JOHN BROWN'S BODY KICKS OFF MORE TOURING

Tonight, John Brown's Body begins another stretch of the heavy touring that has defined this group for years now. First up is a 14 show outing with old friends Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, running along the East Coast from Boston down through Florida and back again. Then they begin a co-headlining run with Toubab Krewe March 11 which will bring both groups across the country, ending in Southern California in April. Check the JBB tour dates page on our website for the latest info and updates on the shows.

Here's the press release JBB and Toubab Krewe put out for their tour:

Progressive reggae band John Brown's Body and West African-influenced quintet Toubab Krewe kick off a 14-city co-headlining U.S. tour.

Each group has achieved mainstream success by performing their own forward-thinking approach to traditional roots styles, John Brown's Body with reggae and Toubab Krewe with West African music.

In recent years both groups' music has spread like a grassroots wildfire to the farthest corners of the world. While Toubab Krewe performed in Mali and Portugal, John Brown's Body completed first-ever tours of New Zealand and the UK in late 2009.

This month, the musicians were re-introduced aboard Jam Cruise -- the celebrated, floating music festival in the Caribbean. Returning from stops in Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island, the bands met up during an all-artist basketball tournament (neither advanced past the first round). Despite a disappointing showing on the court, they spent the night catching up and watching each other perform as the ship sailed out to sea.

The upcoming tour will build on the friendly vibe forged in far away places, where the bands found common ground.