Funk Bands in Austin, Texas

Born out of a love for jazz, Big Wy's Brass Band brings a frenetic party wherever they play. The band performs at iconic Austin, TX venues such as Antone's Nightclub and Continental Club. They have also represented the United States at International jazz festivals in Guatemala and Costa Rica. The band plays an eclectic mix of traditional New Orleans standards and funky originals. Whether it's at a second-line wedding overlooking Lake Austin, Jazz festival in Antigua Guatemala, or a rocking house party, Big Wy's aims to invite the listener on a wild ride through its brassy confections and irresistible grooves! OUR STORY Big Wy's Brass Band was born 03/01/2014 at The Historic Scoot Inn in Austin, TX opening for The Austin Samba School for Brazil Day/Mardi Gras Celebration. The band was comprised of current West Lake High School students that played together in the jazz ensemble and marching band. After an overwhelming victory at their high school battle of the bands, they knew they had something special. Big Wy's went on to release their debut single "Cane Sauce" on SoundCloud. April 2015, Big Wy's Brass Band participates in its first ever HONK!TX Brass Band Festival. IG WY'S GOES TO COLLEGE. . .After most the band decided to attend The University of Texas at Austin they decided to keep the project going soon after leading to wide popularity across the UT campus music scene. In 2017, Big Wy's Brass Band Wy's made its first international debut by representing the United States at the Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (IGA) 2017 International Jazz Festival in Guatemala. The band toured the country giving performances and hosting jazz workshops in Guatemala City and Antigua. As one of the youngest performers to ever be featured at the festival, Prensa Libre poll the public and concluded the band as the second most popular group to perform that year amongst participants from all over the world. IGA Jazz Fest was quickly followed by the band's selection for the 2017 CR Promising Artists of The 21st Century Tour of Costa Rica. Over the course of the tour, Big Wy's was hosted by Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano (CCCN) and performed around the country, with the additional honor of playing for President Luis Guillermo Solís as featured guests at the annual Afro Descendants Day parade in Puerto Limón. February 2018, their debut EP "The Portal To Funkville EP" on all major streaming platforms. Containing only original works, the EP featured solos from all 9 members of the band. Recorded in a tiny guest house, the record showcases the bands high school roots as well as its jazzier compositions. The title track "Valhalla" is the bands most streamed song. The new record led to many exciting developments throughout 2018 with the band performing along side the world-renowned Preservation Hall Jazz and Blue Lab Beats for SXSW18 as well as featured performers on TEDxYouth@Austin. August 2019, the band was invited back as CR Promising Artists of The 21st Century Tour of Costa Rica. During this tour the band had the privilege of performing at the US Ambassadors residence for 30 of Costa Rica's Ambassadors to the world and UN. The band had the honor to perform the Afro Descendants Day parade for Vice President Marvin Rodríguez Cordero. April 2019 marked the release of "Lord Dope EP" on all major streaming. This record included the addition of keys as well as a more experimental sound. Inspired by the works of contemporary brass bands such as NO! BS and The Huntertones, this record explores a more hip hop vibe. The new record led to many exciting developments with the band performing along side Big Sam's Funky Nation, Ike Stubblefield, and Walter "Wolfman" Washington. The Austin Chronicle's annual Austin Music Awards honored Big Wy's Brass Band as "Best Horns" for 2019 with a performance at the prestigious ACL Moody Theater. 2020 started as a very promising year for the band having already been invited to perform at the SXSW Music Festival for the 3rd consecutive year, and having prospects to tour more internationally. March 2020 the world stood still as the COVID-19 pandemic cut off all live music. During the years 2020-2021 Big Wy's seldom performed live so in an effort to still make music The Quarantine Sessions were born. A series of videos stitching together everyones individual recorded parts from across the country so that we could still make music together as a band. This was a time of songwriting, reflection, and bringing in new prospectives to the band. "Do Travel" was released in May of 2020 as a collaboration with Austin, TX rock band, Night Cap. "Big Wy Was Here" was released in August 2021 as a collaboration with Austin, TX beatboxer and rapper, Ben Buck. "Pillow Talk" is is an original composition the features long time friend of the band Marcus Cardwell on the tenor saxophone

N.O.A & The Goodest Ones is Soul/R&B with a Funk attitude. Known for getting honest and vulnerable on the mic, N.O.A draws inspiration from a plethora of adjacent styles including Hip-Hop and Jazz, to create a unique and powerful sound. Soulful vocals and electrifying live performances have earned her recognition in the Austin music scene. Catch N.O.A & The Goodest Ones live at their residency, every 4th Wednesday at Half Step on Rainey Street in Austin, Texas.​

