Maceo Parker

Maceo Parker: his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the tightest little funk orchestra on earth.

Everyone knows by now that he’s played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, which Maceo describes as “like being at University”; jumping aboard the Mothership with George Clinton; stretching out with Bootsy’s Rubber Band. He’s the living, breathing pulse that connects the history of Funk in one golden thread. The cipher that unravels dance music down to its core.

Perpetual Groove

Rising out of the low country of Savannah, GA in 2001, Perpetual Groove has grown quickly into a formidable international touring organization. Now based in Athens, GA, the band continues to ride an unending wave of momentum buoyed by an enthusiastic fan base and international critical acclaim. Fans of Perpetual Groove (or PGroove, as the fans like to call them) are known to follow the band from state to state, night to night, to experience their euphoric live show that features an ever changing set-list. Perpetual Groove’s music has evolved into a genre-bending, highly original sound that touches upon jazz-rock, neo-psychedelia, R&B, trance electronica, progressive rock, and anthemic arena rock. Their large catalog of original music offers something for everyone, but the band is also known for their eclectic range of covers; including everything from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade”. The addition of an intense, retina burning, intelligent light show creates an atmosphere unlike any other, assuring fans they’ll get a highly polished, yet different show each night.

Donna The Buffalo

Donna the Buffalo’s feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Donna the Buffalo is known for touring the country remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands and has “earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today,” praises Encore.

The Mickey Hart Band

Mickey Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the soul and spirit of music, disguised as the rock and roll band the Grateful Dead. As half of the percussion tandem known as the Rhythm Devils, Mickey and Bill Kreutzmann transcended the conventions of rock drumming. Their extended polyrhythmic excursions were highlights of Grateful Dead shows, introducing the band’s audience to an ever-growing arsenal of percussion instruments from around the world. Exposure to these exotic sounds fueled Mickey’s desire to learn about the various cultures that produced them.

Soulive

Just like keyboardist Neal Evans’ two hands—simultaneously pumping out the low end and reaching for those oscillating high notes—organ trio Soulive has spent the last decade balancing a reverence for the past with a conviction to push music into its own funky future.

When brothers Neal and Alan Evans first invited guitarist Eric Krasno to get down at their Woodstock, NY studio (a session that led to the trio’s break-out record Get Down! in 1999), it was out of mutual love for the great soul-jazz organ trios of the ’60s and ’70s (Jimmy Smith, Groove Holmes, Brother Jack McDuff). Now, a decade into the band’s career, which has seen forays into hip-hop, reggae, R&B, blues, rock and soul, eras featuring horns and a vocalist, and collaborations with artists as diverse as Derek Trucks, Joshua Redman, Robert Randolph and Talib Kweli, it was another shared love that brought the trio to drummer Alan’s Playonbrother Studio to record their latest, Rubber Soulive.

Anders Osborne

“I’m in the promised land,” says proud American immigrant and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist Anders Osborne. The Swedish-born, longtime New Orleans resident is among the most original and visionary musicians performing today. In a city overflowing with stellar artists, bands and performers, Osborne is one of the Big Easy’s favorite musical heroes. His Alligator Records debut, American Patchwork, is a moving collection of soul-baring rock, blues and ballads. Many of the songs on American Patchwork deal with healing and redemption, spirituality and acceptance. It is about rebuilding what has been destroyed, not only a ravaged city, but also a hollow man. Often compared to Townes Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, Osborne is an exceptional and singular talent. Paste Magazine says, “Osborne has an impossibly great, soulful voice and the songs to match.” Living Blues adds, “Osborne is a songwriter of enormous depth and an incredibly passionate musician.”

The Lee Boys

The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.

Floodwood Feat. Members of moe.

The foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, also known as “The Leatherstocking Region” is home to Floodwood, the northeast’s newest progressive string band. Its members are veteran musicians who’ve performed on stages around the world over the last 20 years. They are breathing fresh life into timeless acoustic music & play with the dexterity & chops of seasoned pros. Al Schnier & Vinnie Amico, not only play together in moe. (http://moe.org) one of the premier touring bands in the country, but they’ve also spent over 10 years recording & touring with the Americana group Al & The Transamericans. Likewise, Jay Barady spent over 10 years recording & touring with the Bluegrass group Wooden Spoon from Taos, until returning to his hometown in central, NY. Nick Piccinni is a classically trained violinist, who learned his bluegrass chops the old fashioned way – in festival picking circles. He’s an award winning banjo player & fiddler in high demand on the NY bluegrass circuit. Bass player, Zachary Fleitz is an avant-garde bassist, not unlike Wooten & Oteil, & has even developed his own patent pending midi instrument – “the midi wing chun dummy”.

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band

It started as a party, grew into a band, evolved into a sound, and emerged as an institution.  Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band (aka the Booty Band) has gone through many changes since their fated onset in 2002.  Today they are ready to shake the world, one cheek at a time.

