The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys Debut in Minnesota

at the New Century Theatre, Sunday, June 14, 2015

Tickets On Sale Now!

"...one of the zingiest of the new hot jazz bands from the Crescent City..."The Wall Street Journal

"Recalls the New Orleans music of roughly a century ago, with youthful, high-spirited aplomb."Nate Chinen, The New York Times

MINNEAPOLISHennepin Theatre Trust announced today that The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys Traditional Jass Band, one of the most exciting, soulful, versatile and foot-tapping New Orleans-style bands to storm the planet in recent years, will play the New Century Theatre at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2015. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the New Century Theatre Box Office, 615 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, by calling 612-455-9501, or at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys are a talented group of young musicians rooted in the New Orleans music scene, with a big accessible sound based in old style jazz or jass from the 1900-1930s era. They liberally mix the traditional with blues, vaudeville, modern jazz adaptations and other styles. Founded in October 2012, they've already sold out major venues and rocked stages for thousands of people in the United States and abroad. The band is on a roll with more ahead. 2014 was a banner year, marked by a sold-out February performance at the Blue Note in New York City and the release of two new albumsSwamp Donkey (all pre-1930s covers) and Donkey Business (all original material). They also closed out the first weekend of the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

The group gained international fame on the Internet when their version of the Game of Thrones theme song, performed at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York, went viral, garnering close to a million views. They followed this success with a European tour featuring performances at JazzAscona in Switzerland, Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and special appearances in France, Spain and Monaco. They also continue to play local festivals and intimate venues like the New Century Theatre.

James Williams, the groups founder, is known for a soulful and sweet voice reminiscent of Louis Armstrong. Sam Friend, the other front man, is an audience-wooing, banjo-strumming, song-writing extraordinaire. Other Donkeys include Wes Quad Anderson IV on sousaphone/tuba and trombone, Haruka Kikuchi, trombone, Josh Jams Marotta, percussion, and Connor Stewart on clarinet and saxophone. For more information, visit http://neworleansswampdonkeys.com.

TICKET INFORMATION

The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys perform at 7 p.m., Sunday, June 14, 2015. The concert will be held at Hennepin Theatre Trusts New Century Theatre (615 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 55403). Tickets are on sale now and range from $15 standing/dancing to $25 seated, both general admission. Additional fees may apply. Tickets can be purchased by calling 612.455.9501 or in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre Box Office (ground floor of City Center in downtown Minneapolis). Tickets are also available online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org