Two of America's great cultural ambassadors bring together the soul of New Orleans with the joy of Gospel when they share the stage to carry on their proud musical traditions for a new generation.

Background:
Down By The Riverside is an unprecedented collaboration featuring vocal legends The Blind Boys of Alabama and the ageless music of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  Sharing the stage for the first time ever as they carry their proud musical traditions on into the future, two of America’s great cultural ambassadors bring together the joy of Gospel with the soul of New Orleans and promise an unforgettable evening for audiences everywhere.

Formed some six and a half decades ago, and respected as an indisputable musical treasure, The Blind Boys of Alabama are the Iron Men of the music industry. They predate Elvis, Little Richard and Al Green, yet even in their 70s they are still at the top of the gospel charts and have won an impressive four consecutive Grammy Awards. Recently inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, The Blind Boys have proven themselves masters of bringing out the most spiritual aspects of mainstream music, while at the same time bringing the music of the church house straight to the roadhouse.

For over 45 years, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band has maintained the bridge between the present day and the earliest foundations of New Orleans jazz, all the while enriching audiences the world over. Recent recipient of the NEA National Medal of Arts, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs traditional New Orleans Jazz at Preservation Hall and tours around the world over 150 days a year. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall, The Red Sea Jazz Festival, or for the British Royal Family, the group embodies the joyful, timeless spirit of a true American art form. And whenever the band takes to the stage, no matter where in the world it may be, the music draws us back to that storefront at 726 St. Peter Street, where time holds its breath in nightly communion with the spirits of New Orleans.