Two of the scene’s biggest funk acts, Galactic and The Motet, are gearing up for a co-headlining blowout at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Friday, July 12th. New York City-based funk-jazz outfit Moon Hooch will handle the evening’s opening duties at the storied natural amphitheater.

A beloved Colorado staple, The Motet—currently comprised of Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keys), Garret Sayers (bass), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), Lyle Divinsky (vocals), Drew Sayers (sax), and Parris Flemming (trumpet)—has regularly hosted a summer celebration at Red Rocks for years complete with a diverse array of special guests. This year, The Motet will add to their long, decorated Red Rocks history with the help of special guests Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band) and Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation).

Since emerging in 1998, the Motet boys have cooked up eight full-length albums and entranced countless crowds. In 2015, the band co-headlined Red Rocks for the first time alongside their funky Lettuce brethren. The following year, the seven-piece offered up their first-ever headlining play at Red Rocks and their first with the band both Lyle Divinsky and Drew Sayers in the mix.

The 2016 Red Rocks blowout in support of 2016’s Totem—Lyle and Drew’s first Morrison gig with The Motet—was a crash course in the power of the band and their passionate Colorado fanbase. The Motet’s 2016 Red Rocks blowout served as a sort of welcoming party for the newly minted members. As Divinsky recalls, “It was my six-month anniversary and first show for a hometown crowd. I’ve got 10,000 people looking at me like, ‘Who the hell is that?'”

In the years since, Divinsky and Sayers have ingratiated themselves with the band and its fans as full-fledged Motet family. The band also added Parris Flemming to round out their current hard-hitting lineup. Last summer, The new-look Motet teamed with BoomBox and The New Mastersounds for their annual hometown performance on the rocks, where they also welcomed The String Cheese Incident’s Jason Hann (percussion) and former band member Gabe Mervine (trumpet) to join in.

The Motet – Red Rocks 2017 Recap Video – “Supernova”

[Video: The Motet]

Earlier this year, The Motet released their latest LP, Death or Devotion, marking an important high point for the band as their first album to feature the full, current lineup throughout the writing and recording process. As they return to Red Rocks in 2019, the band finds themselves in full swing with their stellar new roster and plans to once again blow Colorado away.

As The Motet drummer Dave Watts reflects on the band’s return to Morrison,

Red Rocks is hands down the most epic venue our band has ever played. Every show there is special not only because of the visual effect of the natural environment but also how incredible the sound is. Actually, one of my favorite moments playing Red Rocks is during soundcheck before the PA has been turned on when I can hear my drums resonate off the rocks. The sound there is unique to any venue in the country. But, of course, the main reason we love playing Red Rocks is the chance to play in front of so many of our Colorado friends, family, and fans. Colorado has the best audience of anywhere in the country and when we all come together for a show at Red Rocks it’s pure magic.

In addition to the excitement onstage, The Motet will be helping fans get down in the crowd with their special new weed strain, StarMatter 303. The Motet’s buds will be available at all The Clinic locations beginning on July 1st, while Pax pods of StarMatter 303 are available now.

Related: The Motet’s Dave Watts & Lyle Divinsky Talk Motet On The Mesa, Red Rocks, Bananas Smoking Weed [Interview]

New Orleans funk favorites Galactic have also had a busy start to their year. The recent release of their 10th studio album, Already Ready Alreadymarked the band’s first new studio LP in more than three years. On Already Ready Already, Galactic takes a more contemporary approach than fans have come to expect, connecting elements of modern rhythms and electronic instrumentation with their Crescent City funk roots. The band—comprised of Jeff Raines (guitar), Stanton Moore (drums), Robert Mercurio (bass), Ben Ellman (saxophone/harmonica), and Richard Vogel (keyboards)—also recently finalized a deal to purchase Tipitina’s, a New Orleans club they’ve been visiting as both patrons and performers for nearly three decades.

Related: Stanton Moore Talks Galactic’s New Album, Buying Tipitina’s, & “Playing Like You Own The Place” [Interview]

The two bands are also no strangers to sharing the stage. As recently as this past February, the two stalwart funk acts mounted a run of shows together in the northeast in celebration of their respective new albums. This past spring during Jazz Fest, The Motet’s Lyle Divinsky joined Galactic at Tipitina’s for a soulful rendition of “Like A Rolling Stone”. You can watch a highlight video of the collab below:

Galactic w/ Lyle Divinsky, Erica Falls – “Like A Rolling Stone” [Bob Dylan cover]

[Video: The Motet]

Ahead of their Red Rocks co-bill, members of both Galactic and The Motet shared their thoughts and excitement about linking up once more at one of the world’s most iconic concert venues.

As The Motet’s Lyle Divinsky shares,

Galactic is an institution. They are the continuation of the New Orleans legend. They are funk. They are soul. They are 25 years of experiences and memories that they have gifted the masses of music lovers everywhere. When I began to fall in love with soul music, funk music, New Orleans music… they were a cornerstone for me; an open door welcoming me and anyone else to be filled with joy and have no choice but to dance. They have helped shape me as a musician, and to be able to share the stage with them, as well as one of my favorite singers in the world, Erica Falls, is an absolute dream.  Oh… and they put on one helluva a party!!!

Galactic also shared their thoughts on returning to Red Rocks with their brothers in The Motet. As the band explains in a statement,

We are so excited to get back to Red Rocks. It is definitely one of our favorite venues in the world. Shows just feel so special there and we think that this pairing with the Motet has to potential to be the most special night EVER.  The Motet has become such a deep funk posse, along with great friends of ours and we can’t wait to get down with them!

Tickets for The Motet, Galactic, and Moon Hooch concert at Red Rocks are still on sale here, so make sure to grab your tickets before it’s too late!

https://www.axs.com/events/365733/the-motet-galactic-tickets