New Orleans funk sensation Galactic is returning to their old stomping grounds once again for a run of shows during Jazz Fest. The band will perform Friday, April 22nd at Tipitina’s with Turkuaz, followed by their very first appearance at the newly renovated Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, April 30th with JJ Grey & Mofro.
We spoke to bassist Rob Mercurio about what makes their annual Jazz Fest after shows so special.
“Tipitina’s is our home base,” Mercurio explained. “I can’t even count how many times we’ve played there. We feel extremely comfortable at that venue. From the staff, the sound of the stage, the way that the whole night flows, it’s just kind of second nature to us. Any set we play at Tipitina’s is like laying in a warm bath.”
When asked if there will be any surprise guests or collaborations in store, the answer was a given. “Jazz Fest is always like that,” he said. “That’s what makes it so great. So many musicians are in town. It’s similar to Jam Cruise where a lot of our friends are there and everybody’s just kind of bouncing around between gigs and sit-ins. Definitely expect some unannounced sit-ins.”
He’s also excited to continue playing their newest album, Into the Deep, for old and new fans. “I think that it was a little bit of a throwback, and I think that a lot of our fans enjoyed that element. There were some tunes on there that could have been on our first album. With the albums preceding this one – Carnivale Electricos, Ya-Ka-May, From The Corner To The Block – we had definitely taken some modern production aspects, which was really fun and cool and we had a great time in the studio. But it was kind of nice to go back to form with Into the Deep. We also spent a lot of time on the songwriting aspect for this last album, and collaborating with strong songwriters.”
What’s his favorite part of Jazz Fest? “It’s a combination of having all our friends in town, playing one or multiple shows a night, and also being able to go and sleep in your own bed.”
Enter to win tickets to both of Galactic’s Jazz Fest shows, plus a vinyl copy of Into the Deep, below!
For those who won’t be making it down to the Big Easy, you can catch Galactic at the Electric Factory in Philly with Soulive on 3/24!