Send Text Requests to 225.271.5018

 

June 28th, 2010

 

We are trying something new and want your participation. Sometimes we get rolling on a groove and don't stop for 20, 30, 45 minutes not leaving an opportunity for you to yell out, "PLAY STANKY!" or your favorite PGF jam. You, our faithful fans, can send your song requests before and/or during the show to 225.271.5018. The text will reach the stage and we will do our best to play it. Remember....standard text rates will apply.

 

Jellybean’s on Treme

June 23rd, 2010


Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander recently was seen in the HBO New Orleans series TREME, episode #9 “Wish Someone Would Care.” He is playing drums in two scenes with Jon Cleary.  Also PGF contributor, Donald Ramsey, is the bassist in these scenes. The show aired June 14th on HBO and can still be viewed on the OnDemand cable network.

Jellybean will also be featured in the blockbuster action movie, The Green Lantern (June 2011 release) starring Ryan Reynolds. Jellybean is the drummer in one of the biggest action scenes in the movie.  Can’t wait to see this one on the big screen. Way to go Bean!!!


Jamaican Fan Jam 2

Join John “Papa” Gros and Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander, with George Porter Jr., Brian Stoltz and Tommy Malone alongside the Radiators for the 2nd Annual Radiators Fan Jam at the Grand Breezes Resort in Negril, Jamaica January 12th-16th, 2011  This all inclusive groovalicious weekend includes suite accommodations, scuba diving, transfers to and from Montego Bay airport, food and beverages (top shelf liquor), tie dye party, band activities, 3 Rads shows, and much more!!! Contact Stacey at Paradise Groove Productions to make your reservation.  And don't forget to mention that you heard about the trip from John “Papa” Gros and Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander.

 

Papa Grows Funk Live Broadcast and Smoke Free Night at the Maple Leaf Bar

 

December 14th, 2009

 

New Orleans own community radio station WWOZ will broadcast Papa Grows Funk’s show live from the Maple Leaf Bar TONIGHT, December 14th. Broadcast will commence at 11pm C.S.T. and last about 90 minutes. Click here to listen online.

PGF will take requests live during the show via Papa Grows Funk’s Twitter page. If there is a song you want to hear during the live broadcast post it to our Twitter page with your first name and city. John will announce the request live on air between tunes.

This broadcast is a smoke-free event sponsored by The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living. The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living supports creating healthier environments for you and some of your favorite people: the ones who make the music and the drinks. We’d like to thank the Maple Leaf Bar for supporting this worthy cause.

 

 

OffBeat Best of the Beat nominates PGF for multiple awards

 

Papa Grows Funk garnered multiple 2009 Best of the Beat award nominations. The nominations are Papa Grows Funk for Best Funk Band, June Yamagishi for Best Guitarist, Jason Mingledorff for Best Saxophone, John Gros for Best Piano/Keyboardist. In order to seal the deal we NEED your vote. Anyone can vote by clicking here.

Every January, OffBeat Magazine throws the first great party of the year–the annual Best of the Beat Awards to honor the best local musicians and music businesses for their accomplishments. The music awards take place at House of Blues, and feature performances from some of Louisiana’s best musicians as well as complimentary catering from many of New Orleans’ best restaurants.

 

 

Papa Grows Funk hosts post Saints Victory Party

 

Papa Grows Funk will host a Saints victory party on December 19th at Chelsea’s Cafe in Baton Rouge. We will celebrate the Saints being 14-0 after our Saints wallop the Dallas Cowboys and their cheerleaders on this special Saturday night game. PGF throws down after the game. You are encouraged to wear ALL your Saints gear.


The 2nd Funkiest New Years Eve Ever

 

Join Papa Grows Funk and Dumpstaphunk in celebrating the New Year, December 31st at the Howlin’ Wolf. This New Years Eve will be a replay of last year’s syncopated lineup . Get your pay one price ticket early.

