Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Bonnaroo Artist | Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Bonnaroo History | 2003
Stage & Time | TBA

As we’ve been doing for the past several years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with as many bands as we can from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2015 lineup. We’ll start from the bottom and work our way up, paying special attention to the smaller and lesser known acts on this year’s bill. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Band of the Day…

LEARN

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen are our first Bonnaroo Band of the Day this year to hold the distinction of being a returning artist, though their gap between performances might be a bit of a record: they last performed at the second Bonnaroo ever, in 2003. Born and bred in Kent, England, but claiming New Orleans as his adopted hometown, Clearly has, over the past couple of decades, become one of the most well-respected, hard-working artists in the r&b and soul scene, while largely remaining just under the radar at the mainstream level. In addition to a plethora of solo releases as well as collaborations with his backing back, The Absolute Monster Gentlemen (who all hold the distinction of being New Orleans born), Clearly has toured with John Scofield, Bonnie Raitt, Ryan Adams, and Eric Burdon, among others, and has collaborated with the likes of B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and India Arie.

With his own music, Clearly blends the soulful, jazz and r&b heritage of New Orleans with smart, unforgettable melodies and pop accessibility, and incorporates elements of funk, reggae, and more. His latest full-length, Occapella, arrived in 2012, and a followup is expected to be released in the very near future. A producer, multi-instrumentalist, and genius songwriter, Jon is the quintessential choice for festival performances; his back catalogue is rich, as is his knowledge of other artists’ material.

LISTEN | “Poor Boy Got to Move”