MEMPHO Announces Late Night All-Star Tribute To Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks & Col. Bruce

via Jambase

The inaugural MEMPHO Music Festival will take place at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis on October 6 and 7. Organizers of the event have announced a special “Mempho All-Stars” jam on Saturday, October 7 featuring a tribute to a trio of famed musicians who passed away earlier this year.

Guitarist Eric Krasno will serve as musical director for the late night jam session to be held in honor of Allman Brothers Band founding members Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks and Col. Bruce Hampton. Kraz will lead a rotating lineup that will feature bassist Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band), guitarist Steve Kimock (RatDog, Phil Lesh & Friends), harmonica player/vocalist John Popper (Blues Traveler, Frogwings), steel guitarist Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph & The Family Band), drummer/percussionist Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit), drummer/percussionist Wally Ingram (Timbuk 3, Stockholm Syndrome, David Lindley, Sheryl Crow), guitarist Papa Mali (7 Walkers), DJ Logic, guitarist Eric McFadden (P-Funk Allstars, Stockholm Syndrome), vocalist Leslie Mendelson, keyboardist Peter Levin (Gregg Allman Band), vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. (Les Brers), bassist Tad Kinchla (Blues Traveler) and MonoNeon.

Here’s more details of the charity aspect of the concert:
The after-show will benefit philanthropic program called “Learn to Rock,” which aims to build bridges throughout the Memphis community by educating students about the city’s rich musical history. As part of the program’s outreach, Learn to Rock–sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union– is providing hundreds of free tickets to Shelby County Schools high school students, staff, and family members, as well as the Soulsville Foundation/Stax Academy and the Memphis Music Initiative.

Admission to the late night “Mempho All-Stars” jam is included with general tickets to Mempho. This year’s lineup includes Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Cage the Elephant, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Hard Working Americans, Southern Avenue and Booker T Presents: Stax Revue. The festival also will host a Memphis music tributes led by Stax Records guitarist Steve Cropper and featuring special guests. Head here for tickets.

'Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!' Tribute at LouFest to Feature Members of Spoon, Cage the Elephant, The Roots, Soulive

via Billboard

Berry's family has also announced the formation of a new foundation in his name.

Britt Daniel of Spoon, Pokey LaFarge and members of The Roots, Dave Matthews Band and Cage the Elephant have signed on for a special performance honoring Chuck Berry at this year's LouFest in the rock father's hometown of St. Louis.

Dubbed "Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!", the all-star tribute will take place Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. on the festival's Bud Light Stage. Other participating acts include Valerie June, Cory Henry, JonnyP and Eric Krasno of Soulive, with a backing band of St. Louis musicians led by Kevin Bowers.

The performance will be "the first of what will ultimately become an everlasting piece of the festival for years to come," said festival producers Mike Van Hee and Rich Toma, of Listen Live Entertainment. It is being executive produced by Red Light Management's Jonathan Azu, a native of the area. "Nothing has made me happier than to work with so many great musicians he inspired to make this performance happen," said Azu. "It will truly be something special."

"Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!" has the blessing of Berry's family, which is using the occasion to announce the formation of the Chuck Berry Foundation, which will focus causes in the arts and music education. "With the help of LouFest, the Chuck Berry Foundation will honor the legacy of Chuck Berry by nurturing the next generation of music innovators and leaders in the St. Louis community," said Gary Pierson, a Berry family representative.

Berry died on March 18 at the age of 90.

LouFest 2017 returns to Forest Park Sept. 9-10 with headliners Weezer and Snoop Dogg, along with Cage the Elephant, Run the Jewels, Spoon, Huey Lewis & the News and Robert Randolph. Location-wise, the festival is making a tempory move from its usual spot, on the Central Fields, to a new event space adjacent to the historic Muny Amphitheater.

Here's the full lineup for the Berry tribute, and the official poster (which will be available at the festival, with proceeds going to the new foundation):

Captain Kirk Douglas (The Roots)
Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band)
Britt Daniel (Spoon)
Matt Shultz and Nick Bockrath (Cage the Elephant)
Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce)
Pokey Lafarge
Valerie June
Cory Henry
Jonny P

Oteil Burbridge To Take “Oteil & Friends” On The Road This Fall

via Live for Live Music

While off tour with Dead & Company, bassist Oteil Burbridge will keep busy with his own band this Fall. As revealed in a recent Reddit AMA, Burbridge will tour with his solo project, Oteil & Friends, in November with JGB keyboardist Melvin Seals, Lettuce/Soulive guitarist Eric Krasno, Further guitarist John Kadlecik, Primus/RatDog/Electric Beethoven drummer Jay Lane, former Nth Power and current Trombone Shorty percussionist Weedie Braimah, and vocalist Alfreda Gerald. Burbridge surrounds himself with the best, always, and this new band formation is no exception.

