The Tanks Arts Centre launches its Jazz Up North series for 2017 this Friday March 3rd with a street parade/ party ensemble that promises to bring the New Orleans direct to Cairns.

Grammy-nominated eight-piece street band Hot 8 Brass Band will embark on their first Australian tour next month, bringing with them the undiluted energy of the New Orleans ‘Second Line’ parades.

“Cairns fans can stay right where they are and we’ll bring New Orleans and the essence of the city and its culture to them, signed, sealed and delivered,” band leader and tuba player Bennie Pete says.

One of the great New Orleans acts, Hot 8 have transcended genres and trends throughout their twenty year career, delighting crowds with their rambunctious mix of hip hop, funk and inimitable Big Easy jazz, and selling out strings of headlines and festivals with their jubilant New Orleans-style parade.

Ingenious arrangements and an utterly infectious grooves are spliced with traditional jazz and combined with elements of contemporary R&B, rap and Deep South variation ‘bounce’ – this is the real Louisiana deal.

The band has released two of their own records and featured in two of Spike Lee’s documentaries, bringing them national and international exposure helping to fuel a steady touring schedule.

The story of the Hot 8 Brass Band has been one of tragedy and triumph and amidst the hype and world tours, Hot 8 have pushed through a barely imaginable series of trials.

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the separate deaths of five band members due to street violence, and the horror of trumpeter Terrell “Burger” Batiste losing his legs, have tested these men almost to breaking point.

“Most of our tunes have a message, even if it has no lyrics,” Pete says.

Tickets available through Ticketlink

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