John Brown's Body, The Campbell Brothers, and Motherwort at The State Theatre of Ithaca

Name: John Brown's Body, The Campbell Brothers, and Motherwort at The State Theatre of Ithaca
Start: 2025-10-25T19:00:00-04:00
Location: State Theatre of Ithaca

Schedule

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

State Theatre of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY

The State Theatre of Ithaca & The Highly Connected Dispensary Present:
John Brown's Body, The Campbell Brothers, and Motherwort
Saturday, October 25th, 2025
Doors: 6pm, Show: 7pm
$15 advance tickets on sale Friday 9/5 at 10am --> https://tixr.com/e/156460
John Brown's Body
The torch has been relit! Featuring a group of long time JBB players, including founding members Kevin Kinsella, Tommy Benedetti, and Lee Hamilton, the undisputed OGs of the scene are fired up to hit the stage in 2025. This year, John Brown’s Body celebrates 30 years of making original roots reggae music around the world. They will be touring as well as releasing new music throughout 2025.
The group has been on sabbatical the past few years, taking a break from the road and studio. But family is always family, and in early 2023, with JBB still dormant, Kinsella reached out to Benedetti about getting together to play some of the classic era JBB music. The crew was assembled, featuring players from all different periods of JBB's history. After a handful of recent shows the embers were burning - the music was sounding better than ever and the time was right. So, with the support and blessing of Elliot Martin, the torch will be re-lit. In addition to Kinsella, Benedetti and Hamilton, the group features Nate Edgar (bass, 2006-2016), Jon Pentronzio (keys, 2009-2018), and TJ Schaper (trombone, 2015-2018), who collectively have decades of service with JBB. Van Gordon Martin (guitar – Skatalites, G Love, and more) has been in the family over fifteen years and joins the group for the first time on stage.
With a long and storied career on the scene covering three decades and multiple lineup changes, JBB was formed in 1996 by Kevin Kinsella and released its seminal album “All Time”, which achieved near mythical status and is credited with being a cornerstone of the US reggae scene. As the original lead singer and songwriter for JBB, Kinsella is responsible for bringing a vast body of original music to the scene, and across the first five JBB releases. From its breakout release on Itown Records ‘All Time’, to multiple releases on Shanachie Records, JBB cemented itself as a successful touring and recording outfit with an original voice. In 2005, JBB joined forces with the legends Easy Star Records, which would begin a lasting and fruitful relationship spanning over ten years and seven releases.
Hailed as “Future roots, reggae, and dub with an intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar, and stunning horn section that ties it all together” (WRUV), John Brown’s Body has built “a legacy that has inspired and carved a path for the now thriving contemporary American reggae scene” (Rudeboy Reggae). Formed in Ithaca, New York, in the mid 1990s, at a time when there wasn’t yet a far-reaching U.S. reggae scene, JBB was one of a small handful of U.S. reggae bands that began touring nationally. Since then, JBB has played an important role in helping define distinctly “American reggae.” JBB’s music is steeped in traditional vibes, but unapologetically incorporates elements from other genres.
Their unique approach resonated with the masses. The group’s 2008 full-length record, Amplify, hit #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart, 2012’s JBB In Dub EP reached #1 on iTunes’ Reggae Chart, and in 2013 Kings And Queens topped both Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts at #1. On stage, JBB finds a home across a host of genres and has toured the world extensively, performing alongside: Slightly Stoopid, Dave Matthews, Burning Spear, Gym Class Heroes, SOJA, and many more.
The 2025 live show will feature music from the first 5 classic era JBB records and the band looks forward to presenting this music, as well as brand new material, with a rejuvenated, electric vibe to the fans.
The Campbell Brothers
The Campbell brothers featuring National Heritage Award winner, Chuck Campbell; and composer/songwriter Phil Campbell— formed the Campbell Brothers in the 1990s and took their Pentecostal Church heritage to world stages by incorporating what is identified by many fans as blues, country, soul and rock styles, and more into their music. The Campbell Brothers confidently patent an intense, passionate, and dedicated stage presentation that connects with audiences and consistently converts them to the Campbell Brothers sound.
Starting in 1997, the Campbell Brothers have released more than six albums that take Sacred Steel African American gospel music and presents it as an ascending spiral of spirit inspired guitars and high-energy rhythms. Along the way, they’ve performed with artists such as the Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Medeski Martin & Wood, Steve Vai, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Sonny Landreth, Robben Ford, Dr. Bobby Jones, Maria Muldaur, Mavis Staples, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and many other world-class artists; in addition to performing in over 25 countries including Japan, France, England, Spain, Colombia, Morocco, Tunisia, the Canary Islands, Barbados, China and all 50 States of the USA.
The Campbell Brothers music has been featured on the hit HBO television show The Sopranos and other hit television series such as The King of Queens and Crossing Jordan. Recently they were commissioned by the Lincoln Center and Duke University to compose a Sacred Steel interpretation of John Coltrane’s seminal work A Love Supreme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this jazz classic.
In 2018 The Campbell Brothers were inducted into the Rochester, New York Music Hall of Fame and their music is featured in the exhibit on Gospel music in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.
Motherwort
Farm-grrrl folk-punk! Hailing from the heart of upstate NY, Motherwort is a fierce 4-piece band with a unique blend of folk-inspired punk energy. Combining hauntingly beautiful three-part harmonies and folk traditions, with driving punk beats and catchy melodies, they create a sound that is truly their own.
Motherwort delivers live shows that are a mesmerizing combination of raging intensity and intimate connection you won’t want to miss. Drawing from influences ranging from Bad Religion, Bikini K*ll, and the Pixies, to Celtic and Appalachian music, they deliver performances that connect directly with their audience.