Brooklyn-based Turkuaz got their latest Kuadrochrome tour rolling Thursday with a stop in Fairfield, CT. They sold out Fairfield Theatre Company’s Warehouse, and as they are known to do, turned the venue into a funkadelic dance party.
Turkuaz brought a Philadelphia trio by the name of GREAT TIME from to open the evening. GREAT TIME was able to form the crowd early and definitely got them warming up their dance moves for what was to come.
GREAT TIME at FTC Warehouse – Photo by: Chris Sidoruk
By the time Turkuaz hit the stage, the room was packed full and buzzing with energy. Everyone eagerly anticipated what was in store with the new tour. From opener to encore, the band delivered. They brought a 2-hour nonstop mix of new and old tunes with a sprinkling of cover material to which the crowd loved every minute. As far as tour openers go, you couldn’t have asked for much better of a night.
Brooklyn-based funk band Turkuaz, who recently dropped their roygbiv colors as well as their new EP Kuadrochrome in November, will perform at FTC Warehouse in Fairfield, CT on Thursday, December 5. The show (with special guest Great Time) marks the first of 9 shows in December, which finds the band travel from the Northeast to Colorado, where they’ll perform in Boulder on New Years Eve.
Dave Brandwein, one of the founding members of Turkuaz, produced the tracks that were recorded at Galaxy Smith Studios. Available for download on all major services, the 4-song EP is also set to be released in limited-edition vinyl LP that will include special instrumental versions of the tracks.
Alluding to a more cohesive sound while sticking true to the band’s fusion of funk with elements of R&B, psychedelic pop, gospel, Afro-pop, New Wave, and classic rock, Kuadrochrome is designed to get people dancing. This is evident in the visualizer video released last week for the studio rendition of “Heat Drop.” As many fans are already aware, the “colors” era is forever encapsulated in the band’s feature concert film, None’s a Ton, slated for wide release sometime this winter.
“We’re stripping back to our basics a bit with this release,” explains Brandwein. “We’re revisiting some of the old school elements of funk and soul that we’ve veered away from in recent years. It’s fun to change it up every once in a while and we feel it’s important for us, as well as our fans to keep things fresh. Although we’re playing some different material and sporting a new look — it’s still the same Turkuaz energy, with plenty of material from our whole catalogue. This is just the beginning. Kuadrochrome is the first of many steps into a new and exciting future in the world of Turkuaz.”
To celebrate a new era for Turkuaz they will kick off a short winter tour on December 5 at FTC Warehouse in Fairfield, CT. Touring across the United States they will also be joined by several other bands. Philadelphia native funk/alternative band Great Time will be on stage in Fairfield, CT and Philadelphia, PA at the beginning of the tour. Starting in Kalamazoo, MI, Brooklyn duo Paris Monster is set to rock the stage for three nights. Hailing from Portland, OR, Swatkins and The Positive Agenda will be sure to bring a good time during the middle of the tour before Chicago native Neil Francis and his evolutionary soul-funk sounds from a bygone era finish up the last nine of the tour’s stops.
Find a full list of upcoming dates below and head over to the band’s website for tickets.
Turkuaz Tour Dates: Dec. 5 – Warehouse – Fairfield, CT * Dec. 6- Theatre of The Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA* Dec. 12 – Bells Brewery – Kalamazoo, MI ^ Dec. 13 – The Vogue Theater – Indianapolis, IN^ Dec. 14 –Exit/IN – Nashville, TN ^ Dec. 27 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO# Dec. 28-29 – 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO# Dec. 31 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO # Jan. 7-12 – Jam Cruise – Miami, FL Jan. 15 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL ~ Jan. 16 – Victory, North – Savannah, GA~ Jan. 17 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC ~ Jan. 18 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA~ Jan. 23- Songbirds – Chattanooga, TN~ Jan. 24 – Madison Theater – Covington, KY ~ Jan. 25 – Jefferson Theatre – Charlottesville, VA ~ Jan. 30 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI ~ Jan. 31 – Park West – Chicago, IL Feb. 1 – Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis, MN ~
* w/ Great Time ^ w/ Paris Monster # w/ Swaktins & The Positive Agenda ~ w/ Neal Francis
A new era dawns for Brooklyn’s Turkuaz, who have shed their bright rainbow hues as they prepare to enter Kuadrochrome, the title of their new EP due out November 22. In support of the new release, the band has added additional tour dates for early 2020, with all upcoming dates branded as part of the Kuadrochrome Tour.