 

Mardi Gras 2010 Schedule

 

Saturday, February 13th Howlin’ Wolf w/ ReBirth Brass Band
Sunday, February 14th DBA PGF Mardi Gras Indian Show w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
Monday, February 15th Lundi Gras at the Maple Leaf Bar 2 sets!!!

other show of note
John “Papa” Gros Monday, February 15th Spanish Plaza 4:30-6pm

 

 

Is it JazzFest Yet?

 

Mark your calendars. Papa Grows Funk will play the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Saturday, April 24th on the Gentilly Stage.

Other JazzFest shows:

Friday, April 23rd Maple Leaf Bar
Sunday, April 25th dba
Monday, April 26th Maple Leaf Bar
Monday, May 3rd Maple Leaf Bar



Tweet Tweet

 

May 11, 2009

 

Papa Grows Funk is now on Twitter.  For all the hapless news you have to have, check us out at twitter.com/PapaGrowsFunk.

 

 

PGF Video Blog

 

May 11, 2009

 

John Gros has started a video blog on Papa Grows Funk's Facebook page.  Right now we're asking for your help with our new t-shirt design.  Check it out here and let us know what you think.

 

 

Jazz Fest Live CD

 

May 7th, 2009

 

Papa Grows Funk's JazzFest performance was recorded and is now available for sale. Munck Music has been producing the live JazzFest recordings since 2004.  The recordings are available now, as both CDs and downloads, through their website jazzfestlive.com.

 

Jazz Fest Webcast

 

May 7th, 2009

 

Papa Grows Funk's JazzFest set was filmed and streamed through AT&T's Blue Room webcast. "The webcast combine[d] archived performances from the first weekend of JazzFest, held April 25 — 27, with live performances from the festival's second weekend. In addition, on-demand content will be available across the three screens — on Blue Room, on AT&T U-verse TV and through Cellular Video1 on AT&T wireless devices — by early June. A full lineup of artists participating in the webcast will be available on blue room soon."  For more info or to watch the stream visit attblueroom.com.

 

In Search of Real Food

January 6, 2009

 

Papa Grows Funk was featured in a Yahoo! enews story about Jacques-imo's restaurant.  The food and music tag team that can't be missed!  Click here to watch.

 

NPR

November 12th, 2008

 

John "Papa" Gros was heard on NPR's "All Things Considered" last August on a feature of the Maple Leaf Bar and the newly published book Cornerstones. Click here to listen.

 

Kadmus Arts

November 12th, 2008

 

John "Papa" Gros was also recently interviewed by Kadmus Arts, a website with news and reviews on national and international festivals. Click here to listen.

 

2008 Summer Tour Dates Announced

June 4th, 2008

 

Announcing PGF's biggest summer tour ever. We've rested from our incredible 2008 JazzFest performances and are ready to take the show on the road. We'll be traveling through all the mountains: the Poconos, Blue Ridge, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada's, and the Grand Tetons. We look forward to get down in yo' funky town. click to see list of dates.

 

Papa does Feat Fest

Sept. 1st

 

On Saturday, September 15th, John "Papa" Gros heads to Eureka Springs, AR to take part in Feat Fest. John will sit in with Little Feat and then host his own solo show on Sunday September, 16th with Bill Payne and Fred Tackett stopping by to sit in and jam. Way cool!

 

PGF headlines 50th Monterey Jazz Fest

Sept. 1st

On Friday September 21st, PGF headlines the Garden Stage at the 50th Monterey Jazz Festival.

 

Jellybean getting Modern

Sept. 1st

 

Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander got his picture and mention in the September issue of Modern Drummer for his blistering performance with PGF at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

 

PGF on the BBC

Sept. 1st

 

On August 5th, members of Papa Grows Funk hosted the Tipitina's Student Music Workshop. They showed young funkies how to groove and "stay in the pocket." Reporters from the BBC in London were there to report and filed a audio slide show on their website. Click here to see the report.

 

New PGF video on MySpace and youTube.com

Sept. 1st

 

There's a new video posted on the Papa Grows Funk myspace page and youTube website. The video is an excerpt of PGF's performance at the Howlin' Wolf during Mardi Gras 2007 from the Japanese Fuji TV documentary entitled June Yamagishi in New Orleans. Click here to watch.


