Brooklyn Comes Alive has always provided artists with an opportunity to try new things, to explore new musical bonds, and to show off new projects. At this year’s event, Wil Blades (Dr. Lonnie Smith, Adam Deitch Quartet), Nigel Hall (Lettuce), Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note), and Nate Werth (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note) will bring their newest side-project, Switch Hitters, to Williamsburg, Brooklyn for the band’s first-ever show in the Northeast. The newly formed band gets its name because, as Nigel Hall explained on Facebook, “We like to commandeer each other’s instruments when the spirit moves us, hence Switch Hitters.”
The Switch Hitters’ rhythm section is locked down by the formidable percussion duo of Sput and Nate Werth. Both have become icons of the modern drumming and percussion world, with both pioneering musicians earning critical acclaim—including Grammy Awards—for their work with Snarky Puppy, and, more recently, their new project Ghost-Note. Nigel Hall, the fan-favorite Lettuce vocalist and keyboardist, adds a soulful punch to the lineup, bringing his commanding and charismatic energy to the band. Wil Blades, the dynamic, virtuosic jazz-organist, rounds out the Switch Hitters lineup.
The Switch Hitters’ presence on the fourth-annual Brooklyn Comes Alive lineup is surely a tantalizing surprise but fits well into the ethos of the one-day music festival. Inspired by the vibrant musical communities of Brooklyn and New Orleans, Brooklyn Comes Alive brings together more than 50 artists, allowing them to carry out passion projects, play with their musical heroes, and collaborate in never-before-seen formations. For more information, ticketing, and to see the full list of performers scheduled for Brooklyn Comes Alive 2018, head to the festival’s website here.
In early 2018, The Switch Hitters made their debut in San Francisco, tearing up the iconic Boom Boom Room with a wild performance that wowed audiences. Following up this debut performance, The Switch Hitters headed to New Orleans in the spring, offering up a triumphant show at One Eyed Jack’s during Jazz Fest. While the group’s past performances are limited, the band has more than proved itself with its pedigree lineup, featuring renowned artists.
As Werth noted, “Playing some of my favorite music with some of my favorite musicians. We are grown men having a blast on stage, and feeling SOULFUL! Every show is filled with surprises because we just follow the flow and do what we feel.”
The fourth-annual Brooklyn Comes Alive will return to Brooklyn’s beloved Williamsburg neighborhood on September 29th for an all-day music marathon at Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg and Rough Trade. Inspired by the vibrant musical communities of Brooklyn and New Orleans, Brooklyn Comes Alive brings together more than 50 artists, allowing them to carry out passion projects, play with their musical heroes, and collaborate in never-before-seen formations. For more information, ticketing, and to see the full list of performers scheduled for Brooklyn Comes Alive 2018, head to the festival’s website here.
