On Wednesday, May 1st, Gov’t Mule will close out the two-day 2024 edition of Daze Between New Orleans at New Orleans, LA’s Faubourg Brewery with a special performance featuring a number of guests—many of them with long, storied histories of collaborating with Mule and the band’s celebrated guitarist and frontman, Warren Haynes. With Mule in the midst of its 30th anniversary year and a reunion with old friends on the docket at Daze Between New Orleans, we asked Warren Haynes to reflect on his artistic relationship with each of the artists due to sit in at the festival.

Read Warren’s reflections and check out photos and videos of the guests set to join Gov’t Mule at Daze Between New Orleans below. Single-day and two-day tickets to Daze Between New Orleans are on sale here. If you can’t make it in person, you can subscribe to nugs.net here to access livestreams of every set.

1. John Scofield
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[Photo: Dino Perrucci via Gov’t Mule – Gov’t Mule w/ John Scofield, March 2015]

As many Mule fans know, in 1999, we (myself, Matt Abts and Allen Woody) invited John Scofield to join us for two shows at The Roxy in Atlanta. It was something new and different for us—focusing mainly on instrumental songs. The plan going in was to release a record from the shows pretty soon after the shows. But following Woody’s death and our focusing on The Deep End projects, then recording new music, the live album we recorded over those two nights went on the back burner until the time was right to release it.

That turned out to be 15+ years later, when, in 2015, we not only released the Sco-Mule live record, but we also got the opportunity to bring Sco out on tour with us. Those 20 or so shows remain some of my favorites and, arguably, contain some of the most exploratory and adventurous playing we’ve ever done in Gov’t Mule. The last time Sco sat in with Mule was at Peach Fest in 2017, so we’re really looking forward to this one.

Gov’t Mule & John Scofield – “Stratus” (Billy Cobham) – 3/12/15

[Video: Less Than Face Productions]

2. Chuck Leavell
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[Photo: Jim Baadshaug via Gov’t Mule – Gov’t Mule w/ Chuck Leavell, 3/29/01]

There’s not much I can say about Chuck that hasn’t already been said. He’s one of the best and most accomplished keyboard players of all time. You don’t become an Allman Brother and a Rolling Stone if you’re not. Chuck created a style of playing that’s unique and instantly recognizable. Gov’t Mule’s first tour after Woody passed away featured Chuck on keys along with either Dave Schools or Oteil Burbridge on bass. Anytime we get to play together it’s always a blast.

Gov’t Mule – “Southbound” (Allman Brothers Band) – 12/31/15

[Video: Sergio]

3. Ivan Neville
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[Photo: Jay Blakesberg via Gov’t Mule – Gov’t Mule w/ Ivan Neville, 5/2/08]

My relationship with Ivan goes back to me playing on one of his first solo albums. Since then, we’ve played together dozens of times in numerous different situations including on the Gov’t Mule Deepest End live show at the Saenger Theatre [in New Orleans during Jazz Fest 2003] and on my solo album, Man In Motion. Ivan also contributed his amazing voice to the song “Dreaming Out Loud” on the Gov’t Mule album Peace…Like A River.

Gov’t Mule w/ Ivan Neville, Béla Fleck, Karl Denson, Bernie Worrell, More – The Deepest End (Live in New Orleans) – 5/3/03 – Full Show

[Video: willm62690]

4. Karl Denson
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[Photo: Jim Baadshaug via Gov’t Mule – Gov’t Mule w/ Karl Denson, 2/18/03]

In early 2003, Karl came on tour with Gov’t Mule for a week or so, sitting in nightly. It allowed us to explore the songs in a brand new way which I think stuck with us long after those shows. It’s been a while since we’ve all played together, making Daze Between New Orleans ever more special—if that’s possible.

Gov’t Mule w/ Karl Denson – 2/18/03

5. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

[Photo: Jay Blakesberg via Gov’t Mule – Gov’t Mule w/ The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 5/2/08]

I believe the first time the Dirty Dozen Brass Band horns sat in with Gov’t Mule was at the Deepest End concert at the Saenger Theatre, which is a show and night everyone who was there will remember as being extremely special. We had a short rehearsal that afternoon, but for the most part, it all came together on stage, as many of the best musical moments tend to. Since that night, whenever we’re in New Orleans or at the same festival and our schedules allow, we invite them to sit in with us. It’s been a few years since we played together, so we’re all really looking forward to it.

Gov’t Mule w/ The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Horns – “Chameleon” (Herbie Hancock) – The Deepest End (Live in New Orleans) – 5/3/03

[Video: floydivision]

6. Daniel Donato

Daniel is actually the one special guest at Daze Between New Orleans who I haven’t met or played with, although I’m a fan of his music. I’m really looking forward to meeting him and us getting to start a musical conversation which I hope will continue for years to come.

Daze Between New Orleans featuring Gov’t Mule and more is set to take place at New Orleans, LA’s Faubourg Brewery on Tuesday, April 30th and Wednesday, May 1st. In addition to the guest-filled, festival-closing Mule set, the artist lineup includes Lettuce with John Scofield, Krasno/Moore Project, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dogs In A Pile, Cool Cool Cool, The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Galactic featuring Jelly Joseph, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Karina Rykman, and The Iceman Special.

Single-day and two-day tickets to Daze Between New Orleans 2024 are on sale here. View the full daily schedules here. If you can’t make it in person, you can subscribe to nugs.net here to access livestreams of every set.

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Daze Between New Orleans featuring Gov’t Mule and more is part of Live For Live Music and GMP Live’s 2024 Fest by Nite series in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. Confirmed Fest by Nite 2024 events include:

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