“As autumn continues to set in, the change around us is impossible to ignore,” Turkuaz frontman, Dave Brandwein, shared in a statement. “As with all aspects of life, nothing ever stays the same. Things come and go, and change itself is the only thing we can all count on. For the past five years, Turkuaz has been on a colorful journey all across the U.S. and more recently, around the world. But the time has come to move on to a new era.”
What the band dubs a “visual palate cleanser” ushers in an epoch of black, white, grey and tan. Turkuaz is excited to keep things fresh, for both themselves and the fans, as they look forward into the future.
“The band is more collaborative than ever before and seeks to unite our energy in a different way,” Brandwein added on the change. “The four tone scheme with chrome accents sets the mood for an era harkening back to the funk and soul that the band’s music was born out of.”
As many fans are already aware, the “colors” age is now forever encapsulated in the band’s feature concert film, None’s a Ton, slated for wide release sometime this winter. The film showcases how the nine monochromatic band members each individually brought their own style, talent and presence to the Turkuaz stage as the band moves towards an era of more cohesion and collaboration.
A special fan pre-sale for the newly announced 2020 tour dates is going on now with general on sale beginning Friday, November 15th at 10 AM local time. Find a full list of upcoming dates below and head over to the band’s website for tickets and more info on specific dates.
Turkuaz upcoming tour dates:
12/5 – Fairfield, CT – Warehouse * 12/6 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of The Living Arts * 12/12 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bells Brewery ^ 12/13 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theater ^ 12/14 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In ^ 12/27 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre # 12/28 & 12/29 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall # 12/31 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater # 1/7 – 1/12 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise 1/15 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn ~ 1/16 – Savannah, GA – Victory, North ~ 1/17 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre ~ 1/18 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre ~ 1/23 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds ~ 1/24 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater ~ 1/25 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre ~ 1/30 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon ~ 1/31 – Chicago, IL – Park West 2/1 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe ~
* w/ Great Time ^ w/ Paris Monster # w/ Swaktins & The Positive Agenda ~ w/ Neal Francis
On Sunday, November 17, Everyone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Butler, will welcome a cadre of musicians for a performance at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
Butler will bring with him sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Claude Coleman Jr. (Ween), George Gekas (The Revivalists), Josh Schwartz and Chris Brouwers (Turkuaz), along with Asbury Park’s Remember Jones.
If you’ve never caught Everyone Orchestra, let alone a Sunday show at Garcia’s, this performance couldn’t be better timed.
The calendar may have turned to November but the Halloween spirit was strong in Buffalo with Turkuaz dressing up in celebration of our neighbors’ to the north national pastime, ice hockey! Sammi Garett and Shira Elias even dropped their gloves and staged a hockey fight that had to be broken up by referee Chris Brouwers to the delight of the packed crowd at the Town Ballroom.
Setlist: Nightswimming, Doktor Jazz, Make You Famous, Heat Drop, If I Ever Fall Asleep, E.Y.E., Mister Man, Digitonium, Big Business > Murder Face, Take ‘Em Down, Every1’s A Winner > Superstatic, Better Get Ready > Lookin’ Tough, Feelin’ Good, Gogo Mr. Dodo, The Shape I’m In Encore: Monkey Fingers
Groovesafe, a movement within the musical community to bring awareness about unwanted touching and sexual assault at concerts, has been making in roads through the music industry since the charity was formed in 2017 by Ashley Driscoll. On Monday, October 14, members of Turkuaz, Lespecial, Escaper, Goose and many more will join together as Groovesafe Allstars, for a benefit concert supporting Groovesafe at Brooklyn Bowl.
Driscoll has been bringing together musicians from across the jam scene to spread the word about Groovesafe. A topic such as unwanted touching is one that is all too common but the issue had not been brought to light until the past few years, around the same time the #MeToo movement pushed back against sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace. Through music scenes that intertwine, the mission of Groovesafe can be spread and consent culture can become the norm.
