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This forthcoming Spring, like many times in the past, music fans in New Orleans and the surrounding areas will flock to the city for two weeks of music from some of the industry’s most well-known names for Jazzfest by Nite. Disco Donnie Presents and Ampersand Events are excited to team up once again to bring Thievery Corporation and Galactic to perform during the epic event on Saturday, May 3rd at Sugar Mill.

Thievery Corporation

It’s amazing to think of the success Thievery Corporation has amassed over the years with little to do with radio play. The electronic outfit consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have created a musically diverse empire with their eclectic mix of reggae, jazz, dub, afro beat, psychedelic rock and bossa nova styles, all woven together with rhythmic trip-hop beats.

Still trailblazing their unique sound nearly 20 years after their formation, the British duo entered 2014 with the announcement of their seventh studio album Saudade. Out on April 1st on their ESL Music imprint, Saudade is the first record devoted entirely to the Brazilian-born genre that first connected the duo – bossa nova. “We always try to progress into something different and stretch our musical chops,” says Eric Hilton, “and taking a whole album to dive into this one sound seemed like a really great way to do that.” Drawing influence from classic Brazilian performers, the album still captures the group’s sensual sound that fans around the world have grown to love. Rob Garza adds, “It’s a bit of a departure for us, but at the same time these are our roots, this is what brought us together. It’s us coming full circle from electronic music back to something organic before we move on to our next chapter.”

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Galactic

If you have celebrated a true New Orleans Mardi Gras in the past 18 years, chances are you’ve heard of the collaborative band Galactic. The quintet have been a staple to the carnival experience with their annual Lundi Gras show that goes from sunrise and leads to a sleepless Mardi Gras day. With their unique format, the band surprisingly hasn’t had a lead singer for years – but don’t be so quick to peg them as a purely instrumental group. Their output is more like a showcase than anything else, often featuring different New Orleans-based vocalists and instrumental soloists.

Galactic’s acclaimed album Carnivale Electricos was lauded for its party vibes throughout, all while evoking the electric atmosphere of their beloved city. With a knack for creating music that whisks the listener away to the essence of Mardi Gras and all its variety of flavors, the band has become masters of their own tried-and-true formula, Producer Robert Mercurio explains, “The way we write music–we come up with a demo, or a basic track, and then we collectively decide how we’re gonna finish it.” Since every band mate has a say in the creation process, their cohesion results in a groovy rhythmic sequence rich in Brazilian influences and funk that flawlessly glides from one surprise to the next.

Join us as we bring Thievery Corporation and Galactic to Jazzfest by Nite on Friday, April 25th. Tickets are now available, purchase your tickets today!

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