Also in the AMA, Oteil revealed that his “new record will be coming out this fall” in support of the upcoming Oteil & Friends tour in November.

Oct 31 // Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA
Nov 1 // Pour House in Charleston, SC
Nov 2 // The Georgie Theatre in Athens, GA
Nov 3 // Salvage Station in Asheville, NC
Nov 4 // The Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte, NC
Nov 5 // The Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, NC
Nov 6 // The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD
Nov 7 // The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 8 // Soundstage in Baltimore, MD
Nov 9 // Le Poisson Rouge in New York, NY

Brooklyn Comes Alive Announces Supergroup Formations, Daily Lineups

via Live for Live Music

After months of anticipation, Brooklyn Comes Alive reveals the full list of bands, supergroups, one-off tribute sets, and more. With over 100 artists slated to perform 35+ sets across two days in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Comes Alive is primed to take over the borough with a roster of incredible talent. On September 23 and 24, attendees will be granted in-and-out access to three music venues—Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Schimanski (previously Verboten, instead of The Hall at MP, with better sound quality and more space!)—within a 5-minute walking radius, creating the feeling of an indoor music festival in the heart of Williamsburg. Additionally, the festival is now offering single day tickets, as well as a ticket payment plan. More information is available here. Without further ado, Brooklyn Comes Alive is pleased to present the daily lineups and supergroup formations for 2017. Here's where you can catch Kraz:

The Road Goes On Forever: Celebrating The Music of The Allman Brothers Band

With the deaths of songwriter/vocalist/organist Gregg Allman and drummer Butch Trucks earlier this year, the music world has been in an open state of mourning, and we knew we needed to bring the music of the Allman Brothers Band to Brooklyn Comes Alive. We teamed up with Gregg Allman Band’s longtime guitarist/vocalist/musical director—Scott Sharrard—and put together an amazing, star-studded band that will help us pay our proper respects to the legacy of the ABB.

In addition to Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico (moe.), Brooklyn Comes Alive is excited to welcome legendary drummer, Bernard Purdie, and keyboardist of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Kofi Burbridge, to their Allman Brothers tribute. The two legends will perform in place of Joel Cummins and Kris Myers who can no longer perform on Saturday due to a rescheduled Umphrey’s McGee tour date in Chicago (though they’ll still perform on Sunday). Sharrard will also welcome super-talented percussionist Nate Werth (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note), and Gregg Allman Band bassist Brett Bass to create a high-flying tribute to the Allman Brothers Band that won’t be soon forgotten. Eric Krasno (Lettuce, Soulive), Rob Compa (Dopapod), Roosevelt Collier (The Lee Boys), and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer are a few of the players who will join the fray as special guests.

Rooster Conspiracy

Rooster Conspiracy was born in Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann’s garage at his home in Hawaii. He recruited his Billy & the Kids bandmate Reed Mathis, Mathis’ Electric Beethoven bandmate Todd Stoops, and guitarist Eric Krasno to perform songs plucked mostly from the Grateful Dead catalog. They performed the songs in a funky style that showcased Kreutzmann’s signature shuffle, which locked in perfectly with Krasno’s jazz-club funk, Mathis’ constant drive for creation, and Stoops’ kinetic approach to the keyboards. Kreutzmann can’t make it for this year’s Brooklyn Comes Alive, so the rest of the guys tapped Jay Lane (Ratdog, Primus) for the highly anticipated first-ever East Coast edition of the Rooster Conspiracy

Eric Krasno & Friends with Special Guests, John Scofield & George Porter Jr

Eric Krasno is no stranger to Brooklyn Comes Alive, having helped to curate the festival’s lineup in its first year. Now, Kraz is set to return to Williamsburg two years later with an all-star cast of musical friends by his side. For the special set, Krasno has tapped Cyril Neville, Nigel Hall, Louis Cato, and Chris Loftlin as well as very special guests, the legendary George Porter Jr. and John Scofield.

