Fresh off his performance opening the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony last week, Trombone Shorty is gearing up for a milestone birthday and concert. Set for Saturday, April 25, the event dubbed “Shorty Turns 40” will celebrate the Grammy-winning New Orleans musician with an array of special guests. What’s more, the party takes place during New Orleans’ signature musical season, that of Jazz Fest.
Shorty Turns 40, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of his Treme Threauxdown concert, will take place at the Saenger Theatre. Along with a performance by Shorty and Orleans Avenue, the lineup includes Crescent City stars like Branford Marsalis, Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr. of the Meters, and Irma Thomas. Country star Eric Church, who welcomed Shorty to his 2022 Gather Again Tour to collab on Church’s song “Cold One,” is also on the bill, as is Leon Bridges, Joan Jett, Grace Potter, and Jill Scott. More guests are expected to be announced.
In 2013, Shorty spoke to Rolling Stone about his role in helping reunite seminal New Orleans band the Meters. “[My cousin] told me I wouldn’t be able to pull it off because they haven’t gotten together in 30-something years,” Shorty said. “I called each member, and each one had a little moment of silence when I told them what my idea was. At that moment, I was iffy about whether it was going to work out or not.”
Tickets for Shorty Turns 40, produced by Blackbird Presents, are on sale now at the event’s website.
Last weekend, Trombone Shorty joined Potter, Maggie Rose, Israel Houghton, and Lila Iké to perform “Shining Star” at the Grammy Awards’ pre-tel ceremony. At last year’s Super Bowl, Shorty delivered an energetic rendition of “America the Beautiful” with Lauren Daigle. (At this Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, the “America the Beautiful” performance will come from Brandi Carlile.)
