All photos by Braden Piper.
New Orleans Brass Funk Rockers Bonerama took to the Festival Stage on the first weekend Saturday ahead of Galactic and The Who to a massive crowd. As is Jazz Fest tradition, the band was joined on stage by two sons of two bandmembers, Matt Perrine’s son Ben sat in on the drum set, and Mark Mullins’ son Michael provided guest vocals. The crowd was rocking, and loving the performance. It’s good to be back at the Fest!
The upcoming album from Kevin & The Blues Groovers, Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Blues is now available for pre-order in the Basin Street Records store! Hear why the American Idol judges gave frontman Kevin Gullage multiple standing ovations and called his performance “incredible.” Hear the album before anyone else by pre-ordering; pre-orders of the new album will be shipped two weeks before the release date of July 15, 2022.
Basin Street Records have teamed up with the talented, young phenom Kevin Gullage and his band of Blues Groovers to bring you Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Blues. You may recognize that inimitable smile on the front cover, as Kevin Gullage recently graced the stages of ABC’s American Idol, wowing the judges, advancing to Hollywood, and making it to the final 50 contestants. While he won’t be the next American Idol, Kevin is motoring forward with the release of his first full-length LP, several tour dates, and a residency with Disney Cruise Lines. While many were introduced to Kevin Gullage through the Idol stage, the young entertainer has a long resume, and quite the existing following in his hometown of New Orleans. A graduate of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp (whose alumni include Jon Batiste, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, and “Big Sam” Williams), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and Loyola University New Orleans—his musical education is outshined only by his practical experience growing up in the orbit of New Orleans legends such as Henry Butler and Davell Crawford, performing on stage with Blues Traveler, appearing in films with Chevy Chase & Wendell Pierce, holding a residency at B.B. King’s Blues Club New Orleans, and being welcomed as an official Hammond artist. Reflecting on his Idol experience Kevin says, “Idol wasn’t the stage meant for me. I could never argue that,” but assures his fans, “I love you all and I promise I will see you soon!” The release of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed Blues is an integral step in Kevin’s musical mission to bring his music to the world.
There’s a reason the biggest word on the album cover is BLUES; this is the blues album of the year. With a professional polish featuring not only the Blues Groovers, but a large cast of special guests, and ensemble players, this album is full of juicy horn stabs, searing guitar solos, and a whole lot of soul. The apt title gives the listener an idea of what to expect, as the album explores many avenues of blues music with classics such as “Sweet Home Chicago,” which appropriately features Chicago blues-man, Ronnie Baker Brooks on guitar paying homage to the Chicago-blues legacy, and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do” representing “something old.” Gullage flexes his songwriting chops presenting “something new” with several new original works including “Movin’ On,” “So Called Friends of Mine,” and “My Baby Gave Me The Blues (feat. Norman Sylvester)” With these compositions young piano-playing singer demonstrates he has the life experience to craft great blues songs. With their bluesified version of the as-made-famous-by Amy Winehouse hit “Valerie” Kevin & the Blues Groovers show they are comfortable borrowing songs from any genre to lay down some blues. The album is rounded out with a Little Milton blues anthem performed by many blues bands the world over, and a statement anyone can get behind, “The Blues is Alright.”
French Quarter Fest returned to New Orleans for the first time since 2019, and we were excited to have a number of our artists perform! Check out some of the photos from their performances! All photos by Braden Piper.
Kevin Gullage continues to impress the American Idol judges. This week he was featured in a duet with Yoli Mayor where the two performed an original arrangement of “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better.” Luke Bryan had no doubt in his voice saying, “You two are definitely going on to the next round.”
So stay tuned next week, as we continue to follow Kevin’s amazing American Idol journey.