Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they’ve also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound. “Rebirth can be precise whenever it wants to,” says The New York Times, “but it’s more like a party than a machine. It’s a working model of the New Orleans musical ethos: as long as everybody knows what they’re doing, anyone can cut loose.” In the wake of the sometimes- stringent competition amongst New Orleans brass bands, Rebirth is the undisputed leader of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.  

Pocket Chocolate is a 7-piece funk, blues, and soul collective. With a combination of original songwriting and samples from musical influences across genres, Pocket Chocolate aims to captivate audiences with their vibrant, modern take on the styles of music that founded New Orleans’ musical culture. The band members—Gabe France [lead vocals, bass] Tucker France [guitar, vocals], Connor Zaeringer [drums], Dalton Stieffel [keys, percussion], Jake Lodato [trombone], Sal Gaither [trumpet], and Garret Hickman [alto sax]—are born and raised New Orleans musicians that have established themselves as a staple in the New Orleans music scene. Since 2021, the band has played all throughout Louisiana as well as the Gulfcoast, sharing stages with Marc Broussard, The New Orleans Suspects, Billy Iuso, George Porter Jr., and John “Papa” Gros. As of May 2025, Pocket Chocolate has released 3 singles from their eventual album (summer 2025) that was recorded with, mixed, and mastered by Jake Eckert [Dirty Dozen and New Orleans Suspects].