and performance-wise but we have a lineup of musicians right now who can handle it better than ever.” Anthony Meade says, “Putting the microscope on yourself in the recording studio is one of the most ego-shattering processes to undergo as a musician. Some people handle it better than others but we were able to get super deep in such a saturated environment.”

With a load of fresh new material, MarchFourth enters some new territories on this album, channeling some deep swampy voodoo vibes steeped in the brassy NOLA traditions. MAGIC NUMBER kicks of with the aptly named “Call to Action,” featuring the M4-style second line, calling on folks to get on up and “shake yo’ tail feathers!”

Stanton Moore makes a guest appearance on drums on the song “Push It Back” carrying the listener off on a royal litter of afro funk. Trombone Shorty blows a fiery solo on “Inventing the Wheel,” a musical journey into a heavy hypnotic groove; the track also features Ben Ellman on harmonica. Matt Perrine of Bonerama plays sousaphone on the uplifting and soul searching “Science (Free Your Mind)” which radiates all the energy of a street party in a full-on brassy explosion.

The title track’s visceral and thoughtful vocals draw you into a bombastic dream world you won’t want to leave, fusing eastern brass and the Wild West, with a little nod to Adam and the Ants. “The funky breakdown part popped into my head late one night after many Tecates. Lyrically, the song is about age, aging, the cycle of life, mortality, and coping with acceptance and resentment.” John Averill says, “I was 47 when we recorded it, and months later one of my best friends, Dave Camp (who subbed for M4 a few times on guitar) died of cancer at age 47… There’s something illusory to me about age and linear time, yet apparently each of us has a physical duration.”

“The Quarter” has more of a sexy feel, with a slinky hip-hop vibe mashing up the style of 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” with some Tower of Power or Chicago-style brass parts. Paul Theodore Chandler says of it, “Unlike the other tunes I wrote for the album, this one had been ‘road tested’ at shows for some time, but with different lyrics that were more appropriate to a live show. Wanting to rewrite the lyrics to fit the scope of this album, I set out to capture the anticipation and excitement of flying into a new city at night, being enveloped in the magic of that new place. And what better place to land than the French Quarter in New Orleans.”

Other songs on the album range from the bubbly and danceable pick-me-up “Hotstepper” with the unforgettable earworm of a hook, “Don’t tell my mom,” to the balkan brassy “Drunk Bears,” and the gypsy metal sound of “Jan Jar.” ”It’s a Trap” features the band as punk rock as a brass band can go, while “Endless Highway” speaks to timeless beauty in it’s brevity–a gentle closer to such a bold and flavorful album.

Further members of MarchFourth appearing on MAGIC NUMBER include Katie Presley on trumpet, Daniel Lamb on trombone, Jon VanCura on guitar, saxophonists Michelle Christiansen (alto), Cameron DePalma (tenor), Andy Shapiro (tenor), and Jon VanCura (baritone, bass), as well as drummer & percussionists Jenny DiDonato (snare, congas, bells, blocks, ride), Cheo Larcombe (bass drum, percussion), Will McKinney (toms, chocalho), and Jake Wood (snare, hi-hat).

“I always feel like we are some freaky kind of Jack-in-the-box. Put twenty of us in a 45-foot bus for 6-8 hours a day, then open the door onto a stage and watch us explode!” Stauffer says, “Old greats like Basie and the Duke were some of my first favorite jazz artists in college. I love the fact that I tour and play with all these fantastic horn players and travel around in this bus. We are very much like the big bands of old, except we also have electric guitars, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and a psychedelically wide palette of musical styles and costumery.”

MarchFourth will continue to tour all over the United States in support of this album through the fall and into 2017 with their colorful stage show full of energy and groove.

Widely recognized for the allure of their live show, MarchFourth breaks ground with their music in the forefront on MAGIC NUMBER.

For more information and news from the road, visit M4 at www.Marchfourthband.com, instagram.com/m4mb, facebook.com/marchfourthmarchingband, twitter.com/m4mb, and on YouTube.

