TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

Take Me to the River’ is not just a project; it’s a heartfelt journey into the soul of American music. Born from a desire to celebrate and preserve the rich musical legacies of Memphis and New Orleans, the initiative has grown into a movement that documents, educates, and showcases the profound cultural impact of these musical havens.

‘Take Me To The River’ is a unique not-for-profit education initiative that uses award-winning live music shows, award-winning full-length feature films (SXSW, Raindance, and 12 other film festivals around the world), brand new Grammy award-winning records, Common Core curriculum (taught in over 3,000 high schools) and interactive workshops/masterclasses to widen the reach and understanding of the culture & music of New Orleans and Memphis.

The TMTTR New Orleans live music show features a stellar cast of elite musicians ranging from legendary original players such as Cyril Neville to the vanguard of today with Galactic, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr, Omari Neville, Ian Neville and many more.

A great example of the magic of TMTTR took place on Saturday 23 November 2024 when The Take Me To The River New Orleans All-Stars headlined The London Jazz Festival at a sold out show at The Barbican Main Hall in central London. The TMTTR All-Star Revue featuring Cyril Neville, Omari Neville, Ian Neville, Chief Bo Dollis Jnr, Angelika Jelly Johnson, and Robert Mecurio with project director Martin Shore transformed the prestigious central London venue into a Crescent City street party, with all 2,000 audience members on their feet dancing in a joyous celebration of NOLA music and culture.

Check out highlights from the show here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQo0jH3FOQ

Directed by Martin Shore, the Grammy Award-winning feature film Take Me To The River New Orleans and its related records bring to life the vibrant history and enduring spirit of New Orleans music. The film journeys through time, exploring the roots and evolution of genres that have defined New Orleans. The film feature the artists mentioned above plus Mavis Staples , Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas and many more legendary NOLA players.