Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Jambase has the story:
Toubab Krewe kicks off the second leg of its U.S. Spring Tour this weekend with shows in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. The tour continues from coast to coast, with new dates added throughout the country.
Joining Toubab Krewe onstage for much of its California run will be special guest artist Rayna Gellert on fiddle. A world renowned fiddle player best known as a member of Uncle Earl, Gellert is a long time friend and musical collaborator who most recently played with the band during its New Year’s Eve run in Asheville, NC. Her California guest appearances culminate with an April 18 show at 12 Galaxies in San Francisco as part of the national Green Apple Music Festival.
The tour continues throughout Southern California and the Southwest, where stops include the McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Scottsdale, AZ, the House of Blues in Dallas, TX and Stubbs BBQ in Austin, TX. From there, the band heads to New Orleans for a run of shows during Jazz Fest, and then onward to the Northeast.
Toubab Krewe’s May 10 show in New York City has changed venues from the Highline Ballroom to the Blender Theater at Gramercy. This show will feature collaborations with legendary spoken word artist Umar Bin Hassan, known for his groundbreaking work with The Last Poets, Common, Tribe Called Quest, and many others.
Playing several more dates in the Northeast, the band closes things out at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT on May 16, a homecoming show for bassist and native Vermonter Dave Pransky. This summer the band plans to finish up its much anticipated new album with Grammy winning producer Steven Heller, as well as make its first tour of Europe (dates TBA).