The October 11 Groovesafe Allstars benefit at Brooklyn Bowl has Driscoll’s mission front and center in the jam scene. Speaking to NYS Music about the event, Driscoll says, “I’m excited about this inaugural event because it allows us to showcase what our mission is all about. The thrilling thing about the “AllStar” aspect is we can unite different GrooveSafe Artist Ambassadors from bands of all genres. Bringing everyone together to highlight the importance of our work at GrooveSafe and our main goal to rebuild consent culture in the live music realm.”
“All we want to do is spread awareness that these bad behaviors are happening and that we won’t stand for them anymore. Change in behaviors begins with this awareness. We will be out there at The Brooklyn Bowl on Monday night to remind people how important it is to respect each others dance space, and focus on why we see shows; the music.
Ashley Driscoll – founder of Groovesafe
The show features The GrooveSafe AllStars – Sammi Garett (Vocals – Turkuaz), Josh Schwartz (Sax – Turkuaz), Greg Sanderson (Sax – Turkuaz), Chris Brouwers (Trumpet – Turkuaz), Luke Bemand (Bass – lespecial), Will Hanza (Lead Guitar – Escaper), Ben Atkind (Drums – Goose), Matt Dolliver (Keys, EWI – Swimmer), Sam Lisabeth (Guitar – Guerilla Toss), Melissa Goscinski (Vocals – Cousin Earth), and Tara Lawton (Vocals – Cousin Earth), with an appearance by Tom Salgo (Guitar-Of Clocks And Clouds). More info can be found here.
This initial event will be the start of a series of benefit concerts, spreading the mission of Groovesafe.
We hope to have a rotating act and continue to put on benefit concerts with talented musicians who support the movement to stop unwanted touching at shows in cities throughout the country. Our touring bands work so hard to bring you the music, let’s work together and make the show experience better. Let’s help people love the music again and give us a voice to create safer shows. Practice consent and take care of each other.
Ashley Driscoll – founder of Groovesafe
Additionally, at the upcoming HarvestFest at Woods Valley, Groovesafe will receive a portion of ticket sales from the weekend event, which features Rob Compa of Dopapod and Hayley Jane, among others.
A great movie can act as a time capsule, documenting a specific era in time to relive, revisit and enjoy in the days to come, and that’s essentially what Turkuaz did in late 2018 while filming a live performance, which was promised to be released as a film at a later date.
“None’s A Ton is our first time truly capturing the Turkuaz show experience in a live concert film,” shares Turkuaz frontman, Dave Brandwein, who also co-directed and is credited as an Executive Producer on the film. “It’s something we’ve dreamed of doing for a long time and finally, it has arrived. This film is sort of a ‘best of’ of our favorite moments that have developed on stage over the last five years of non-stop, coast-to-coast touring.”
On Tuesday, September 10th and for one night only, Turkuaz will screen their feature film debut, None’s A Ton, in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY at Prospect Park’s Nitehawk Cinema.
“We feel it’s the next best thing to being at a Turkuaz show (and maybe, it’s even better if you have your feet up with a bowl of popcorn!),” adds Brandwein. “We want you to feel the raw energy, the sweat and the excitement, but from the comfort of your own home, smartphone, or however, you choose to enjoy it.”
For this very special film debut, fans are invited to join members of Turkuaz and the film’s co-director and Executive Producer, Dani Brandwein, for the screening premiere of None’s A Ton over dinner at the lovely Nitehawk Cinema located in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Directly after the film premiere, fans have the opportunity to participate in a Q & A session with band members and the film’s directors.
For an elevated experience and a chance to score some exclusive merch, fans can upgrade to VIP for a meet & greet opportunity, photo with the band and a signed movie poster, in addition to the above offerings. VIP ticket holders must also purchase a GA ticket.
GA tickets and VIP upgrades for the None’s A Ton premiere are .
Turkuaz Fall Tour Dates
9/10 – Brooklyn, NY – Nitehawk Cinema Park Slope !
