King of New Orleans coming to Barnoldswick next month

The Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre will be transformed into a wild, sweat-soaked Mardi Gras carnival of rolling piano, Hammond organ grooves, second-line rhythms, deep Southern soul, street-parade funk and late-night Louisiana magic next month as John "Papa" Gros comes to the Music & Arts Centre.

Gros, who will headline the Music & Arts Centre on Friday, September 18th, is a pianist, organist, songwriter and vocalist whose music carries the DNA of Professor Longhair, Dr John, Allen Toussaint, Art Neville and The Meters.

After formally training at Loyola University in French horn performance, Gros’ real education came in the clubs, bars and backstreet jams of New Orleans. By the 1990s, Gros had become one of the city's most respected sidemen, working alongside an astonishing roll call of Louisiana royalty, including George Porter Jr, Snooks Eaglin, Earl King, Irma Thomas, Anders Osborne and Better Than Ezra. Performing with Porter Jr's Runnin' Pardners placed Gros directly into the bloodline of The Meters — the very architects of New Orleans funk itself.

Soon after, Gros launched Papa Grows Funk. What started as loose Monday night jams at the iconic Maple Leaf Bar soon exploded into one of the most beloved funk bands in America. For over a decade, Papa Grows Funk became the soundtrack of uptown New Orleans nightlife — sweaty, spontaneous, loose, funky and utterly alive. Their famous Maple Leaf residency became the stuff of legend, attracting musicians, tourists, jazz heads, funk freaks and Mardi Gras survivors from across the globe.

The band toured relentlessly throughout America and Europe, released multiple acclaimed albums and became synonymous with modern New Orleans groove culture. Their album Needle In The Groove was even co-produced by Toussaint himself.

Yet Gros has always been more than a funk revivalist.

His solo work reveals a songwriter of remarkable depth — chronicling the beauty, heartbreak, resilience and spirit of New Orleans itself. Albums such as River's On Fire captured the emotional scars and determination left behind after Hurricane Katrina, while Central City became a glorious celebration of New Orleans songcraft and community spirit.

Beyond the stage, Gros' music has travelled deep into popular culture, appearing in HBO's Treme, NCIS: New Orleans, The Judge, C.L.A.W.S. and even major NBA playoff and MLB championship broadcasts — carrying the sound of New Orleans to millions around the world. But his music was built for intimate spaces, and the Music & Arts Centre stands to be the perfect setting for Gros to shine. Tickets are available at https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/john-papa-gros-at-barnoldswickhttps://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/john-papa-gros-at-barnoldswick