From NOLA to the world over, brass music is nothing but a good time. The celebratory music warms our hearts and gets us dancing, reminding us to always let the good times roll.

Here are some of our favorite brass bands on the touring circuit…

Rebirth Brass Band: Rebirth began performing on the streets of the French Quarter and have now become a staple of the New Orleans Tradition. With more than 20 years under their belt, as the New York Times says, “Rebirth can be precise whenever it wants to.” If you don’t know Rebirth Brass Band, you don’t know New Orleans.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band: Formed in 1975 (in New Orleans), The Dirty Dozen is the exact recipe that will satisfy your Brass Band Cravings. Their archives span four decades and fuse everything from R&B, Jazz, Afro-Latino Grooves and Funk, with a pinch of Caribbean influence thrown in the mix.

The Soul Rebels: In 2013 alone, The Soul Rebels performed a blowout CMJ Showcase, were the house band on the nationally televised NFL Honors Awards Show on CBS and followed with three sold out nights at the Brooklyn Bowl. They have shared the stage with Metallica, Green Day and Maceo Parker, not to mention their successes at music festivals all over the world. The Soul Rebels are redefining Brass Band music as we know it.

The High and Mighty Brass Band: High and Mighty are just as their name describes; high and mighty! This NOLA-NYC hybrid band brings some oomph to their music, so it’s no surprise they’ve collaborated with Galactic and DJ Logic, and shared the stage with the likes of Trombone Shorty and Dr. John.

The Funky Dawgz Brass Band: The Funky Dawgz hit close to home, as the group was rooted in UConn’s marching band but continue to bring the heart of New Orleans music culture to the Northeast and beyond. They play a variety of modern tunes and older brass band hits… if you are new to Brass music these guys have it all.

The Stooges Brass Band: Formed in New Orleans in 1996, the Stooges Brass Band is anything but your typical brass band, as they infuse funk, R&B, and hip hop elements into their music. A staple of the festival circuit, the Stooges are a true slice of American tradition.

No BS! Brass Band: Richmond’s No BS! Brass Band is exactly that. They are another East Coast band that fuses Brass roots with anything from funk, jazz, klezmer and calypso music to artist like Michael Jackson, James Brown, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin.  

Hot 8 Brass Band: With covers like Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” The Hot 8 Brass Band knows how to impress. Hot 8 was formed in the mid-90’s by a passionate group of high school musicians in New Orleans. The Hot 8 became known nationwide after features on CNN, The New York Times and Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” for their efforts to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Preservation Hall Brass Band:  A brass band named after Preservation Hall in New Orleans must have something special up their sleeves. Preservation Hall Brass Band has been around since the early 1960’s and when their venue closed down after Katrina, the band continued to perform until the hall reopened in 2006.

PitchBlak Brass Band: This Brooklyn collective features a diverse cast of musicians, playing an evocative blend of traditional jazz/funk and modern hip-hop. We recently had the pleasure of debuting their latest single, “Like Us,” and were blown away by their talent and energy. Check it out below:

Brass-A-Holics “Go-Go Brass Funk” Band: In 2010, The Brass-A-Holics and Go-Go Jazz Band merged their influences of Miles Davis, Nirvana, John Coltraine and Kanye West with a New Orleans feel. The band uses traditional brass instruments in addition to electric guitar, full drum-set, percussion and keyboards. Get intoxicated by their ‘Brass-A-Holic’ arrangement and energetic live performances

To Be Continued Brass Band: (TBC) Is a Jazz Band that formed in 2002 by dedicated musicians who used the New Orleans Tradition to see past drugs and violence. TBC established a presence playing on the corner of Bourbon and Canal and by 2005, the band began a collaboration with the Grammy-Award winning band, The Roots.