The band’s first official studio release, Now You Know, debuted in 2007 to critical acclaim.  The Booty Band received Home Grown Music Network’s “Album of the Year” and “Band of the Year” awards, as well as the #3 best regional album from WNCW, one of the top Triple A stations in the country.  Awe-inspiring live shows, powerful original compositions, and crowd-pleasing presentations have helped the Booty Band build a solid nationwide fanbase.  Having completed three national tours in 2010 alone, the band has worked hard and done well to keep this fanbase fired up and growing fast.  They have secured headlining slots at many prestigious festivals including Wakarusa, Jam Cruise, Bear Creek, Jazz Aspen, Long Beach Funk Fest, Rock Boat, Bele Chere (six consecutive years), Floyd Fest, and Smile Fest.

Sol Driven Train

If you need to visualize the soul, think of it as a kind of train. Yes, a long, lonesome freight train rumbling from generation to generation on an eternally rainy morning: its boxcars are loaded with sighs and laughter, its hobos are angels, its engineer is the queen of spades – and the queen is wild. Whoo-whoo!  Hear that epiphanic whistle blow.  The train’s destination is the godhead, but it stops at the Big Bang, at the orgasm, and at the hole in the fence that the red fox sneaks through down behind the barn. It’s simultaneously a local and an express, but it doesn’t transport weaponry, and it certainly ain’t no milk run.”- Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito

Cadillac Jones

The stoop is where it started and your rump is where it ends. That’s Cadillac Jones for you. For over 10 years, this band has been the main staple of the Atlanta funk scene. Standing on the shoulders of giants like Herbie Hancock, the Crusaders and John Coltrane, Cadillac Jones’ sound is one part jazz, one part funk, and three sheets to the wind. The Band combines driving rhythms, tight melodies and improvisational jams to create a sound that grinds the hips and tickles the mind.

Smokey’s Farmland Band

Smokey’s Farmland Band’s music is a great mixture of their favorite musical influences: bluegrass, funk, rock, reggae, Cajun, gypsy jazz, and progressive jams. While they enjoy venturing outside the realm of the traditional, they still respect the roots of bluegrass, and retain the energy and twang of mountain music. Expect to hear their “Goodtime Eclectic Bluegrass” predominate with a wide variety of songs at each performance. A typical set features original compositions mingled with cover tunes representing their many influences, with songs often blending together in an exciting genre-bending style that keeps listeners on their toes.  Among many accomplishments, SFB recently opened for Willie Nelson at a sold out House Of Blues New Orleans event on Oct 14, 2010, and opened for Sam Bush at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta on Oct 21, 2010. They have also opened for the Emmitt-Nershi Band.

Cherry Royale

Cherry Royale is the new name to know in southeast funk, featuring members from Entropy, Dubconscious and 16 Bars Hip Hop Orchestra. They’ve shared the bill with everyone from Orgone to Trombone Shorty.  Their music is lyric-driven soul/neo-soul and psychedelic funk. Alvetta Newby-Jones brings in powerful vocals that’ll leave you tingling, Richard Jones knocks out the tight drum beats, Matt Jennings brings that heavy soul sound on the keys, Solomon Wright moves your hips with the funky bass lines and Slappy Goodman tops it off with psychedelic guitar.

Like A Locomotive

Like A Locomotive pulled out of the station and began rolling down the tracks in 2010 as a collaboration of several talented musicians from Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.  Although the members had previously experienced success in other projects (including some nationally known acts), magic occurred the first time this group played together as Like A Locomotive and the momentum has continued to build for the band and the audience every time the members step on stage together.  The music of Like A Locomotive has many influences including rock, alt country rock, blues, jazz, reggae, bluegrass and funk.  The members work hard to create a powerful and collective musical experience with its audience. The band is known both for strong lyrical content and explosive improvised jams.

Music Matters Rock U Kids Bands

The TAASK
The TAASK is a young, energetic, and entertaining rock band that plays a wide range of music, including songs by Heart, Guns n Roses, Journey, Bon Jovi and more! They’ve been together since 2010 and are part of the Rock U Program at Music Matters. They’ve been featured at such places as The Masquerade, The SweetWater 420 Festival, The Milton Round Up, The Taste of Alpharetta, Atlanta Gives Back and The Hard Rock Cafe – Atlanta.

Fear of Silence
Fear of Silence has been together for two and a half years and is a well-known group of very talented, young musicians. They have played at many venues throughout the Atlanta Metro area that include The Masquerade, Center Stage, The Strand in Marietta, Taste of Alpharetta, Wild Bill’s in Gwinnett and 37 Main, Buford. They have also performed regularly at several live entertainment venues local to Roswell, Dunwoody, Milton and Alpharetta.

Treble Jay