New Orleans’ Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band return to Manchester following the success of their ‘Mardi Gras’ (2020) and ‘Take Cover’ (2019) tour, which boasted sell-out dates across the UK. The recent passing of Bennie Pete, the beloved co-founder and sousaphone player for the outfit, will be honoured in true New Orleans fashion with ‘The Bossman Tour 2023’, paying tribute to his “galvanizing force” as a “leader, teacher and mentor”. Fellow bandmates add that “Bennie was an inspiration to the band and to many other musicians, and the entire musical and cultural community.”
Join as as we celebrate the late Bennie’s greatest wish, “that New Orleans culture lives on for future generations”. As always, Hot 8 will channel the unique, undiluted energy of the Second Line parades to commemorate their loss.
Transcending genres and trends, Hot 8 have performed and collaborated with artists from Lauryn Hill and Alice Russell to Mos Def to the Blind Boys of Alabama. The collective earned a win in the 64th Annual Grammy Awards 2022 for their feature on John Batiste’s ‘Album of The Year’, following the nomination of ‘The Life & Times Of…’ for ‘Best Regional Roots Album’ in 2013.
The last few years have been packed full of milestone events – including roof-raising sell-out shows at London’s Roundhouse and at the Brighton Dome as part of the Brighton festival – and seen Hot 8 Brass Band reaching out ever further; having celebrated their 20th anniversary with the ‘Vicennial: 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band’ album in late 2015, they have toured almost constantly since.
Delighting crowds with their rambunctious mix of hip-hop, funk and inimitable Big Easy jazz, they have sold out strings of headlines alongside festivals including Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, BST Hyde Park (supporting Mumford & Sons), Madness’ House Of Common, North Sea Jazz, Secret Garden Party and WOMAD. Along the way, they have been invited to tell their remarkable story and play their incendiary music on platforms as diverse as BBC Radio 4, ITV, KCRW, Radio France, and Australia’s ABC News.
A standing show. On sale 10am 24th Feb.
Artists on stage: 8.00pmCurfew: 10.00pm
Stage: Albert Hall, Manchester
