Pimps of Joytime • July 13 • 7:30 PM • Free

When Pimps of Joytime visionary Brian J started laying down grooves in a New Orleans studio in early 2019, he didn’t exactly have a proper album in mind, so much as capturing the steady flow of ideas that were at his fingertips seemingly every day. Over two years and a global pandemic later, Reachin’ Up is Pimps’ vibrant new full-length album that finds the venerable frontman once again brimming with trademark kaleidoscopic styles and undeniably funky dance music.

An amalgamation of New Orleans and Bay Area funk elements juxtaposed with Brooklyn’s indie DIY ethos, Pimps of Joytime mirror the diversity of their communities and eclectic generational tastes. Traditionally, their music has always ignored established norms and colored outside the lines, and you can always expect the band to deliver an incendiary live show with swaggering confidence and undeniable cool. With Brian J consistently at the helm, the group has evolved through various configurations since bursting on the scene in 2004. They’ve created countless soulful, swaggering grooves across five full length releases, and can be found playing tours and festivals consistently around the world.

Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey.

“The critical praise has been non-stop… and her sound has evolved into a fervent blend of R&B, folk, and classic soul. But she doesn’t let genre get in the way of her creative process.” WGBH