MAGIC NUMBER Track Listing

1. CALL TO ACTION 3:20 (Meade)
   2. THE QUARTER 4:06 (Chandler)
   3. MAGIC NUMBER 4:18 (Averill)
   4. PUSH IT BACK 2:51 *featuring Stanton Moore (Chandler)
   5. INVENTING THE WHEEL 6:51 *featuring Trombone Shorty and Ben Ellman (Meade)
   6. HOTSTEPPER 3:36 (Chandler)
   7. DRUNK BEARS 3:24 (Meade)
   8. JAN JAR 3:04 (Aglipay)
   9. SCIENCE (FREE YOUR MIND) 6:00 *featuring Matt Perrine (Meade)
   10. IT’S A TRAP! 4:13 (Meade)
   11. ENDLESS HIGHWAY 1:21 (Chandler)

Produced by Ben Ellman
Except tracks 1,2,4,6 produced by Ben Ellman and Count

MarchFourth’s ‘Magic Number’ 2016 Tour Dates
9/8 Thu – Central Park Sessions – Madison, WI
9/9 Fri – Be Here Now – Muncie, IN
9/10 Sat – TBA – Detroit, MI
9/11 Sun – Abbey Bar of Appalachian Brewery – Harrisburg, PA
9/13 Tue – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, DC
9/14 Wed – The Rocks Off Concert Cruise – New York, NY
9/15 Thu – Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
9/16-18 Fri-Sun – Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival – Fredericton, NB
9/22 Thu – Belly Up Aspen – Aspen, CO
9/23 Fri – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO
9/24 Sat – Mishawaka Amphitheater – Bellvue, CO
9/25 Sun – Center for the Arts – Jackson, WY
9/30-10/1 Fri-Sat – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest – Chico, CA
10/4 Tue – Harlow’s – Sacramento, CA
10/5 Wed – Don Quixote’s International Music Hall – Felton, CA
10/6 Thu – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
10/7-8 Fri-Sat – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest – Chico, CA
10/28 Fri – Revolution Hall (2 shows!) – Portland, OR
12/15 Thu – Egyptian Theater – Boise, ID
12/17 Sat – Winthrop Barn Auditorium – Winthrop, WA

For more information and news from the road, visit M4 at www.Marchfourthband.com

 

 

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Enter the Earth Xmas Party feat: The Nth Power & Jamar Woods Trio at Asheville Music Hall Fri 12/6

The Nth Power. Photo by Michael Weintrob

Enter the Earth Xmas Party feat: The Nth Power & Jamar Woods Trio
Friday, December 6th @ Asheville Music Hall
10PM  (9PM Doors)
Tickets: $10 Adv, $12 DOS Ages: 21+
31 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801
http://ashevillemusichall.com

The Nth Power is a marquee ensemble of world-class music lovers on a mission to change the way we hear and experience the power of music. Creating infectious indie gospel-funk, they define what a modern all-star ensemble is for a new generation. The Nth Power embarks on their debut US tour Dec. 3-15, though it’s odd to think of this the group’s first tour considering the players involved — Dumpstaphunk’s Nikki Glaspie, who was Beyonce’s world-touring drummer for many years; keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall of Lettuce, Warren Haynes Band and John Scofield’s Uberjam; bassist Nate Edgar of John Brown’s Body; soul evangelist and guitarist Nick Cassarino of the Jennifer Hartswick Band; and West African djembe master Weedie Braimah of Toubab Krewe. The Nth Power is a force best experienced live. Their sound will resonate wholeheartedly, leaving you inspired and enlightened as a music lover and listener. To learn more, watch their insightful EPK, Welcome To The Nth Power.

