(ARDMORE, PA) -- Three generations of African-American music will converge on Ardmore Music Hall to celebrate Juneteenth (June 19) when New Orleans brass institution, The Soul Rebels, world-renowned trombonist and James Brown collaborator Fred Wesley, and bass legend Marcus Miller (who has performed with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock among many others) join forces for a one-night-only funk, soul and jazz-influenced collaboration.
The Soul Rebels are the torchbearers of New Orleans and contemporary brass music. They honor the tradition and blend funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock all within the style of a modernized brass collective. The bands’ incredible career has driven them to perform and collaborate with artists ranging Nas, Wu Tang Clan, Robert Glasper, Bob Weir, DMX, Metallica, Katy Perry and many more famed artists. The Soul Rebels built a career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and drums in a party-like atmosphere. The eight-member collective frequently appears on major record label releases with star artists including Sony Music artist G-Eazy’s single ‘When You’re Gone” featuring Lil Wayne, Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ “Godfather 4”, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s “Pipe That” and Warner Music Group artist Phony Ppl’s new album, to name a few. The band scored original music for Walt Disney’s 2023 movie Haunted Mansion and appeared on the official soundtrack for Universal Pictures' hit comedy Girls Trip. The Soul Rebels continue to chart new territory and are respected for their ability to collaborate and combine topnotch musicianship with songs that celebrate peace, love and soul.
An essential member of James Brown’s bands in the 1960s and ‘70s, Fred Wesley helped create the foundation of funk on tracks like “Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “Funky Drummer” and “Hot Pants,” which he co-wrote. He also contributed to classics with the J.B.’s and Parliament-Funkadelic and has since performed with the Count Basie Orchestra and served as a visiting artist at some of the country’s most prestigious music programs, including Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Bassist Marcus Miller has enjoyed an over four-decades-long career playing with many of the best musicians on the planet. His work in the 1980s includes serving as the principal songwriter and producer on multiple Miles Davis albums and collaborating on hits like Luther Vandross’ “I Really Didn’t Mean It” and “Power of Love/Love Power” and Experience Unlimited’s dance floor anthem, “Da Butt.” He has released 13 albums of original material including multiple that have topped Billboard’s Top 25 Jazz Albums chart and his recording credits include work with Michael Jackson, Beyonce, George Benson and Chaka Khan among others.
The federal holiday of Juneteenth, held every June 19th, is observed to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, and amplifies the rich and essential heritage and contributions of African Americans and African American culture in this country for hundreds of years. As one of the premier presenters of live music in the region, Ardmore Music Hall is honored to bring this one-of-a-kind, improvisational collaboration between these master musicians to the Philadelphia area.
Tickets for this event will go on sale at https://ardmoremusichall.com on Friday, April 12th at 10:00am EST.
Ardmore Music Hall is one of the premier independent music venues in the Northeast for nationally touring concerts, and our location at 23 East has a storied history of 40+ years of shows as a rock club. Located just 3 miles outside Philadelphia PA on the Main Line, AMH serves fans of the western suburbs and Philly proper alike, and hosts programming ranging from rock & roll to funk, jam, roots, adult contemporary, hip hop, Americana and everything in between.
A concert venue established in 2013, Ardmore Music Hall has played host to a wide variety of legendary world class talent on its stage- George Clinton & P-Funk, The Hooters, Toots & the Maytals, The Disco Biscuits, The Psychedelic Furs, Stanley Clarke, Television, Snarky Puppy, members of the Grateful Dead & Phish, Ghostface Killah, Macy Gray, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Dr. John, Steve Earle and Railroad Earth are just a few of the all time greats to visit our humble town of Ardmore PA.
