BIG EARS CELEBRATES MARDI GRAS
While Mardi Gras has come and gone, the Carnival spirit will live on during Big Ears 2024.
Jon Batise
In a throwback from 2021, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, with special guests and friends from New Orleans, Trinidad & Tobago, and Brazil perform a medley of songs as a way to come together and virtually celebrate Carnival and Mardi Gras. We couldn’t be any more excited for Jon Batiste to bring the party to the Big Ears Festival on Sunday, March 24.
Leyla McCalla
A couple of weeks ago Grammy Award-winning folk purveyor Leyla McCalla, who honed her craft playing music on the streets of the French Quarter, announced that her new album ‘Sun Without the Heat’ will be released in April. “Scaled to Survive,” one of two singles she has already released, is about the connection between parents and their children. Accompanying the single is a playful video described by McCalla as a “kids dress up party” that features her three children. Enjoy the fun video while you wait to see Lelya McCalla on both Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23.
Watch: Leyla McCalla’s “Scaled to Survive”
Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista is a Brazilian-born percussionist and composer whose vast talent and penchant for innovation has brought him praise and respect around the world. Baptista’s endless sonic curiosity and intense rhythm led him to create several musical ensembles and record many albums of his own. He has also lent his sounds to several Grammy Award-winning records and to over 300 albums with many of the most beloved musicians in the world. Baptista’s been bringing the spirit to Big Ears for years now, and we’re psyched for him to return with his new band Chama, on Sunday, March 24. This is only two minutes long so you may need to put it on repeat, all afternoon long.
Watch: Cyro Baptista’s “PERIGO NA ÁREA”
Son Rompe Pera
Son Rompe Pera is bringing the party to the Big Ears Festival for two days: Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. Their live shows are a sweaty mess of dancing fans, and this garage-cumbia-marimba-punk band (the only band of its kind in the world) never disappoints on stage. Check out Son Rompe Pera performing “Cumbia Algarrobera” in anticipation of their Big Ears Festival debut next month.