The Nth Power on Tour
12/03/13 – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, DC
12/04/13 – The Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
12/05/13 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC
12/06/13 – Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC
12/07/13 – Pour House Music Hall – Raleigh, NC
12/08/13 – The Vinyl – Atlanta, GA
12/10/13 – 3rd & Lindsley – Nashville, TN
12/11/13 – 2720 Cherokee Performing Arts Center – St. Louis, MO
12/12/13 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL (w/Lettuce)
12/13/13 – Drom – New York, NY
12/14/13 – Thirsty Moose Taphouse – Portsmouth, NH
12/15/13 – The Spot Underground – Providence, RI

For more information, please visit www.thenthpowermusic.com
Facebook.com/TheNthPower
Twitter: @TheNthPowerVibe
Listen and buy music on iTunes

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Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop ~ Aug 24-26th ~ Railroad Earth X3; Dr. Dog; JJ Grey & Mofro; Sam Bush

Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop

August 24-26th at Grandfather Campgrounds in Boone, NC

THE 2012 LINEUP:
RAILROAD EARTH (X 3!) • DR. DOG • SAM BUSH
JJ GREY & MOFRO • GREENSKY BLUEGRASS
THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND • FUTUREBIRDS
THE HACKENSAW BOYS • HOLY GHOST
TENT REVIVAL • LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE
THE BLACK LILLIES • RIVER WHYLESS
ROSE’S PAWN SHOP • NAKED GODS
MONROEVILLE • AND MANY MORE!

All Ages

$99 adv / Weekend Gate tickets: $120
Friday & Saturday Single Day Advance Tickets: $50 / Sunday: $40
For more information & to BUY TICKETS, visit musiconthemountaintop.com
Grandfather Campground // 1125 Riverside Drive, Foscoe, NC [map]

» Enter to Win a Pair of VIP Passes on JamBase! «

Read more about MOTM at beatdropping.com & gratefulweb.com

Railroad Earth’s Music on The Mountaintop is the premiere music festival in Boone, North Carolina, and is one of the nation’s first Green Festivals. 2012 marks the 5th annual three-day music festival outside of Boone, North Carolina on August 24-26th. It is Boone’s first and only multi-generational family festival offering three full days of music featuring national and world-renowned performers in Americana, Newgrass, Bluegrass, Acoustic, Folk, Funk & Eclectic, with camping, locally grown and organic natural whole food vendors.

Railroad Earth’s Music On the Mountaintop will return for a 2nd year to the Grandfather Campgrounds in Foscoe, North Carolina. The picturesque venue is located approximately ten miles from Boone, North Carolina, providing potable water throughout, several public restrooms and bathhouses, a public store, and plenty of shaded campsites. Additionally, Music on the Mountaintop will expand to include late night shows (Friday and Saturday), VIP, Summit VIP and All-Inclusive ticket options, music workshops, daily yoga classes, cabin rental options, and a new offsite parking location just miles away.

Performers include Railroad Earth X3; Dr. Dog; JJ Grey & Mofro; Sam Bush; The Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Greensky Bluegrass; The Hackensaw Boys; Larry Keel & Natural Bridge; Futurebirds; River Whyless; Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The Black Lillies; Monroeville; Naked Gods; Rose’s Pawn Shop, Stoney Creek Boys; Salem Speaks and many more.

MOTM also features a series of workshops curated by festival hosts Railroad Earth. Taking place throughout the weekend, the members of Railroad Earth have created a series of interactive workshops designed to complement the festival and bringing fans closer to their creative process. Workshops are to include: Zen and the Art of Improvisation featuring Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone, Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck and Railroad Earth’s Andrew Altman; Introduction to Weird Instruments featuring Railroad Earth’s Andy Goessling; Mandolin 101 with Railroad Earth’s John Skehan, Sam Bush and Andy Goessling; and Morning Meditation with Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth.

The weekend of workshops will culminate with an All-Star Jam celebrating the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie. Joining Railroad Earth in celebrating the music of this legendary folk musician will be the Sam Bush Band, Larry and Jenny Keel and members of Monroeville.

Click to BUY TICKETS

General admission tickets are offered starting at $99.
The price includes three days of music, camping, and an alcohol fee.
VIP packages will be made available this year with two levels, Ridge VIP and Summit VIP.

Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop

Produced by Yellow Dog Entertainment and Hosted by Railroad Earth
Sponsored by Telluride.com as a “mini Telluride Bluegrass Festival”

MusicOnTheMountaintop.com

 

“Music with a Vision, Educate While Entertaining”

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Chopteeth and All Mighty Senators Play U Street Music Hall on March 10th

Chopteeth

with Very Special Guests: All Mighty Senators

and old school tunes spun by DJ Guilherme

Sat, March 10, 2012

U Street Music Hall

***

“In a city with a celebrated funk scene and distinct go-go tradition, Chopteeth’s brand of Afrofunk is the pulse of the city” –—Planet

***

 

Bursting with old-school big band power, Afrobeat crew Chopteeth know how to turn skeptical foot-tappers into shirt-whirling, wolf-whistling believers. Joined for a double-bill by Baltimore based All Mighty Senators who Billboard Magazine calls “Hot Hot Hot!”, no rear will be left unshaken at the U Street Music Hall on Saturday, March 10th, 2012. After picking up two Wammies recently (World Music Group and World Music Vocalist), bringing their total to nine, Chopteeth will be in a celebratory mood. This is their final area show before making their New Orleans debut at the Congo Square Rhythms Fest at the end of March.

The Washington Post hails Chopteeth as as “A sensation—the dozen-plus member outfit cooks up a scintillating stew of Afrofunk, rumba, salsa, ska and funk.  There’s no other band in the area with as funky and wide-reaching a sound.” Combine that with the Rock & Soul sound of All Mighty Senators for the evening and a party is brewing!

For Chopteeth, even a dance party can be a deep exercise in tracing musical lineages. Over  many sweaty gigs, the band honed a late Fela piece of fugue-like complexity (see a live video of Question Jam Answer) and spent months calling Nigeria to find an unsung master of African funk. They dug through record store bins, trolled the internet, and mined the vinyl of die-hard African record buffs to find lo-fi and neglected gems.

These gems harken back to the golden age of African pop, the 1970s. In rough-and-ready studios, musicians laid down heady mixes of James Brown-inspired funk, complex chord changes, and local rhythms. They reacted to soul and rumba, to jazz and rock, to harsh political realities and deep roots. Though some musicians of this generation rose to international prominence, many languished, only recently rediscovered by dedicated African music fans, labels, and collectors.

The band’s live vibe channels all the heavy-duty intensity of a good old big band, something increasingly rare in this age of mp3s and streaming files. “The truth is people don’t often hear big bands playing dance music live anymore,” muses Chopteeth bassist Robert Fox. “You hear a song like Fela’s ‘J.J.D.’ in person, and it just feels different. It’s a shocking experience for the audience.”

Check out this video of Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band performing Fela Kuti’s J.J.D. from the Rock and Roll Hotel.  Craig Considine, who will be performing with both Chopteeth and All Mighty Senators plays a killer solo on the video.

All Mighty Senators is a rhythm fused quintet from Baltimore, which has toured the United States and Canada extensively. AMS released their first recordings under Baltimore indie Merkin Records before releasing four albums under their own Dog Eat Dog Records to both critical and popular acclaim.

Their live shows, fronted by the charismatic Landis Expandis and guitar-god Warren Boes, have remained one of the most revered on the East Coast, and have established AMS with a diverse and rabid following, ranging from indie-philes to rave cadets to festival freaks. Their genre defying sounds have drawn comparisons to such disparate acts as Sly and The Family Stone, Frank Zappa and Beck.

Fela’s Afrobeat and All Mighty Senators have some unexpected elements in common: political ferocity, a day-glo intensity, and serious creativity. They both evolved in reaction to Western R&B or pop rock, and leaped off in radical (and radically different) directions.

Chopteeth and All Mighty Senators know how to meld the retro savor and the fresh take, with unrelenting energy and onstage flair.

Chopteeth lead vocalist and primary songwriter Michael Shereikis offered, “We’re really looking foward to getting back into U Street Music Hall with its slamming sound system, and just as psyched to finally be sharing the stage with Almighty Senators. It’ll be a wicked good time, guaranteed”.