 

Mr. Patterson's Hat debuts at #1

July 25th

 

Jambands.com has Mr. Patterson's Hat debuting on their Radio Play Chart at #1 beginning the week of July 19th.

PGF's fourth cd has been on the CMJ Jazz Chart for the last 4 weeks and holding its on.

 

Mr. Patterson's Hat on the radio...
July 6th

 

Mr. Patterson's Hat appeared on the CMJ's Jazz Radio Chart debuting at #37. There are DJ's from 117 radio stations, college and community, playing songs from Mr. Patterson's Hat with good frequency. XM Satellite Radio's Beyond Jazz station has the CD listed in their "Coming and Going under the Top 20 List." We believe its coming and not going because it is new to the list. We hope more people start diggin' the PGF.

 

PLEASE CALL YOUR COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY RADIO STATION AND REQUEST ANYTHING FROM MR. PATTERSON'S HAT. Don't know who to call, send us an email to info@papagrowsfunk.com, we'll tell you.

 

2007 JazzFest Shows available on CD-R and download.

June 1st

 

PGF's May 6th set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was recorded by JazzFest Live and is available from the JazzFest Live website. The set was a favorite for many PGF fans and includes a guest appearance by Big Chief Monk Boudreaux.

Papa Grows Funk in partnership with Digital Soundboard.net is releasing many of their 2007 JazzFest night shows. Performances are available for download and/or CD-R at digitalsoundboard.net.

 

Stellar reviews for Mr. Patterson's Hat

May 21st

 

Blues & Soul Review, the #1 magazine for R&B, Blues, and Funk in Japan, has given Mr. Patterson's Hat 4.5 out of 5 stars. Can anyone send us a translation?

 

 

Louisiana music laureate, K-Paule's Zydeco Road, has issued Mr. Patterson's Hat his highest rating of 5 Peppers, "the sound of the Crescent City's funky Jazz has never been more potent. Papa Grows Funk pull out the stops with superb drum beats, outstanding horn arrangements, and Gros' kick-ass work on the Hammond B3. The CD contains over one-hour of funk that will fill you up. "Mr. Patterson's Hat" is New Orleans funk at its best. I'm tipping my hat to my friend John Gros and Papa Grows Funk with my highest 5-pepper rating."

 

CD Release Announcement

March 2007

 

Papa Grows Funk announces the release of their new CD, Mr. Patterson's Hat with a CD release party at Tipitina's Uptown on Friday, March 23rd.

Mr. Patterson's Hat is a proclamation of post-Katrina New Orleans. The title is a celebrates those who have returned since Katrina sent the city into a mass exodus and commemorates those who have not yet come home.

Mr. Patterson's Hat is the group's most collaborative effort featuring 12 new compositions. It reflects how the band has been personally affected by what is going on in their beloved hometown of New Orleans. There are songs inspired by a Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief's dying plea to take a stand against police violence: "This has got to stop"("Tootie Montana"). It echoes the need for this city to work against crime ("Walkin' in Our Own Shoes"), offers a chance for redemption with ("Rite Rite") and the need to move on ("Ride On").

The real Mr. Patterson is a semi-retired auto mechanic who frequents the Maple Leaf Bar in uptown New Orleans. He is the elder statesman of Oak Street and has a reputation for being dressed to the nines: pinstriped suit, stylish tie and a derby hat with a feather in the sideband. When the ladies ask him to dance, he obliges only if the band has its groove on. "You might think you're throwing down, but if Mr. Patterson ain't dancin', you ain't groovin'," declares keyboardist/singer John "Papa" Gros. "When you see that hat bobbing up and down, moving side to side, you know you're doing New Orleans music right."

 

The CD is being released in New Orleans on March 27th and will be available at the Louisiana Music Factory and at papagrowsfunk.com. A national release will follow.


Mr. Patterson's Hat debuts on MySpace

March 2007

Mr. Patterson's Hat will debut on Papa Grows Funk's MySpace page on Monday, March 12th. The first track, Gorillafaceugmopotamus!, will be the first featured song and each day a new tune will be showcased. There are twelve songs and each song will have its own day culminating with the release on March 23rd.
Enjoy the tunes!