9/20 & 9/21 – Perris, CA – Same Same But Different Festival
9/20 – 9/22 – Felton, CA – Mountain Sol Fest
9/29 & 9/30 – Tokyo, Japan – Blue Note Tokyo
10/4 – 10/6 – Kings Beach, Australia – Caloundra Music Festival
10/11 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West *
10/12 – Mills River, NC – Sierra Nevada Concert Series
10/13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater ^
10/19 – Washington, DC – Night At the Point
10/20 – Corolla, NC – Mustang Rock & Roast
10/31 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground * 11/1 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom * 11/2 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Place
12/5 – Fairfield, CT – Warehouse ~
12/6 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of The Living Arts ~
12/7 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center %
12/12 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bells Brewery #
12/13 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theater #
12/14 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In #
12/31 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater$
1/7 – 1/12 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise
* w/ Wild Adriatic
^ w/ Andy Frasco
~ w/ Great Time
! notes None’s A Ton Film Premiere
% w/ The Isley Brothers
# w/ Paris Monster
Twiddle held its 4th annual Tumble Down Festival in Burlington, VT at Waterfront Park this past weekend. The beautiful park, right on Lake Champlain, hosted Twiddle for five sets along with: The Kitchen Dwellers, Stephen Marley, Turkuaz, Ghost Light, Jaden Carlson Band, Owl and Crow, The Big Sip, Nina’s Brew and The Jauntee. The festival, a family reunion for Twiddle fans, brought all ages together to celebrate music. The festival also brought fans and partners together to raise money for the White Light Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to help spread love, healing and kindness.
Twiddle kicked off the festival with a special acoustic set with fan favorites including “Hatties Jam” and “When it Rains It Pours,” and a special sit in by David Grippo. Their second and third sets closed out the first night and included a prerecorded message from “Colonel Norco,” which helped set the tone for two packed sets, and a special sit in by Todd Stoops. The second set included a new verse to “Jamflowman” that brought his tale home and an additional sit in by David Grippo on the beautiful, “Lost in the Cold.”
Acoustic Set: Glycerine Medley, Earth Mama, Five, Wildfire, Fat Country Baby, Hattiebagan Mcrat, Hattie’s Jam-> When it Rains it Pours Set 2: Enter, Orlando’s, Amydst the Myst, Doinkinbonk, Grandpa Fox -> Apples -> Mamunes the Faun -> Every Soul Set 3: Jamflowman -> Subconscious Prelude -> Nicodemus Portulay -> Milk, Lost in the Cold
Encore: River Drift
The second day started with a bit of deja vu as The Big Sip had their set shortened by a weather evacuation, that thankfully didn’t last too long, or turn into anything more than threatening clouds and some high winds. The Kitchen Dwellers began their set as masses of fans were still in line to re-enter the festival, music to the ears of those eager to get back to the party. They also welcomed members of Cabinet to sit in for a few songs, much to the audience’s enjoyment.
Nina’s Brew, a trio from Burlington, played with a sound influenced by blues, soul, rock and R&B. They’re currently working on their first studio album and are anticipating a fall release.
Turkuaz, the nine piece funk juggernaut from Brooklyn, NY, played as the sun was setting over the water. Their brightly colored outfits seemed to glow in the “golden hour” of light, and highlighted their energy.
Twiddle’s final two sets to close out the fantastic weekend contained many treats for fans. The origin of “Ricky Snickle” and an additional verse, another message from “Colonel Norco,” and a new verse to “Frankenfoote.” There were also many sit-ins over the final two sets. Jayden Carlson, The Kitchen Dwellers, Zach Nugent and Todd Stoops all helped Twiddle close out the festival.
Set 4: Ricky Snickle Origin, Ricky Snickle, Syncopated Healing, Machine, Visions of Mohr, Latin Tang, Beethoven and Green Set 5: Polluted Beauty, Gatsby the Great -> Pond -> Zazu’s Flight -> Pond -> Grandpa Fox, Be There Encore: Frankenfoote Origin -> Frankenfoote
Hail the almighty bass – a beautiful cornerstone of countless bands through history. Its versatility is a product of its transformation over time, to become a tool that is both seismic and transient. With such a dichotomy, the possibilities are endless, and that attracts some of the most sagacious of musical minds. Chris “Freekbass” Sherman is one such person; his bombastic aesthetic and revolutionary playing style is evened out by his time learning from one of the most accurate and revolutionary funk bassists of all time (Boosty Collins).
