All-Star House Band Announced for 'Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert'

The all-star house band has been announced for Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert event, featuring Benmont Tench, Greg Leisz, John Michael Bradford, Lenny Castro, Mark Mullins, Nick Ellman, Rick Holmstrom, Terence Higgins, and backup vocalists Alfreda McCrary, Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary. The house band will be led by Grammy Award-winning Music Director Don Was. The house band joins Mavis Staples along with the incredible lineup of performing artists previously announced including Black Pumas, Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, The War And Treaty, plus unannounced special guests.

A limited number of tickets for this all-star concert on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the YouTube Theater have been made available at http://ticketmaster.com. 
 
Hailed by NPR as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace,” Mavis is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She’s both a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; a civil rights icon; a three-time GRAMMY Award winner (and a GRAMMY lifetime achievement award); a chart-topping soul, gospel and R&B pioneer; a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient; named to Rolling Stone's Top 200 Singers of All Time at No. 46; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and sang in Barack Obama’s White House. Over the past few decades alone, she’s collaborated with everyone from Prince and Bob Dylan to Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, blown away countless festivalgoers from Newport Folk and Glastonbury to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo and graced the airwaves on Fallon, Colbert, Ellen, Austin City Limits, Jools Holland and the Grammys.
 
For complete show details, please visit: http://mavisstaples85.com

About Blackbird Presents:
Blackbird Presents is the premier independent creator and producer of large-scale concerts, tours, festivals and premium music-driven filmed entertainment. Blackbird’s projects feature the biggest music stars in the world produced for a portfolio of world-class studio, network, streaming and promoter partners. http://blackbirdpresents.com
 
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation

Blackbird Presents Announces 'Mavis Staples 85th: All Star Birthday Concert'

Thursday, April 18, 2024 at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, CA
Via Ticketmaster.com, More Info at http://Mavisstaples85.com

Blackbird Presents and Live Nation are thrilled to announce a very special concert celebration honoring a generational icon, Mavis Staples. Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the YouTube Theater, featuring once-in-a-lifetime performances with Mavis Staples and an incredible lineup of superstar artists, including Black Pumas, Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, The War And Treaty, plus more to be announced.
 
Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at 10 AM PT at http://ticketmaster.com. For complete show details, visit http://mavisstaples85.com.
 
Hailed by NPR as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace,” Staples is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She’s both a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; a civil rights icon; a three-time GRAMMY Award winner (and a GRAMMY lifetime achievement award); a chart-topping soul, gospel, and R&B pioneer; a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient; named to Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Singers of All Time at No. 46; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and sang in Barack Obama’s White House. Over the past few decades alone, she’s collaborated with everyone from Prince and Bob Dylan, to Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, blown away countless festivalgoers from Newport Folk and Glastonbury, to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, and graced the airwaves on Fallon, Colbert, Ellen, Austin City Limits, Jools Holland and the Grammys.  
 
“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” says Mavis Staples. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought, 'Well, what would I do?' I asked the Lord, 'Why am I still here? What do you want of me? Have you kept me around for a reason?' And the only reason I could see is to sing my songs. That's why I'm still here, and I'm looking forward to this show with my friends singing my songs, too!”
 
“Producing this show is the honor of my life, as we all come together to celebrate a woman whom has given so much to so many over the years through her actions, her music, and her magic,” says Blackbird Presents CEO and Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman.
 
For complete show details, please visit http://mavisstaples85.com #mavisstaples85