Hardcore punk veterans who fell in love with the music of New Orleans, guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio formed Galactic to express their newfound appreciation of Professor Longhair, The Meters, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. The instrumentalists of Galactic have developed a meaty, bass-heavy mix of swamp funk, bluesy hard rock, electronics and improvisation which New York Times critic Jon Pareles praised as “some of the most danceable music on earth.” Galactic is currently finishing its next album, which includes a guest appearance by New Orleans legend Monk Boudreaux.

After 30 years singing with Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux struck out on his own and formed a new “tribe,” the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians. Bourdreaux’s half moaning, half spoken singing style perfectly fits the hypnotic, reggae influenced sound of the Golden Eagles, and creates a sound that is New Orleans at its rawest and most funky.

For the members of the Soul Rebel Brass Band, “second line” jazz music is part of their make-up, almost as important as blood. But the band also likes modern hip-hop, and has managed to combine the two styles into an original sound that is contemporary while true to New Orleans traditions. Soul Rebel has worked with everyone from Crescent City favorites the Neville Brothers to progressive hip-hoppers A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots and rock icons Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.