Praise for Chopteeth:

***

Winners of 9 Wammie Awards from

The Washington Area Music Association:

***

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 & 2007

World Music Group

***

2008

Artist of the Year

Debut CD of the Year

***

2010, 2008

World Music Recording

***

2011 World Music Vocalist

***

“A storming powerhouse of big-band African funk,

Chopteeth is smart, tight and relentlessly driving…a definite don’t-miss.” –The Washington Post

***

“Thunderous… potent.  Chopteeth’s debut CD takes the band from upbeat Swahili lyrics over a South African pulse one second, to spaghetti Western-inspired instrumentals the next.True to the political essence at the heart of Fela’s music.” –Billboard

***

“Wonderfully fresh. With absolutely no reservations, this is an outright success” –Allmusic.com

***

“Afrofunk with lunatic energy.”— National Public Radio

***

www.chopteeth.com

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MantraBash Music and Arts Festival ~ Taking it to the next level June 21-23!

MantraBash Music and Arts Festival-Taking it to the next level!
Presented by Stanlee Ventures, LLC featuring The Mantras of Greensboro NC.

MantraBash Music and Arts Festival is right around the corner! Being held on June 21st through the 23rd in the beautiful foothills of Ferguson, NC; this event is sure to make it to the top of your list when considering festivals this summer.

Watch The Mantras from last year’s FloydFest!

Robert Walter’s 20th Congress (with special guest, Galactic drummer Stanton Moore) performs live at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA 2009. Get ready for the Robert Walter Trio at MantraBash!

Check out this Particle video from Saint Rocke 12-16-11

Despite the great music exposure, the feeling of happy vibes and intimacy are not always achieved when attending large events. MantraBash is sure to cure that! Capturing the wide variety of jam bands ranging from soulful-funk-rock to electric-folk-grass in the 3-day line-up, MantraBash will exceed your musical expectations while maintaining the comfortable family vibe, which is momentous for the perfect festival. Mantra Bash vending will include a selection of great food, as well as art and crafts.  Hot showers will also be available for public use for a small fee.

Take this opportunity to transcend your current festival experience. Your concept of the best festival in North Carolina will remain a microcosm compared to the MantraBash world to come.

www.mantrabash.com

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Ride a Bio Bus from North Carolina to the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival Feb 8-12th

World-Renown GrassRoots Music Festival Poised to Take Centerstage at the Historic Miami Virginia Key Beach

Scheduled to perform: Chaka Khan, Del McCoury, Arrested Development, Immortal Technique, Beausoleil, Keith Secola & His Wild Band of Indians, Locos Por Juana, The Lee Boys, Donna The Buffalo, Jahfe, & more…

In the spirit of family, cultural celebration and fun, The Historic Virginia Key Beach Park will serve as home to the world-renown Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, February 9 – 12, 2012.

The Festival organizers are planning to fill a bio diesel bus in North Carolina to travel down to the festival. Here’s what they say about it:

Hey folks! We’re planning on renting out a 55 passenger bio diesel bus for an epic road trip from the Shakori Hills Festival location in triangle area NC down to the Florida Keys for the first annual Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival. http://virginiakeygrassroots.org/

The bus leaves Wednesday, Feb 8th and returns Sunday, Feb 12th after the music.

The Tour Bus is super comfortable with DVD and bathroom, and runs on locally made bio fuels.  We’ll drive 1600 miles round trip (14 hours each way), starting out in the night so we’ll wake up at the beach! $120 per person covers fuel and drivers, and saves you festival overnight parking costs of $50.00. Plus, you can bring your camping gear with you!

NOTE: We need 55 people to sign up in order to fill the bio bus. Email grassrootsbiobus@gmail.com or Call Iris @ (919) 542 0244 for more info or to sign up.  For more info click here.

The four-day event will showcase some of the world’s most amazing and respected talents from over 50 performing groups whose genres include: roots rock, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, funk, Cajun, bluegrass, African, Kompa, world beat and zydeco. Grammy® Award winning performers Chaka Khan, The Del McCoury Band and Arrested Development will headline the inaugural festival along with the legendary ska/reggae band Fishbone, Donna the Buffalo, BeauSoleil avec Micheal Doucet and several South Florida local favorites Locos Por Juana, Suenalo and ArtOfficial.

To learn more about The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival, performers, or to purchase tickets please contact Emma Hewitt at (786) 332-4630 or visit us at http://www.virginiakeygrassroots.org.

