Trombone Shorty and his band Collaborate for annual tour starting this week

GRAMMY-winning artist Trombone Shorty (born Troy Andrews) will tour with Tank & the Bangas. The second annual Shorty Gras Tour will start on March 6 in Burlington, VT. 

Andrews got his start (and nickname) earlier than most: at four, he made his first appearance at Jazz Fest performing with Bo Diddley; at six, he was leading his brass band; and by his teenage years, Andrews was hired by Lenny Kravitz to join the band he assembled for his Electric Church World Tour.

The Shorty Gras Tour was first introduced last year and quickly became a fan favorite, offering a taste of Orleans’ Mardi Gras tradition to audiences far beyond Louisiana.  Inspired by Trombone Shorty’s role leading the Krewe de Freret Parade and hosting the Shorty Gras Ball at Mardi Gras World for the past several years at home in New Orleans, this tour transports that joyous, celebratory energy to concert halls across the U.S. 

In January 2025, he led the fourth Getting Funky in Havana cultural exchange trip to Cuba alongside his band Orleans Avenue, young musicians from the Trombone Shorty Foundation, and renowned Afro-Cuban star Cimafunk. The cultural exchange featured performances and collaborations between New Orleans and Cuba artists, highlighting the deep-rooted musical connections between the two regions.

Since then, he has released four chart-topping studio albums, toured with artists including Jeff Beck and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and collaborated with artists including Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Normani, and Ringo Starr. He has also participated in major music festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk, and Newport Jazz.

Additionally, he has performed four times at the GRAMMY Awards, five times at the White House, and on dozens of TV shows. Furthermore, he launched the Trombone Shorty Foundation to support youth music education and received the prestigious Caldecott Honor for his children’s book.

The tour will continue through September, stopping in New Orleans on April 26 and 28 and May 4. Other shows on the tour will happen in states including New York (upstate), Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, and Utah.

Those interested in attending upcoming shows can find information on how to purchase tickets on Trombone Shorty’s website: https://www.tromboneshorty.com/tour.