After previously announcing their first concert since 2017, The Meters have extended their comeback by adding another date and location to the roster. The influential funk purveyors will take part in a new appearance on Friday, April 24, at the Fillmore in New Orleans with an opening set provided by Dumpstaphunk, before following up on Saturday, May 2, at the Saenger Theatre. 

The band’s updated schedule now accounts for appearances during both the first and second weekends of The Big Easy’s annual Jazz Festival. 

The Meters formed in 1965, with Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter, Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar), and Art Neville (keyboards) leading the funk charge that would make them Crescent City staples. During their affluent careers, the band defined themselves as torchbearers of the genre alongside another top contributor, James Brown.

During their sage tenure, the Crescent City staples have been embraced by the global music community, receiving an invitation to join Paul McCartney during the release bash for his album Venus and Mars (which was recorded in New Orleans) on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. 

In addition to their time with a Beatle, The Meters were also embraced by The Rolling Stones’ frontman, Mick Jagger, who attended McCartney’s gathering. The New Orleans ensemble later opened for the Stones on their Tour of the Americas ‘75 (which coincided with the release of Fire on the Bayou, The Meters’ first studio album to feature Cyril Neville as lead vocalist) and Tour of Europe ‘76.

The last time the original Meters, featuring all four founding members, played together was on June 25, 2017, during the Arroyo Seco Festival in Pasadena, Calif. At the newly announced concert, Modeliste, Porter Jr., Nocentelli will reunite with latter-day member Cyril Neville. The keyboard role will be filled by the late Art Neville’s nephew (and Aaron Neville’s son) Dumpstaphunk founder Ivan Neville.

Tickets for The Meters night at The Fillmore go on sale Friday, Jan. 30.