Trombone Shorty:
Few artists embody the heart and soul of their city like Trombone Shorty. Perhaps the most recognizable ambassador for New Orleans music working today, Shorty has spent his entire life not only carrying the torch for Crescent City culture, but also propelling it forward into the 21st century with his ecstatic live performances and intoxicating blend of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and Caribbean influences.

Born Troy Andrews, Shorty made his first appearance at New Orleans’ iconic Jazz Fest at the age of four, when he took the stage for an impromptu performance with Bo Diddley. By six, he was heading up his own brass band, and by his early twenties, he’d released the first in a string of critically acclaimed, chart-topping albums that would lead to performances everywhere from the White House and the Grammy Awards to Madison Square Garden and the 2025 Super Bowl. Along the way, Shorty would tour with artists as diverse as Jeff Beck and the Red Hot Chili Peppers; play Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, the Roots Picnic, and countless other festivals; perform alongside Juvenile on his instantly legendary NPR Tiny Desk Concert; earn his first Grammy Award; appear on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, Today, CNN, HBO’s Treme, and even an episode of The Simpsons; and collaborate with an eclectic mix of stars including Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Jon Batiste, Lenny Kravitz, Foo Fighters, ZHU, Zac Brown, Normani and Ringo Starr.

On top of his relentless touring schedule, Shorty also managed to launch The Trombone Shorty Foundation in 2011, which supports youth music education in New Orleans and beyond (each year, he brings nearly 100 students on a cultural exchange trip to Cuba, where they join him and a host of special guests for workshops and performances with an all-star cast of Cuban musicians). Additionally, Shorty’s youth and cultural advocacy led him to release a pair of children’s books, the first of which earned the prestigious Caldecott Honor in 2016.

At home in New Orleans, Shorty now leads a beloved annual Mardi Gras parade atop a giant float crafted in his likeness, hosts the annual Treme Threauxdown shows (which have drawn guests including Usher, Nick Jonas, Mavis Staples, Dierks Bentley, Andra Day, and Leon Bridges), mentors younger artists like New Breed Brass Band (his 2025 collaboration with the group, Second Line Sunday, earned them both a Grammy nomination), and has taken over Jazz Fest’s hallowed final set, which has seen him closing out the internationally renowned gathering after performances by the likes of Neil Young, the Black Keys, and Kings of Leon.

Shorty brought that same festival energy to his latest album, 2022’s Lifted, which he recorded live at his own Buckjump Studio in New Orleans. Raw and exhilarating, the collection bottles the explosive power of his transcendent stage show, balancing raucous, joyful anthems with poignant reflections on loss and resilience. Like Shorty himself, it’s a living, breathing invitation to experience the magic of New Orleans for yourself, a transportive spiritual experience steeped in family, community, and tradition, with both eyes fixed firmly on the future.

Abraham Alexander:
Academy Award® nominated artist Abraham Alexander is a rising singer songwriter whose soulful fusion of blues, folk, and gospel has captivated audiences around the world. Born in Athens, Greece to Nigerian parents and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Alexander turned to music following a career ending soccer injury and personal tragedy. He released his breakout self-titled EP in 2019, earning attention for his emotional storytelling and powerful vocal presence.

In 2023, Alexander released his critically acclaimed debut album SEA/SONS, featuring collaborations with music legends Mavis Staples and Gary Clark Jr. The album debuted on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and helped solidify his place among the next generation of influential American songwriters. In 2024, his original song “Like a Bird," for the A24 film Sing Sing, earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Song.

Alexander has performed at major festivals including Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo, and toured with artists such as Leon Bridges, The Lumineers, and Mavis Staples. With his powerful presence and genre-defying sound, he continues to emerge as one of the most vital and visionary voices in contemporary music.