[Originally published 1/12/26; Updated 1/27/26]: Iconic funk group The Meters, one of the most influential acts to ever come out of New Orleans, will reunite for a concert at the ornate Saenger Theatre during Jazz Fest 2026. The special performance, set to take place on Saturday, May 2nd, will mark the band’s first time performing as The Meters since the 2019 passing of founding singer and keyboardist Art Neville.

For this show, Meters co-founders Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter Jr. (bass), and Leo Nocentelli (guitar) will reunite under the Meters banner for the first time since 2017. Also joining The Meters at the Saenger are longtime percussionist and vocalist Cyril Neville and keyboardist Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), who will take the place of the late Art Neville, his uncle. The announcement also hints at “very special guests” to be announced.

[Update 1/12/26]: After The Meters’ show at the Saenger Theatre sold out within an hour of going on sale, the band announced an additional show at The Fillmore New Orleans on Friday, April 24th. Find ticketing details for the newly added April 24th show by The Meters here.

Formed in 1965, The Meters were a pioneering voice of the funk movement that followed in the next decade-plus, helping introduce a uniquely New Orleans sound to a national audience. Through seminal albums Look-Ka Py Py, Struttin’, Rejuvenation, Fire on the Bayou, and their 1969 self-titled debut, The Meters codified the foundations of funk music.

Beyond the band’s own official output, Art, George, Leo, and Zigaboo served as artists-in-residence at storied songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint’s New Orleans studio, Sansu Enterprises. The Meters’ session résumé during that time includes notable records by Dr. John, Patti Labelle, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, and countless others—in theory, anyway. In most cases, the band was not originally credited on the records despite their integral contributions.

Though they had some modestly charting singles and albums, The Meters never achieved mainstream popularity during their initial run. Nevertheless, the sound they pioneered went on to influence generations of musicians across many genres, from funk to rock to jazz to pop to hip-hop and beyond.

The Meters largely disbanded in the late 1970s but went on to stage various reunions over the years, often under altered monikers including The Funky Meters, The Meter Men, and The Original Meters. Last year, George and Leo reunited for a set at Daze Between New Orleans during the “days between” Jazz Fest weekends. The band featured Stanton Moore (Galactic) on drums and Ivan Neville on keys.

“I think if we’d have knew then what we kind of know now, we rethink going our separate ways,” Porter told Live For Live Music in 2020. “I always said that if the Meters had a clue of the longevity of the music, that they probably would’ve reconsidered breaking up.”

Dig into more of The Meters’ history here and get the story from George Porter Jr. here.

The Meters – The Saenger Theatre – Full 1980 Concert
 

The Meters’ reunion shows at the Saenger Theatre and The Fillmore New Orleans are part of Live For Live Music and GMP Live‘s Fest by Nite concert series in New Orleans during Jazz Fest 2026. Other Fest by Nite 2026 concerts include:

  • Fri, Apr 24 – The Meters w/ Dumpstaphunk – The Fillmore New Orleans – Tickets | Details
  • Thu, Apr 23  – STS9 – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
  • Fri, Apr 24 – STS9 – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
  • Tue, Apr 28 – Dogs In A Pile – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details
  • Tue, Apr 28 – Grahame Lesh & Friends ft. Oteil Burbridge, Bill Payne, Daniel Donato, More – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
  • Wed, Apr 29 – Grahame Lesh & Friends ft. Ivan Neville, Jake Brownstein, Cory Henry, More – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
  • Thu, Apr 30 – Lettuce: RAGE!FEST – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
  • Sat, May 2 – The Meters – Saenger Theatre – Tickets (SOLD OUT) | Details