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Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival: Global Music Festival Debuts in Miami with Headliners Chaka Khan, Arrested Development, Del McCoury, & Donna the Buffalo

Global Music Festival Debuts in Miami with Headliners
Chaka Khan, Arrested Development, and Del McCoury

Family-Friendly Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival February 9th-12th, 2012
Welcomes Community Participation

The world-renowned GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is coming to The Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami on February 9th-12th, 2012. Founded in upstate New York in 1991, the non-profit festival showcases top tier world and roots music performers from a wide variety of genres; Latin, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Americana, Funk, Cajun, Bluegrass, Indie Rock, African, Kompa, World Beat, and Jam. International and Grammy Award winning artists will perform alongside some of Florida’s premier bands – Chaka Khan, Del McCoury, and Arrested Development.

Throughout the four-day, family-friendly event, a Kid’s Village will offer interactive activities. Local artisans and visiting craftspeople will display and sell their work. In addition, celebrity dance instructors will provide ongoing group instruction and festival performers will conduct daily music and instrumental workshops. Those interested in wellness will find movement classes, flow workshops, massage and more in The Healing Arts Area.

The festival welcomes local residents and out of town visitors. The on-site campgrounds, just a short walk from the beach, are open to all festival attendees for a reasonable fee. Space is for tents and vehicle camping. Day Tickets, Discounted 4-Day Passes, and Special Packages are available by phone (786) 332-4630, online www.virginiakeygrassroots.org, and at the gate.

The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival’s mission is to promote community engagement through music and arts education, while supporting environmental sustainability, and social justice. To this end, GrassRoots invites local non-profit groups to set up booths in the Community Advocacy Area. For more information please contact Emma Hewitt at emma@grassrootsfest.org or (786) 332-4630.

GrassRoots is seeking volunteers to help in all areas of the festival, from the Street Team to Hospitality Kitchen. In trade for hours worked, Volunteers are rewarded free festival passes. For more information visit http://virginiakeygrassroots.com/volunteer

Festival Line-up:

Arrested Development, ArtOfficial, Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Big Cosmo, The Del McCoury Band, Donna the Buffalo, Driftwood, Fishbone, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Greg Humphreys, Jim Lauderdale, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Keith Secola & Wild Band of Indians, The Lee Boys, Locos Por Juana, Mixed Culture, Preston Frank, Revelation Mizik, Roy Jay Band, Rubblebucket, Sim Redmond Band, Suenalo, Thousands of One, Toubab Krewe, Willie Watson & the Evil City String Band

Visit the website for additions that have been added to the lineup

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NOLA Update From The Keels on Recording the Bluebrass Project 2!

Bluebrass Strings- Horns - Big Chief Monk

Here’s a note from Larry and Jenny Keel and some snapshots of the Bluebrass Session they were recording last week in New Orleans:

Bluebrass String Section

We were honored this last week to be a part of a project where all the musicians created an entirely new form of music…legends from the New Orleans music scene and pioneers of the acoustic music scene collaborated to create Bluebrass 2… it is the continuation of the first project which we recorded in 2004, combining influences from Ireland, Scotland, England, Africa, America,delta blues, western swing, on and on … made for the most spiritual project I have ever been a part of…

Recorded entirely inside the legendary Maple Leaf Bar, on Oak Street, and produced by the presiding King of Oak, Chris Jones, and executive producer Little King Steve Metcalf (royalty out the ass!!),  we were guided into an adventure of epic proportions-  taking a magical musical journey with all kinds of string musicians and brass and drummers:  a cast of up to 15 people.. so far!

Lionel Batiste Jr

including heavy weights from the Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs, Acoustic Syndicate, Mad Tea Party, Aaron “Woody” Wood, and 101 Runners!

Stay tuned for more info and for this music you won’t be able to resist-  we’re still reeling with funky goodness from that trip!

Bryon McMurry and Kirk Joseph's Souzaphone

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The Infamous Stringdusters to headline Rooster Walk 3 on Memorial Day Weekend near Martinsville, VA

The Infamous Stringdusters, a 2011 Grammy-nominated progressive bluegrass band, will headline the third-annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend near Martinsville, Va.

