It has been busy for Grupo Fantasma as of late! The orchestra’s horn section appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno recently, providing backup for Prince as well as supporting the pop icon at his 2008 Coachella performance.

According to Jose Galeano, Grupo Fantasma’s elder statesman, “Prince’s seal of approval sends a message that the band’s music and performances are of the highest quality, and that we can conquer anything we put our minds to. It was quite an accomplishment. Even if the masses don’t know it yet, he believes that we kick some serious ass!”

The band’s relationship with Prince began with a two-month residency at his Las Vegas nightclub 3121 (guest appearances included Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige and will.i.am) and evolved into a series of backing roles at events including his famed “21 Nights in London” residency at London’s 02 Arena, his Golden Globes after party, the CBS Superbowl Bash in South Beach, the ALMA Awards and an exclusive private party in their hometown of Austin, Texas.

The band is currently out on the road in support of their new album Sonidos Gold set for release June 17th on Aire Sol Records/High Wire Music.

TOUR DATES

May
2 Private Laredo, Texas
3 Old Pecan Street Festival Austin, Texas
4 Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, Louisiana
5 Private Austin, Texas
9 Lorraine’s Marble Falls, Texas
10 Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar San Antonio, Texas
30 Mohawk – CD Release Party Austin, Texas
31 Pachanga Festival Austin, Texas

June
4 Take 2 El Paso, Texas
5 Santa Fe Brewing Company Santa Fe, New Mexico
6 Old Town Plaza Albuquerque, New Mexico
7 Telluride Jazz Festival Telluride, Colorado
8 Walnut Room Denver, Colorado
9 Los Fuentes Topeka, Kansas
10 Blue Note Columbia, Missouri
12 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, Tennessee
14 Columbia Festival of the Arts Columbia, Maryland
15 Arts Center Carrboro, North Carolina
19 Bottom Lounge Chicago, Illinois
21 Black Cat Washington DC, Washington DC
22 Festival of Arts & Ideas New Haven, Connecticut
25 Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Massachusetts
26 Ironhorse Northampton, Massachusetts
27 SOB’s New York, New York

July
1 Club Absinthe Hamilton, Ontario
2 Horseshoe Toronto, Ontario
3 Comerica Cityfest Detroit, Michigan
4 Sun Fest London, Ontario
5 Sun Fest London, Ontario
7 Festival D’Ete Quebec, Quebec
9 Cisco Bluesfest Ottawa, Ontario
18 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
19 Tipitina’s New Orleans, Louisiana
26 Antone’s Austin, Texas

August
1 Cambridge Folk Festival Cambridge
2 Riverside Festival Nottingham

September
18 Krannert Center for Performing Arts Urbana, Illinois