NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Just days before Dumpstaphunk celebrates their 10th Anniversary on the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Gambit Weekly's 25th Annual Big Easy Awards will honor the local funk ensemble Monday, April 22 with the "Ambassador of Entertainment" special recognition award for championing New Orleans music, culture and charity to new audiences nationwide. The event, held at Harrah's New Orleans Hotel and Casino, will also honor The Meters with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" and Anders Osborne as "Entertainer of the Year."
"Ambassador of Entertainment is an award that honors artists that are spreading the spirit of New Orleans outside of our local community, a liaison to the rest of the world that brings a national spotlight to the culture that we have here," Gambit Marketing Director Marie Lovejoy explained. "We felt that from their extensive touring schedule to far-reaching press in publications like Rolling Stone and charity concert supporting Superstorm Sandy relief efforts, Dumpstaphunk really brought New Orleans to new heights. They had a knockout year and represented our city in such a positive way to a new spectrum of audiences nationwide, that we're eager to recognize their success at this years awards."
"It's probably the most soulful place in the world, New Orleans" said Dumpstaphunk keyboardist Ivan Neville. "The people that live here and the culture our community creates is something that everyone should experience in their life. We are proud to call New Orleans home and share its positivity through our music every day."
In addition to the event's special recognition awards, the 2013 Big Easy Awards will also honor local artists in more than 20 music categories, for which Dumpstaphunk has been nominated as "Best Funk Band" alongside Galactic and Khris Royal's Dark Matter. The winners will be announced at the April 22 ceremony, which will also feature live performances from several nominated artists. For ticket information and reservations to attend the Big Easy Awards, call (504) 483-3129.
ABOUT DUMPSTAPHUNK
"Dumpstaphunk has grown from a small side project into one of New Orleans' most prestigious modern funk ensembles." -- Rolling Stone
"I have a new favorite New Orleans funk band: Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk" -- New York Times
"One of the hippest funk bands in the land." -- Guitar Player
Nearly a decade evolved from their debut at 2003's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Dumpstaphunk offers fans an unforgettable live experience steeped in the "Big Easy" tradition of a good time. The all-star collective features Ivan Neville on keys, the unique double-bass attack of veterans Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III, Ian Neville on guitar, and the monster addition of Nikki Glaspie on drums. From annual performances at New Orleans Jazz Fest -- "The colossal low end and filthy grooves they threw down from the Gentilly Stage must have set a Jazz Fest record for one of the baddest bass jams ever." (Bass Player, 2012) -- to music rooms and festivals across the nation like Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, All Good, High Sierra and beyond, Dumpstaphunk continues to spread an unmistakable groove with their hard-hitting performances that dares listeners not to move. "It's probably the most soulful place in the world, New Orleans," Ivan boasts. "Call us ambassadors if you want, we're proud to represent for the city and share that soulfulness with the word."
Dumpstaphunk's forthcoming studio album, Dirty Word (June 2013), re-imagines the boundaries of an entire genre, holding true to the opinionated, vintage funk of their forefathers in The Meters, Sly & the Family Stone and Parliament Funkadelic, but with a modern edge that forays into gospel, blues, and straight-up Rock n' Roll. New music from Dirty Word also boasts guest appearances by Dumpsta's friends and family including Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Rebirth Brass Band, Art Neville, Ani DiFranco, Skerik and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "We always keep the spontaneity going, that's something I love about this band. We can funk it out with the best of them, but we also like to showcase how all sorts of music can come together and push the boundaries of what funk music is,"? said Ivan. "We just hope to spread the good word through funk," added drummer Glaspie. "If we can create an escape, give people a reason to get down and forget their problems, then we're doing what we set out to."
For tour dates and an exclusive first listen of Dirty Word, visit www.dumpstaphunk.com.
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