Brooklyn Comes Alive 2017

Eric will be performing two sets at this year's Brooklyn Comes Alive festival in Brooklyn, NY. September 23 with Rooster Conspiracy (Reed Mathis, Todd Stoops, Jay Lane) and September 24 with Eric Krasno & Friends (Cyrill Neville, Nigel Hall, Louis Cato, Chris Loftlin, John Scofield, George Porter Jr.)

Eric Krasno, Reed Mathis, Todd Stoops & Jay Lane Team Up For Funky Dead Set At Brooklyn Comes Alive

via Live For Live Music

Brooklyn Comes Alive recently announced its massive artist lineup, with over 100 artists slated to perform 35+ sets across two days in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This year, the event is expanding to two days, September 23rd and 24th, and will take over three of Brooklyn’s premier venues, all within a 10-minute walking radius. Fans’ imaginations have been running wild dreaming up what band lineups may be formed from the extensive roster of musicians. The guessing game is always one of the most fun parts of the Brooklyn Comes Alive experience, but today, we’re ready to roll out some more surprises.

Following the previous announcements of The Road Goes On Forever: Celebrating The Music Of The Allman Brothers Band, A Tribute To Jamiroquai, Eric Krasno & Friends, moe.queous, and a tribute to Green Day’s Dookie, Brooklyn Comes Alive has announced that Reed Mathis, Todd Stoops, and Jay Lane of Electric Beethoven will team up with guitar hero Eric Krasno to form a funky Grateful Dead tribute project dubbed Rooster Conspiracy.

Rooster Conspiracy was born from Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann‘s good intentions and celebratory spirit during the first few days of 2017. Having just rung in the new year in a friend’s backyard in Hawaii, with a band that included his Billy & the Kids bandmate Reed Mathis, and Mathis’ Electric Beethoven bandmate Todd Stoops, Kreutzmann was in the mood to keep jamming. When he heard that guitarist Eric Krasno just arrived on his little island of Kauai, he invited the guitarist out to join in and told Stoops and Mathis to stick around. They spent the better part of New Year’s Day casually jamming just for the fun of it. The following evening, Kreutzmann arranged for a little surprise luau at his house. He had instruments set up in his garage ready to go, so the four jammed again, this time going into unrehearsed songs plucked mostly from the Grateful Dead catalog. They performed the songs in a funky style that showcased Kreutzmann’s signature shuffle, which locked in with Krasno’s jazz-club funk, Mathis’ constant drive for creation, and Stoops’ kinetic approach to the keyboards.

Having ushered in the new year in style after cleansing their palate of the sour taste left by a rocky 2016, the “Bill’s Garage” jam felt like a purification ceremony that opened up pathways for the new year. In nod to both the time–(the Chinese “Year of the Rooster” was just about to begin) and the place (Kauai, an island with wild roosters everywhere) of the catalyzing jam session, the four new jamming buddies decided on the name “Rooster Conspiracy.”

While Kreutzmann can’t make it to New York for Brooklyn Comes Alive, the rest of the guys wanted to bring their Dead-funk 2017 jams to Williamsburg, so they tapped Jay Lane (Ratdog, Primus) for the highly anticipated first-ever East Coast edition of the Rooster Conspiracy. It’s one-quarter Soulive, half Golden Gate Wingmen, three-quarters Electric Beethoven, and 100% funk-driven Grateful Dead-inspired meditations and dance therapies–making for a set of music you surely won’t want to miss!

A Funky Friday in Ardmore

Friday, September 22, Eric Krasno will join George Porter Jr. (The Meters) Soulive counterpart Alan Evans, Tom Hamilton (JRAD) and Snarky Puppy's Chris Bullock and Mike "Maz" Maher for A Funky Friday in Ardmore at the Ardmore Music hall in Ardmore, PA.

Tickets are On Sale Not at ArdmoreMusic.com

Eric Krasno + Friends at Brooklyn Comes Alive

Stoked to be joined by some amazing friends at Brooklyn Comes Alive. Eric Krasno & Friends will feature John Scofield, Cyril Neville, Nigel Hall, Louis Cato, Chris Loftlin and special guest George Porter Jr.

Tickets and information available at www.BrooklynComesAlive.com