In this focused yet unrestrained way, Freekbass explores the extremes of his instrument while never venturing too far into the obscene, instead riding the line of being an accessible yet progressive artist. Freekbass himself is one of the true cornerstones of a band, with a physical image formed around his vision and shaped by the eccentric. In this new album, All The Way This. All The Way That., Freekbass puts on a clinic for bass enthusiasts, as he invites along a cast of immensely talented musicians to create a work that takes the listener on a travel through funk music’s past, present, and future.
The band on this album is stellar in every performance aspect. The Freekbass Experience is composed of all-star players Rico Lewis on drums (George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic), Sky White on keys (Foxy Shazam), and Sammi Garett on vocals (Turkuaz). Every track is unique in its usage of the band, with Freekbass’ bass lines acting as a centerpiece for most tracks, developed further by his supporting cast. In general, each song could be described as being steeped in a sort of chaotic beauty, creating a very instrumentally deep album that breathes an air of robustness. This is one of the things that defines Freekbass’ aesthetic in a way; from his image to his stage presence, it’s wild, yet neither ignorant nor forced. It’s large, but never overwhelming.
“Blizzard Lizard” offers a great look at this dynamic. A soft opening gets the listener comfortable before the bass slaps them awake, ushering in a groove so funky it warrants a spray of Glade air freshener. While this track has a darker mood, the energy remains potent as heavily effected guitar and synth lines swirl above a dark, black-hole of bass.
Much of the time though, the album has a brighter nature with springy instrumentals and sing-able hooks. An unrelenting pulse between the bass and the drums sets the tone in “You Make Me Wanna Dance.” Here, the vocals sit nicely in an agile arrangement with a lot of interplay between the organ and bass. Added strings nod to older funk and disco. Vocal “ooh’s” on top of that work to create a cinematic atmosphere – a unique experience in a mostly pocket-funk styled song. One thing that stands out here, as well as in numerous places elsewhere on the album, are the transitions between the song’s parts. There is a well-phrased melodic line in “You Make Me Wanna Dance,” much like something out of a Stevie Wonder song. In the more 80’s funk-pop styled song, “Your Love Is Always On Time,” you find a lot of bass fills between side-chained sub-bass and drum breaks alaPrince. And speaking to that point, it’s evident that these modern funk figures, such as Stevie and Prince, lent as much influence to this album as did pioneers like James Brown and P-Funk.
The intricacies in more pop-oriented songs are a testament to the skill of the band on this record. Take “Steppin’ Outta Line” – this song could have easily gotten away with a simple drum beat; bass drum on the one, snare drum on the two, and so on. Instead, you’ll notice that the bass drum lines up almost perfectly with the bass line, which does move around a fair amount without becoming too evasive. One of the lyrics on this song offer a great explanation as to why this type of intricacy is preferred to the more modern simplicity in this funk-pop: “Some may conform with the norm of the time / Others fly the coop / Steppin’ out of line.”
Composition on this album stands out in a big way against the back drop of good-ol’-fun funk jams. Accessible and technical! Modern, yet paying homage to what made this type of music so intriguing to begin with.
The closing song, “Thrust”, sends the album out on a high note, acting as a good cap to a breakthrough album. The chorus holds strong as an earworm. The drums are accurately performed, filling out their function as the co-equal to the bass while breaking out in fills at just the right time; vocals are layered so thick that they are felt seismically. It’s just as much as the bass, though their presence makes it so a voice never get lost in the mix. This chorus is likely the strongest on the album, and along with the chipper instrumental, it is a great end to an absolute trip. As the song fades out, the need to listen through again will surely arise.
Chris Sherman’s on-stage persona is a sight to witness. That taken along with this new album, one should expect to be seeing the name Freekbass more and more over the next year. Make sure to listen on Spotify, and visit Freekbass’ website for upcoming show information as well as live content. Follow on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and more! And if you’re in NYS, you can see him in Marlboro for Mazzstock 2019, playing onstage with Zach Deputy.
Key Tracks: Thrust, Fre3kroNomoKon, Gotta Get Back To You
