Ghost Funk Orchestra x Brighton Beat

$18 ADV/$25 DOS//18+//8:00 Doors/9:00 Show

Ghost Funk Orchestra: Ghost Funk Orchestra is a true melting-pot, combining elements of psych rock, jazz, and funk into a powerhouse live sound. Formed in 2016, it’s the brainchild of composer/multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum. Since joining Colemine Records in 2018, Ghost Funk has released 4 critically lauded albums, the most recent being 2024’s ‘A Trip To The Moon.’ The buzz around the band has opened doors for them to share stages with such heroes as Os Mutantes, Monophonics, Grace Potter, and Marco Benevento. Their reputation as a can’t-miss band has also brought them to such legendary festivals as Telluride Jazz, Treefort, Montreal Jazz, and Levitation. In the words of KUTX, prepare yourself for a “stage-filling psych-soul affair.”
Each song on Ghost Funk Orchestra’s 3rd album, A New Kind of Love, resonates like the soundtrack to a scene from an imaginary movie. The music could score a romantic drama, an action thriller, or a modern twist on a classic film noir. The spare, cascading vocals accentuate the lush instrumental orchestrations composed, performed, arranged and produced by multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum, whose latest brainchild was conceived and conceptualized during The Great Pause of 2020, a time of tension, bewilderment and isolation. Evoking the grooviness of an era which preceded his arrival on earth, Applebaum draws upon sonic devices of mid-century exotica and the succinct but dense arranging style of the leaders of the pop orchestras which dominated the hit parades of the 60s and early 70s. He blends impressions of this bygone era with an expression of his actual experiences as a young filmmaker coming of age in the 21st century, citing influences such as Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and Antibalas. A New Kind of Love encompasses a reverence for the past without attempting to recreate it.
In the tradition of the “production forward” discographies of such record makers as David Axelrod and the Mizell Brothers, it’s easy to visualize Applebaum as a “mad doctor” figure, hunkered down in a studio channeling this musical representation of his inner world into the 12 compositions which make up A New Kind of Love. His writing stretches his psyche to explore a terrain in which to capture emotional notes of love going well, love gone sour, manifesting love songs based in ghostly affairs. While the studio is obviously a wondrous happy place of experimentation and creativity for Applebaum, he’s a band guy too (having actually fronted punk outfit The Mad Doctors). Applebaum has the wherewithal to bring his dreamy material to the 10 piece all star Ghost Funk Orchestra, leading them to breathe life into this sophisticated body of work which heralds the celebration of a new era for the group. Ghost Funk Orchestra will be touring in concert this summer and fall to celebrate the release of A New Kind of Love, an album which is sure to stand the test of time.
Ghost Funk Orchestra began as bandleader Seth Applebaum’s lo-fi recording project in 2014. They have been playing as part of New York City’s psych-rock and soul scenes, but have only just recently released their debut album, A Song for Paul. Five years might seem like a long time from a band’s conception to the release of their debut album, but A Song for Paul is clearly worth the wait.
While Ghost Funk Orchestra and A Song for Paul is Applebaum’s project, he uses nearly 20 musicians to realize his vision. The group consistently find the groove while successfully negotiating Applebaum’s detours into some combination of jazz/prog/psych rock that occurs in nearly every tune.
A Song for Paul is dedicated to Applebaum’s grandfather, Paul Anish, whose love of music was a huge influence on young Seth. But the spirit of another great music lover/music maker hovers over A Song for Paul as well, and that would be Isaac Hayes.

The Hayes connection is obvious in two specific songs. “Walk Like a Motherfucker”, the first full track after a short album-opening introduction, establishes the stoned 1970s funk feel that dominates the album. Although there are no backup singers telling vocalist Laura Gwynn to shut her mouth when she gets to that certain word. It seems likely Black Moses would have approved. And then, of course, another track is titled, “Isaac Hayes”, though it does not appear to be literally about Isaac Hayes

Brighton Beat: The Brighton Beat's influences range from Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, to modern cutting-edge NYC Jazz with a heavy helping of classic New Orleans brass band Funk. Performing up and down the East coast since 2010, the band has developed a style of performance that uniquely engages the audience and is fun for the whole family. Positive, uplifting, danceable music is a trademark of The Brighton Beat sound. Instrumental songs that feature room for the horn section to improvise anchor the band's set, but the show often includes guest vocalists, audience participation, group sing-a-longs and even the occasional circus act.

The Brighton Beat have the honor to performed with many incredible artists such as Femi Kuti (who said “You Play Good Afrobeat!”) Roy Hargrove, Mike Stern and The Soul Rebels just to name a few. Numerous live engagements have received great acclaim in their hometown of NYC at The Brooklyn Bowl, The Blue Note, Joe's Pub, Rockwood Music Hall and many more. The band has been ecstatic to build a strong following and community up and down the East Coast. In addition to numerous high-profile festival performances, they have had the privilege to be a featured headliner at The Burlington Discover Jazz Fest, The Albany Jazz Fest and The Peekskill Jazz and Blues Fest. In an effort to give back to younger musicians and inspire the next generation, The Brighton Beat developed their flagship in-school education program; Jazz In The Classroom and has been bringing it to schools for over 7 years.

Faculty of Berklee, New England Conservatory, NYU, Broadway pit musicians, top call session players, and world touring musicians all call The Brighton Beat there own, their home and heart. The fruit of their lifelong passion for music art and entertainment is presented each night on stage for all to experience and be inspired by. This passion, honesty and positive music is deeply necessary in our current cultural climate. This family truly believes in the power of music, and all it can bring.

Host or Publisher Deep Dive