Southside Aces: A Night In New Orleans

“flawlessly replicate the sound of classic New Orleans” — Prairie Uprising

Southside Aces are celebrating twenty years performing the repertoire of the Jazz Age greats and beyond. From the early New Orleans of Jelly Roll Morton to the world-changing joys of Louis Armstrong. The barrel house sounds of Preservation Hall to the Crescent City rhythms of rock and roll pioneer Fats Domino. Treat yourself to a century’s worth of New Orleans jazz. 

The band first began as the brainchild of clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson. Then, their whispers and rumors materialized in Tony’s foyer in South Minneapolis, in August 2003. Since their first gig on a flatbed truck in Apple Valley, the Aces have released eight albums. Their most recent — 2022’s Minneapolis Bump — features fifteen original songs inspired by the Jazz Age.

In New Orleans, the jazz tradition thrives off a wide array of styles. Moreover, their roll call includes the names of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke. Plus, Crescent City classics like “Bourbon Street Parade”, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”, and “St. James Infirmary”. And let’s not forget the funky rhythms of brass band powerhouses like “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and “Palm Court Strut”!

The Southside Aces have performed at the Dakota, Icehouse, Crooners Supper Club, Vieux Carre and Twin Cities Jazz Fest. They’ve also played Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival and Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest, to name a few. They’ve driven dancers crazy at national dance competitions and led second line parades through the streets of the Twin Cities. Further, they’ve played events in Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Des Moines, and all across the great state of Minnesota.

Recommended for Fans of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tuba Skinny, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller.

LEARN MORE: https://www.southsideaces.com/

📸: Paul Udstrand