 

 

Best of the Beat Awards

January 2007

 

Papa Grows Funk was nominated for Best Funk Band in the 2007 OffBeat's Best of the Beat Awards and PGF guitar slinger, June Yamagishi, was nominated for Best Guitarist.
You can help us win our fourth year in a row by clicking here to cast your ballots. All online voting ends January 22nd. We didn't really win last year, but we did win the year before, but because Katrina cancelled the awards last year we reigned for years 2005 and 2006. A win in 2007 would make our fourth year in a row. Get out and vote!

 

New CD set for spring '07

January 2007

 

In November we've started working on a new CD release. The fourth release will feature all new original songs and compositions. We have Big Chief Monk Boudeaux of the Golden Eagles and Geechie of the Wild Magnolia's on the big bass drum guesting on a song dedicated to Big Chief Tootie Montana. More info to come.

 

Mardi Gras

January 2007

 

Saturday Feb. 17th, we will be ripping apart the Howlin' Wolf after the Endymion parade, Sunday Feb. 18th Le Bon Temp Roule after Bacchus and Monday will feature our annaul Lundi Gras set at the Maple Leaf Bar after Orpheus. Throw me something mista and Happy Mardi Gras!

 

JazzFest Performance

January 2007

 

Before you know it the sky will be blue, the sun will be hot and we'll all be sweatin' our asses off to the sweet sounds of JazzFest. Mark your calendars, PGF will play the second weekend, Sunday May 6th. Stage and time are TBA.

 

My Palestra Interview

January 2007

 

John and Marc did a cool interview for a college events website, MyPalestra.com. They stopped by the Maple Leaf during the Sugar Bowl and got down right smelly with us.

Click here to view the interview.

 

Message Board is back

January 2007

 

For those of you who participated in the message board, you know that some weird stuff was getting posted. And I don't mean all the chit chat from Racer X and Nasty Wendy. We were hacked. All has been deleted and new measures have been installed to protect against future occurences. Its more involved to post, but more secure. You must register with a password, get approved and then you're good to post. We'll be looking for all the wonderful comments on the message board.

 

PGF hires publicist
September 2006

 

PGF has hired Tsunami Publicity of Boulder, CO to handle all publicity, including print interviews, radio and television interviews, street team, CD promotion. Please contact Ami Heinrich, ami@tsunamipublicity.com, and James Bruner, james@tsunamipublicity.com for more info.

 

Hotlanta gettin' hotter

July 2006


If you thought this summer was hot just wait till you peel off your sweat drenched clothes after a night of shakin' with the boys on their Atlanta debut. Thursday, July 27th, Smith's Olde Bar. 9pm.

 

Home Sweet Home

July 2006


After an extensive summer tour schedule, Papa Grows Funk gets back to their regular Monday night slot at the Maple Leaf Bar on Monday, July 24th. The hometown fans have been waiting almost patiently for the return. No more worries, the wait is over. And the other good news is that PGF will be on the Monday night calendar for the foreseeable future. Looking forward to the sweaty smells and sounds of the Maple Leaf Bar. Yeah you right!!!

 

Papa gets CD Baby

July 2006


There's more than one way to find PGF music online. Since signing with the #1 Internet music distributor, CD Baby, all three of Papa Grows Funk's CDs can be purchased online, digitally downloaded, and in CD Baby distributed retail stores. Go to www.cdbaby.com for more info. And don't forget you can still get the CD's directly from www.papagrowsfunk.com.

 

iTunes

July 2006

 

Papa Grows Funk's CD's, Doin' It, Shakin', and Live at the Leaf, are now available for digital download via iTunes website. Go to the homepage of I-tunes and search Papa Grows Funk and the CD's should come up. Also available on I-Tunes is PGF's set at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Its listed under JazzFest Live.

 

Bass and Drums get all the press

July 2006

 

Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander was featured in the July issue of Modern Drummer magazine. The national drum magazine noted Jellybean's performance with PGF at the 2006 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside other New Orleans beat masters Brian Blade, Shannon Powell and Terrance Higgins.