The term "All Skate" comes from 70s roller-rink slang, meaning “everyone, do your thing." The band All Skate is an Austin, Texas-based group blending American soul and pop with Brazilian rhythms into a melodic, vintage sound. All Skate’s live repertoire ranges from samba, bossa nova, and reggae to deep funk and energized pop. For more info, visit www.allskateband.com. All Skate is: Shariffa Nyan – Vocals, Larry Ware - Vocals, Danny Kerner – Guitars, Jon Portillo – Guitars, Hamilton Nabors – Bass/Vocals, Luiz Coutinho - Percussion, Bruce Popky – Drums/Vocals

The Sidepiece Collective combines elements of many styles--including rock, funk, jazz-fusion and more--into a unique, original sound. This group has been around since 2018, playing shows in and around the Austin, TX area. We've performed at many venues including The Townsend, The Volstead, The Drafting Room, The Fairmont, The Sahara Lounge, Hole In The Wall, Hotel Vegas, Far Out Lounge, Circle Brewing Company, Reggae on the Guadalupe Fest, and more. Every show is unique and we look forward to every opportunity to play!

Anthony Basini's music is at once familiar and, yet, brand new — his lyrics deeply personal but universal in their secrets. If you've seen Anthony play in concert with one of his many bands you know his dexterity on guitar, both electric and acoustic, and you know he can belt a hard rock sound whether singing back-up or lead. But Anthony's heart shines through when he introduces you to his quieter side, the crooner, the balladeer, the bluesman. When Anthony settles in with his guitar, the world slows down and the cacophony of life fades to the background. He is sharing a piece of himself with his audience in his words and with his instrument. Clearly comfortable in his vocal range, his voice has echoes of James Taylor and John Mayer, while his smooth guitar licks drop hints of The Dave Matthews Band and Steely Dan's jazz-rock combo. As a lyricist, Anthony turns emotions into words and offers them up to share, revealing himself while also revealing a bit of the listener to themselves. Every line has meaning and in the chorus one can find universal meanings. As a true musician, Anthony goes beyond scale boxes and muscle memory to find the melody in his head; he plays that, all the while tapping time with his foot and imagining the chord progression, the band, behind him. "Music," he says, "is communication with greater context." And communicating with song is what this young man is all about.

In his heart, Dave has always had a deep appreciation of the great blues and Jazz of the past and present, and he has relished years of late nights playing dive bars with his beat up Gibson during his years studying Jazz at Australia’s leading music conservatoriums (JMI and Griffith). Despite playing just about any style you could name over the years, he has always found a home with bluesy guitar driven rock n soul and released his debut full length album in 2019. As a session guitar player, Dave has toured Europe and North America extensively with Australian Theatre production “The Ten Tenors” and is well acquainted with tour bus life, travelling the world guitar in hand. David is now based in Austin, Texas “Live music capital of the world” a city thriving with artists and world class musicians to collaborate with.

Afro Egyptian and funk fusion band in Austin, Tx. Born in 2023 and Create music in the realm of west and north African genres as well as Reggae music, blending different backgrounds.

Serendipitous doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling Go-Machine had when they played their rst notes together in Austin, TX during October of 2021. Stars aligned to bring guitarist/frontman Dave Orr from Brisbane, Australia to Austin in 2020. Worlds collided when he found drummer Marshall Kummer, who had transplanted from Europe via Boston, MA. Finally, after moving from Minneapolis, MN, bassist Ry Dill unwittingly stumbled into the pair during his rst week in Austin. Three unlikely amigos from three dierent hemispheres, they soon found themselves in a rehearsal space in South Austin. As they began to generate a slew of inspiring new songs, it quickly became apparent to all three members that they had tapped into something greater than the sum of its parts. The trio spent the next two years playing hundreds of gigs in Austin, Houston, and the south/central Texas area, performing at venues like the Continental Club, the Gallery, C-Boy’s, the Saxon Pub, and ABGB. As they gained visibility, they began to draw the attention of some of Austin’s nest musicians. In line with the twists of fate that brought them together, they added two more pieces: saxophonist Matt Maldonado, and keyboardist Marcell Coleman. Since then, the quintet has been polishing their sound both on stage and in the studio. They’ve been hard at work at the legendary Bud’s Recording Services, capturing the adventurous and energetic performances they have become known for. After releasing their debut single “Going Nowhere”, the group continues to perform and record. With plans to release a complete EP in the spring of 2025, they are looking forward to expanding beyond their local market in the coming year.

Daniel Forrester is a multi-instrumentalist composer that relocated to Austin last year and started playing psychedelic jazz funk with musicians he has met over the years. Everyone in the group has been playing professionally for about 20 years and has gone to music school, and are also working in other active and successful bands in Austin.