The smooth sound of Jazz will fill the Apopka Amphitheater this Saturday night as the Psychedelic funk sextet Lettuce and legendary roots reggae band Steel Pulse will unite. With stops spanning from Miami, to Atlantic City, NJ, on the east coast and two dates in Ohio, each band will present full sets at every show with support by professional big wave surfer-turned-musician Makua Rothman.
In the spirit of summer, many of the performances will take place at some of the region’s premier outdoor venues and amphitheaters. But on June 17th, all roads lead to Apopka.
Both projects are coming off remarkable years and active spring schedules leading up to the summer tour. 2022 saw the release of Unify, Lettuce’s eighth studio album that got the endorsement from legendary funk icon Bootsy Collins who guests on vocals and bass on the anthemic lead single “Keep the Funk Alive.” The group has maintained an active schedule on the road supporting the release of Unify and will have racked up appearances at Jam Cruise; Backwoods Music Festival; a 3-night residency at the celebrated Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC; and a very special performance with the Louisiana Philharmonic and Tower of Power during Jazz Fest before uniting with Steel Pulse.
Formed in 1975, Steel Pulse has amassed 9 GRAMMY nominations and one win throughout their storied career. One of the nominations was for their latest studio offering, Mass Manipulation, which reflects on four decades committed to bettering mankind through music. The band will trek through club dates with Orange County-based, cross-cultural reggae band Common Kings; a pair of shows in Hawaii; an April 20th show at Red Rocks Amphitheater with The Marley Brothers; an appearance at São Paulo, Brazil’s Encontro das Tribos Festival alongside Wiz Khalifa, Ice Cube & more; and a one-off show in Martinique’s Mizik Nou - Live Festival prior to hitting the road with Lettuce.
What may seem like a sonically contrasting pairing on paper excites each project as they cite the co-billed tour as an opportunity to introduce each band to one another’s fan base every night, instilling a sense of curiosity and enlightenment. David Hinds, the lead singer and guitarist of Steel Pulse, draws comparisons to the group’s 1981 tour with Average White Band. “It’s an experience of going into the unknown that we ourselves first encountered touring with Average White Band 42 years ago,” he says, “I know it left us being far more knowledgeable musicians, tapping into different forms of arrangements.”
Hinds’ mention of Average White Band brings an even more full circle nature to the tour as Adam Deitch, drummer of Lettuce, performed with AWB on drums for three years after studying at Berklee School of Music. As Deitch continues to carry the torch and has solidified himself as one of today’s most revered drummers, he echoes Hinds’ sentiments of anticipation, “It's a complete honor to be sharing the stage with a legendary band like Steel Pulse. They are powerful musical shamans, and we look forward to such a spiritual experience.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://ffm.to/lettucesteelpulsetour.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
MamaMia
I just wanted to say Happy Anniversary to my husband and me today on our 47th wedding anniversary. Yes, it's been a long haul, I still can't believe that much time has gone by, but it has. We got married at the church right behind Robinson's Restaurant, which was New England Heights Baptist Church back then, and we rented our first place, right around the corner on Magnolia St. The tiny smallest house on Magnolia St. My mom still lived on the other end of Magnolia St. then, after my dad died. We would go get my dog, at my mom's place, and bring her to our new place, to visit, as we could not keep her there, no pets allowed. We would turn our backs, and she would run back home to my mom's place. My dog! When we moved again, to the house we live in now, and moved my dog here, when she got the chance, she would take off, and run all the way back to my mom's place. My mom would put her in the car, and bring her back to us. We rode her everywhere, and she knew the way. My husband gave her to me as a gift. She was a collie shepard mix. She was a big pup who kept getting into trouble at the plant nursery my husband worked at back then, by digging into the freshly finished ground beds. So he brought her to me. Just reflecting back today 47 years ago.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
Hey Reggie, That word amphitheater in the article headline looks a little funny.....
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
Talking about our wedding anniversary today, Blake Shelton, the country music star's birthday is today, and I always know his age, as his birth was the same day as our wedding... June 18th, 1976. Also, Joe and Jill Biden just celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday of 46 years, and were married June 17th, 1977. Gosh, I have been married longer than old Joe! I feel like Dino, the dinosaur.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
Actually, if you are scrolling back to see the headlines of this article, it would look normal on a computer, but on a cell phone which is smaller, it looks funny.
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Report this