 

Phil Jones Bass enlisted the services of PGF bassist Marc Pero, to endorse the new M-500 bass amplifier and the Piranha T8 and 16B bass speaker cabinets. He is also showcased as the featured bassist in The Perfect Bass advertisements in the July issue of Bass Player magazine.

 

PGF Videos

July 2006

There are two PGF video clips available for viewing at www.papagrowsfunk.com. (update Flash player) The first clip was shot on February 10th, 2006 at the State Palace Theater in Falls Church, VA. The second was filmed at the April Fool's Day festival outside of Tampa, FL, known as Monkeyshine. We want to thank Paul Miller of LastNameLeft Productions and Lee Weiner and Middle Rhythm Sessions for their great work and generosity.

 

Reelin' and a Rockin'

July 2006

Chuck Berry got a dose of New Orleans rock n roll when John "Papa" Gros and Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander backed the legend at B.B. King's in New York City. The 80 year old Father of Rock n Roll didn't say much to the young funkies, but blew John a kiss of approval after a Johnnie Johnson inspired piano solo and then ended the set by telling Jellybean a little joke before leaving the stage at the end of Reelin' and Rockin'. And just for good measure, PGF ended their late night set with a raucous version of Chuck's Johnny B. Goode. Thanks to Dino Perucci for the incredible photo.

 

The Latest Press Quote

July 2006

This was written in the Boston Phoenix last month.

 

"We've never been wild about the name, but we've seen Papa Grows Funk keyboardist and vocalist John Gros hold his own at enough New Orleans "Piano Night" showdowns (with the likes of Henry Butler, Marcia Ball, and Dr. John sharing the stage) to know that he and the band (with ace NOLA guitarist June Yamagishi) are the real deal."

 

Live at the Leaf is HERE

April 10th, 2006

 

Recorded live at the Maple Leaf Bar in April of 2005, PGF's third release is a seventy two minute tour de force of powerful jams, relentless grooves, and catchy tunes all caught live in action.

 

Times Picayune describes, "Recorded over three nights at the Maple Leaf in April 2005, Live at the Leaf boasts robust production that punches up the potent bass without smothering the high end. Gros' clenched Randy Newman-meets-Dr. John vocals break up long instrumental passages. Mingledorff veers off for some avant-jazz riffing in "Junker Man," then settles in alongside Pero for the smooth "Slinky Snake." All cuts save PGF's new Dolemite Returns and a cover of Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" previously appeared on studio albums. But the slow-crawl "I Got the Blues Over You" and the stuttering romp "Rat a Tang Tang," among others, benefit from the fresh energy of the stage.

 

The CD will be available at www.papagrowsfunk.com, all shows, Louisiana Music Factory, Tower Records, and the Mushroom beginning April 11th.

 

Listen to Live at the Leaf sound clips click here.

 

Festival Time in New Orleans

April 2006

 

We kick off the French Quarter Fest weekend with a pumped up show at Tipitina's Uptown. This will be our first time back at Tips since Hurricane Katrina rocked our world. Gonna blow the roof off!!!

 

We'll be seeing you at the French Quarter Festival on Saturday, April 22nd on the Coors Light Stage in Woldenberg Park. We would like to thank the Maple Leaf Bar for sponsoring our performance.

 

JazzFest will be showing the world that New Orleans can still celebrate the finer things in life better than anywhere else. Papa Grows Funk hits the stage on Sunday, April 30th. Yeah u rite!

 

New Orleans Music in Exile

April 2006

 

Like their neighbors, the legendary New Orleans music community was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Music documentarian Robert Mugge creates an emotional portrait of horror, heartbreak and hope as the musicians who lived through the disaster pick up the pieces and try to rebuild their lives. Performances and interviews with New Orleans artists such as Dr. John, Papa Grows Funk, Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, The Iguanas, Cowboy Mouth, and ReBirth Brass Band demonstrate how Katrina, broken levees, floods, looting, black mold and their consequences wreaked havoc on music and life in this colorful city.

