JUNE 23, 2009
Grupo Fantasma Announces Summer Tour
Grammy-Nominated Latin Funk Orchestra To Play Selected Dates This July
Grupo Fantasma, the self-described "funkiest, finest and hardest working Latin orchestra to come out of the United States in the last decade" recently announced plans for a summer U.S. tour of selected cities. The Austin, TX-based band's most recent album, 2008's Grammy-nominated Sonidos Gold, spent several months in the top ten of the CMJ world charts.
The Grammy nomination was clearly a fitting end to a 2008 that was packed with rave reviews and massive touring across North American, Europe, and beyond. Highlights include the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the horn section performing with Prince at Coachella and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and a ten day engagement to entertain troops stationed in Kuwait and Iraq.
Jose Galeano, the band's elder statesman and primary songwriter (nephew of the infamous percussionist "Chepito" from the original Santana band) was especially moved by the recognition. "Just like Prince's seal of approval, the Grammy nomination sends a message that the band's music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It is quite an accomplishment. Finally the masses will know that we kick some serious ass!"
In addition to Grupo Fantasma's 2009 summer tour, the group will make another trip to military bases in the Middle East, and perform a headlining spot at the Festival International de Louisiane. Grupo Fantasma will also return to Europe for festivals in August.
Grupo Fantasma Tour Dates:
July 14th: The Marquee,Tulsa, OK
July 15th: The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
July 17th: Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
July 18th: Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI
July 19th: Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
July 21st: Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
July 22nd: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
July 23rd: State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
July 24th: Floyd Festival, Floyd, VA
July 25th: Hillside Festival, Guelph, ON
July 26th: Williamsburg Waterfront, Brooklyn, NY
July 28th: World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA
July 29th: Plaza Bowl, Richmond, VA
July 30th: Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
July 31st: Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
Aug 1st: Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, TN