It should come as no surprise to fans to see the name Robert Randolph on the lineup for this year’s Brooklyn Comes Alive, which is set to take place at Brooklyn, NY’s Avant Gardner on March 21st. The celebrated Sacred Steel guitar master is a veteran participant in high-profile, collaborative events like the recent Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival and the Allman Family Revival.
The leader of Robert Randolph and the Family Band will gather a special, one-time-only “family” for his Robert Randolph & Friends set at Brooklyn Comes Alive including lauded saxophonist Karl Denson (Rolling Stones, Tiny Universe), keyboardist/vocalist Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk, Keith Richards), trumpeter Rashawn Ross (Dave Matthews Band), drummer Robert Sput Searight (Ghost-Note), and bassist MonoNeon (Prince, Ghost-Note).
Related: Exhume The Identities Of Here Come The Mummies At Brooklyn Comes Alive [Videos]
A high priest of soul and gospel, Robert Randolph’s powerful presence consistently lends an air of mysticism to any show in which he’s involved. With such a decorated lineup of artists in tow, Randolph promises to stoke the spirituality of the Brooklyn Comes Alive congregation on Saturday, March 21st.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band – “Baptise Me” [Official Video]
[Video: Robert Randolph and The Family Band]
Always the workhorse while on stage, Randolph won’t have to worry about the rest of the band being able to keep up. Holding down the rhythm section with for Robert Randolph & Friends will be bassist MonoNeon and drummer Robert Sput Searight. The two world-class players have plenty of experience playing together with Ghost-Note as well as on a variety of other special lineups. At the inaugural Denver Comes Alive in January, MonoNeon, Sput, and fellow Ghost-Note member Nate Werth backed up Eric Krasno and Neal Evans on a string of Soulive favorites for the explosive debut of Ghost-Note/Soulive mashup act, Ghost-Live. They’re sure to provide a rock-solid foundation for this special Robert Randolph & Friends performance. Check out a full video of Ghost-Live at Denver Comes Alive below:
Ghost-Live – Denver Comes Alive – 1/31/20 – Full Video
The presence of saxophonist/flutist Karl Denson and keyboardist/vocalist Ivan Neville will also up the ante on this set. The Tiny Universe bandleader (Denson) and the Dumpstaphunk frontman (Neville), are both seasoned veterans of special, collaborative shows. In fact, one of the highlight moments during this year’s Jam Cruise was when Denson and Neville helped nearly blow the roof off the ship’s Pantheon Theater during a Turkuaz & Friends set which saw the power-funk band recreate Parliament‘s 1977 Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome album with help from a number of performers also on the BCA lineup. Watch the all-star group perform “Bop Gun (Endangered Species)” on Jam Cruise below:
Robert Randolph and Rashawn Ross are no strangers to one another, either. The pedal-steel maestro player has shared the stage with Dave Matthews Band on various occasions in recent years. Randolph was on hand at the PNC Bank Arts Center the night DMB headlined the New Jersey amphitheater in July 2018, where he joined Ross, Matthews, and company for a sit-in performance of “Corn Bread”. Relive the 2018 sit-in below:
Dave Matthews Band w/ Robert Randolph – “Corn Bread” – 7/18/18
[Video: A Proud Monkey]
Robert Randolph & Friends will be but one act among a massive lineup at Brooklyn Comes Alive on March 21st. Other scheduled performances include Oteil Burbridge & Friends with members of Dead & Company, Soulive, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Lettuce, and more; Birds of a Feather featuring members of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Goose; Turkuaz with special guests Cory Henry, Robert Sput Searight, and Nate Werth; The Motet with special guests Oz Noy, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, and Shira Elias; Anomalie / Deitch / MonoNeon; Lettuce/Dumpstaphunk supergroup Dr. Klaw; SPAGA Plays The Dead; undead funk outfit Here Come the Mummies; and bassist/DJ Karina Rykman; as well as late-night performances by Jade Cicada, Potions, and 5AM Trio and a rare DJ set by Beats Antique.
Tickets to Brooklyn Comes Alive 2020 are on sale now. A festival pass to Brooklyn Comes Alive grants attendees access to the full schedule of programming across both stages, including the late-night sets. Fans can also purchase late-night-only passes, which grant attendees access to The Great Hall only from 12:00 a.m.–4:00 a.m. Brooklyn Comes Alive late-night passes can be purchased here.
Stay tuned to the official Brooklyn Comes Alive website and follow the Facebook event page for more information.