 

The official world premiere of New Orleans Music in Exile will be at the House of Blues in New Orleans on May 12th. Funds raised will assist displaced musicians and their families and help rebuild school music programs in New Orleans.

 

New Orleans deMusic in Exile makes its network premiere on Starz InBlack on May 20th at 7pm C.S.T.

 

www.papagrowsfunk.com

April 2006

 

Have you seen the cool new website? Click here if you haven't. Its got real bio's, new pictures, a cool poster, and new videos coming soon. Make sure your version of Flash is up to date . Click here to get a free download of Flash player.

 

Hurricane Relief

April 2006

 

We encourage you to continue supporting New Orleans and its musicians through the support of these Hurricane Relief organizations. Thank you.
Musicares Hurricane Relief
New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund
New Orleans Musicians Clinic
Tipitina's Foundation

 

PGF returns to the Maple Leaf Bar

November 1st, 2005

 

After a month long tour of Japan and a month and a half hiatus due to Hurricane Katrina, Papa Grows Funk has returned to continue their Monday night residency at the Maple Leaf Bar. "This has been the longest we've been away from the Maple Leaf and man are we glad to get back to the lunacy of Monday night," proclaims Marc Pero. Showtime has been moved up to 9:30pm due to the curfew in New Orleans. We're doing two sets for the time being instead of the one long marathon set.

 

Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk Festival

November 1st, 2005

 

Due to Hurricane Wilma and the lack of electricity, the promotor of the Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk Festival had to cancel this year's festival. PGF was to play Saturday, November 5th. We have been rescheduled for The Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, FL. on Saturday November 5th. Thanks to Russell at the Bamboo Room for helping out at the last minute.

 

PGF, Katrina and Big Wind

November 1st, 2005

 

Thanks to all the outpouring of love and concern at our shows. We've recieved many calls and emails wondering if we were okay. Its amazing to see all the people who have been concerned about us and our families. You are the best!!!

 

Here's the latest update on PGF. All members have returned home to New Orleans except one. Jason "Big Wind" Mingledorff, from the 9th Ward, sustained roof damage on his house and has a lot of work to do inside and out. Until their house is repaired, he and his wife will be living in Tampa, FL. Jason will be joining us on ALL of our out of town shows but will miss some of the Monday night shows. This is one of the headaches and heartaches of Katrina.

 

Live CD Recording

November 1st, 2005

 

Due to Hurricane Katrina, completion of the live CD has been delayed. We just learned last week that the hard drives were spared from Katrina's wrath. We're getting back to work on it, but our release date will have to be pushed back. As soon as we can get a timetable together we will let you know when to expect its availability. We hope to have it released by Mardi Gras 2006.

 

Its Hot in New Orleans

July 2005

 

It's so hot in New Orleans that we're gettin' out of da' heat. We debut in three cities this month, then head off to Japan for a month and then head straight up to Nantucket and Boston to close out the summer. So tell your funky friends to be on the lookout. See dates below.

Maple Leaf Bar Summer Schedule

 

Because its too damn hot and because we're gonna be in Japan, July 18th is our last Monday at the Maple Leaf Bar this summer. We will resume playing Mondays at the Leaf on August 29th.

 

Live CD Recording

July 2005

 

The live cd is coming along nicely. The biggest problem has been deciding which songs to keep on the CD. There is so much great stuff to choose from. We're almost finished mixing the music, and then we will move on to the artwork. A lot of you have been asking, "When's it gonna be available?" We don't have a release date yet but expect it to be released sometime in the late fall.

 

Japan, June and Lightning Blues

July 2005

 

June Yamagishi has been invited to be a featured performer on the 2005 Lightning Blues Guitar Sessions Tour of Japan. The Lightning Blues Guitar Sessions Tour is a guitar shootout showcasing nine Japanese guitar slingers. PGF has been selected to be the featured backup band for all nine guitarists. The tour starts off with the Fuji Rock Festival on July 30th and then moves throughout central and southern Japan. In between stops on the Lightning Blues Tour, Papa Grows Funk will play a run of Blue Note clubs in Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Fukuoka as well as the famous late night Tokyo hotspot, Jirokichi. We're looking to get back to Japan, as well as hanging with June's friends and family.

