The HeadCount Participation Party in association with Magic Hat is a celebration of democracy as the presidential election approaches, and will kick off its 3rd election season tour with headliners Anders Osborne and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk plus surprise guests to be announced.  Produced by NYC-based promoters CEG Presents & Nolafunk in association with the Blue Note Entertainment Group, the tour will hit Baltimore (11/2), Philadelphia (11/3) and Washington, DC (11/4); culminating on November 5th, with the official Participation Party in New York City at the Highline Ballroom. Under the Nolafunk moniker, CEG honors the musical heroes and spirit of New Orleans in New York City all year round, as well as in New Orleans during the evenings and weekends of Jazz Fest. This is Nolafunk’s first foray into Philadelphia, Baltimore, and DC, and they have partnered with long-time collaborators, the Blue Note Entertainment Group on the four show run.

 

Founded by HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy, the tour and organization have registered over 200,000 voters since its inception in 2004.  HeadCount, whose board members include Bob Weir and Marc Brownstein (Disco Biscuits), operates with a huge volunteer network that registers voters at as many as 1,000 concerts a year (Phish, Wilco and the Dave Matthews Band, to name a few).

 

"This tour is a celebration of participation and democracy,” says executive director Andy Bernstein, who partnered with like-minded Brewing Company, Magic Hat for the tour.  “Music is an inspirational force like no other. So we hope that by turning the election into a cultural event, people all over the country will get primed and ready to cast their votes."

 

Anders Osborne, the Swedish-born guitarist and songwriter, left home at 16 to travel nearly every continent before settling in New Orleans, the city that would inspire his work.  Since building his new home in 1984, Anders’ music has been swampy blues, country-rock and anything that lies between.   Newly sober, his new album ‘Black Eye Galaxy’ (Alligator, 2012) reflects Osborne’s life as a “traveler, musician, an immigrant, a recovering addict, and as a husband and father.”  Anders has also written Tim McGraw’s #1 hit, “Watch the Wind Blow By.

 

One of New Orleans most prestigious funk ensembles, Dumpstaphunk was formed in 2003 by keyboardist Ivan Neville and his cousin, guitarist Ian Neville.  Rooted in 70s inner-city funk, the band offers a direct lineage to their fathers in the Meters and the Neville Brothers.  (“Ivan’s so good…I play with him!” - Keith Richards.)  The band also features the unique double-bass lineup of Nick Daniels and Tony Hall, with (Beyonce’s) drummer Nikki Glaspie.  Named by the New York Times as “the best funk band from New Orleans right now,” Dumpstaphunk has earned praise for its first album ‘Everybody Wants Sum’, which includes the Warren Haynes co-write“Outta Know Better” and a cover of the obscure Meter’s song “Standin’ In Your Stuff”.

 

For more information, please visit HeadCount.org and Nolafunk.com.

Friday November 2            Baltimore Sound Stage      Baltimore, MD

Saturday November 3        The Blockley                    Philadelphia, PA

Sunday November 4          The Howard Theatre        Washington, DC

Monday November 5          Highline Ballroom              New York, NY

 

Tickets go on sale Friday July 27 at noon for all markets. Limited VIP tickets are available in all markets. All tickets can be purchased through Ticketweb.com and (866) 468-7619 and the venue’s websites.