While Béla Fleck & The Flecktones were confirming the final dates of their biggest tour in years, a hippo-shaped asteroid soared close to the earth (1.8 million miles, as reported by The Independent), as predicted by the band’s 1991 album Flight of the Cosmic Hippo.
The original lineup of this groundbreaking quartet – banjoist Béla Fleck, Howard Levy on piano and harmonica, percussionist / Drumitarist Future Man and bassist Victor Wooten – will be touring North America this year to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.
Dates include June 8 at the Playboy Jazz Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 21, and the inaugural Béla Fleck & The Flecktones: Friends & Family, set for May 30 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, featuring the Flecktones, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Abigail Washburn and a performance with the Colorado Symphony.
Tickets are on sale now, and additional Flecktones dates will be added later this year.
In 1988, Béla formed the Flecktones for a single performance on PBS’ Lonesome Pine Special, and began touring in 1989. “The band was so fresh and powerful that we all wanted more of it,” says Victor, who describes the band as a family. “I think we gave other musicians the courage to be different.” With all music coming into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk – this Grammy-winning band has created a sound all its own.
“The band is a creative idealistic project, one that somehow connects with people in a profound way,” says Béla. “Nothing about any of that has changed in 30 years. We’ve balanced our lives out with families and other musical partnerships, though nothing has changed about our camaraderie or our meaning to each other. It’s one of the great musical and personal relationships in our lives.”