 

A new Papa

July 2005

 

Marc Pero and his wife, Annette Richard have given birth to their first child, Morgan. Congratulations and welcome to the family.

 

Papa's been busy

July 2005

 

John "Papa" Gros has been busy recording and can be heard on two new national releases. Check out John on Better Than Ezra's CD "Before the Robots" and Corey Harris' song "The Bush is Burning" from his "Daily Bread" CD.

 

April 29th Tipitina's FQ Ticket Update

April 17th, 2005

 

Pre-sale tickets for the Tipitina's FQ show have sold out. There are a limited number of tickets, I mean extremely limited, available at the door the night of show. The best bet for getting tickets will be at the door between Bonerama and PGF's sets, around 12:30-1am. Once the Bonerama portion of the show concludes, some people will leave (crazy isn't it?) and new tickets will be sold as the house limits allow. Tipitina's, Jon Walsh Presents and Papa Grows Funk will do everything possible to insure that no one is denied a ticket. We only ask that you be patient and allow us to work within these limits.

 

PGF Headlines French Quarter Festival

April 1st, 2005

 

Papa Grows Funk, sponsored by the House of Blues, closes out the 2005 French Quarter Festival with the headlining slot on Sunday, April 10th next to the Mississippi River on the main stage in Woldenberg Park at 7:30pm.

 

5th Anniversary Celebration

April 1st, 2005

 

Papa Grows Funk turns five on April 11th, 2005. It was five years ago on April 11th, 2000 that the first Monday night jam at the Old Point Bar took place. Since then Papa Grows Funk relocated to the Maple Leaf Bar, released two critically acclaimed CD’s, toured clubs and festivals across the United States, Europe and Japan, gained major airplay during the Major League Baseball’s A.L.C.S., N.L.C.S. Series and World Series, and the N.B.A. Divisional Championship Series and Finals, and received numerous local awards including Gambit’s Big Easy Award, OffBeat’s Best of the Beat Award and Where Y’ At’s award for Best Funk Band. We will toast our friends and fans on Monday, April 11, 2005 at the Maple Leaf Bar with HANK’s HAPPY HOUR from 10-11pm (free Abita beer and call brands) and then the Monday night throwdown will commence.

 

Live CD Recording

April 1st, 2005

 

We’ve heard it for five years. “You need to record a live CD!!!” The wait is over. Papa Grows Funk will be recording its third CD release live from the Maple Leaf Bar on April 22nd and 25th. We decided there was no better time (JazzFest) or better place (our home, the Maple Leaf) that could capture the magic of what we do. We encourage everyone to bring their energy and voices and help us document the Wonderful World of PGF.

 

A Change in Drummer

February 23rd, 2005

 

We would like to announce that Papa Grows Funk and Russell Batiste Jr. have parted ways. We are happy and excited that Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander, formerly with Jon Cleary's Absolute Monster Gentleman, will be holding down the beat until a permanent replacement is found. Papa Grows Funk would like to thank Russell for his many contributions to the band, on and off the stage. We wish him the best.

 

Congratulations

January 2005

 

Papa Grows Funk won BEST R&B/FUNK/SOUL BAND at OffBeat magazine's Best of the Beat 2004 Awards last week. Thanks to PGF's fans for supporting us.


Digital downloads are now available!

December 2004

 

Go to the STORE page on the website and check out the downloads available. You can download one song or an entire show or CD. If there are any live shows that you would like available for download, please send your request to info@papagrowsfunk.com.

 

John "Papa" Gros releases Day's End

December 2004

 

Keyboardist, John "Papa" Gros, released Day's End, his first solo CD, during JazzFest. OffBeat magazine describes the disc: "Day's End is a debut solo album that presents all of Gros' broad and subtle talents in a beautifully measured package." The New Orleans Times Picayune declares: "Bits of Leon Russell, Dr. John and Little Feat, plus a whole lot of John Gros." You can check Day's End out on the PGF website: http://www.papagrowsfunk.com/store/index.html