A six-piece outfit from Nashville, Tenn., the Stringdusters received a Grammy nomination in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category for their song, “Magic #9.” The band will perform at Rooster Walk 3 on Saturday, May 28 at Blue Mountain Festival Grounds.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the Infamous Stringdusters at Rooster Walk this year,” said festival co-founder Johnny Buck. “This is a band that sells out shows across the country and tours abroad. They’ve won some of the biggest awards in the bluegrass world, but they’re also hugely popular on the jamband and ‘newgrass’ music scenes. We can’t thank them enough for coming on board. They are the perfect fit for the atmosphere and vibe we’re trying to cultivate at Rooster Walk.”

The Stringdusters achieved almost instant stardom. In 2007, while touring in promotion of their debut album, “Fork in the Road,” they won three awards at the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association awards ceremony: Emerging Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; and Song of the Year.

The band’s live performances have been described as “anti-formulaic, groove friendly, and mind‐expanding – not your granddaddy’s bluegrass, unless your granddaddy was Jerry Garcia.”

“We are really intently focused on creating music in the moment,” said Travis Book, vocalist and upright bass player, when asked to describe the band’s style. “That means there’s some improvising and some jamming going on. People are playing different solos every night, and it seems to me to be a more dynamic experience than your typical bluegrass or string-band show. … It’s definitely a good time. That much I know.”

The ‘Dusters just finished a two-day performance at Merlefest over the weekend, where they were once again main-stage performers. Other notable events on their summer tour schedule will include sets at DelFest in Cumberland, Md., the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colo., the legendary Red Rocks venue in Morrison, Colo., and the band’s own event, The Festy Experience near Charlottesville, Va.

Despite nearly unlimited options, Book said playing at Rooster Walk made sense on a number of levels.

“It sounds like a good time, and that’s largely one of the guiding principals of what we do these days: What sounds like the most fun, for us and for people who want to come be a part of it?” said Book. “And Rooster Walk fits the bill. It’s gonna be a really great time, and that’s one of the most important things to us. Since we’re all just spinning around on this planet, why not try to enjoy it as much as possible?”

The Mantras are a jamband from Greensboro, N.C., with a rapidly growing fanbase

RW3 will feature 19 primary bands. The current lineup offers rock, jam, bluegrass, blues, soul, folk, funk, jazz, country and reggae. Rooster Walk will also feature arts, crafts and food vendors from the area, children’s programming, a new workshop stage and on-site camping.

Bristol-based roots rockers Folk Soul Revival (FSR), this year’s festival hosts, are the only band scheduled to play both nights of the festival.

Asheville, N.C.'s Sanctum Sully will bring their infectious mix of bluegrass, rock, folk and improv Rooster Walk

Other bands performing will include: The Mantras, the Jesse Chong Band, Sanctum Sully, Rob Cheatham & GUNCHUX!, the Lizzy Ross Band, the Kings of Belmont, the Big Fat Gap All-Stars, Jamal Millner & Comrades, Poverty Level with special guest Sammy Shelor, Relacksachian, Travis Elliott, Mariana Bell, the Martinsville Community Jazz Ensemble, Levi’s Gene Pool, Riggs Roberston and the Boys and Girls Club Steel Drum Band.

Rooster Walk honors the memory of two young Martinsville natives who passed away in the last four years: Edwin G. Penn IV and Walker E. Shank. Both were graduating members of Martinsville High School’s class of 2000. Proceeds from the volunteer-led festival go to the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund at Martinsville High School.

In two years, organizers have donated $10,000 to the scholarship fund. Sara Kasey, a current freshman at Randolph College, was the inaugural recipient in 2010. The announcement of the second annual winner is expected in May.

General admission tickets for RW3 are currently $40 for a weekend pass and $90 for a VIP weekend pass. Those prices will increase to $50 and $125, respectively, on festival weekend. Tickets are available online or locally at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center in uptown, Binding Time Cafe and Woodall’s Music.

For more information, including details on tickets and band biographies, visit www.roosterwalk.com.

Rooster Walk is a family-friendly festival set for Memorial Day weekend at Blue Mountain Festival Grounds. Last year, 100 percent of all parents survey said they would bring their children back to Rooster Walk 3.

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