Sean Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band: Kirtan & Storytelling Concert

“The music of Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band flows from the mystical confluence of the Ganges River and the Mississippi Delta—the deep bhakti tradition of Indian devotional chanting fused with the polyglot cultural cross-currents that so enrich the music of the group’s hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. The much-beloved band evoke, conjure and celebrate that universally felt yet impossible-to-define essence that lies at the heart of all things, what Bob Marley once called “a natural mystic, flowing through the air.” The result is music of majestic musical and emotional range—a heart journey from darkness to light, wrought from the homespun cloth of gospel, blues, soul, country, rock, Celtic folk and other vernacular musical influences, all filtered through the magical Afro-Caribbean-inflected rhythmic flair of the Crescent City.” – Alan di Perna For the last nineteen years, New Orleans-based Seán Johnson And The Wild Lotus Band (Alvin Young, Gwendolyn Colman, Narada Wise, and Chris Rosser) have been putting a New Orleans and American stamp on spiritual music by merging ancient mantras from the traditions of yoga, global chants, conscious lyrics, roots, rock, gospel and world grooves. Brought together in September 2005 initially as a creative, philanthropic touring music project in response to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, they have gone on to become an inspiring and influential presence within the realm of world devotional music. With honor and appreciation for the deep roots of sound and chant from India’s yoga traditions and sacred chants from around the world, they seek to create authentically relatable spiritually-based mantra-centric music accessible to all– to deepen connection, foster healing, and move people’s hearts through music. In 2007 they released their first album Calling The Spirits independently which caught the ears of pioneering Canadian record executive Terry McBride, founder of Nettwerk Records and Lilith Fair. In 2009 McBride signed the band to Nettwerk for the release of the follow up album Devaloka engineered and co-produced by Misha Kachkachishvili (Esplanade Studios) in New Orleans. When Putumayo World Music founder Dan Storper heard Devaloka he chose music off the record to be featured in a series of Putumayo releases which include tracks from international artists designed to accompany yoga practice (Yoga, World Yoga, and Yoga Lounge). These albums have helped propel the band’s music to listeners across the globe. Their songs have also appeared on the Sounds True and White Swan labels. In August 2014 they released their third studio album Unity. White Swan Music describes the album as “A collection of ten unique soul-stirring songs that reveal the band more at ease than ever with interpreting and expressing mantra music through the guts and authenticity of their own American roots. The album takes the listener on a revelatory journey through myriad sounds and flavors – from belly dance rhythms, Motown-inspired grooves, back porch stomp and gospel chorus to trance-inducing eastern strings with passionate verses from Rumi, tantra yoga sutras, and chants from a variety of spiritual traditions. Some songs are perfect for a yoga flow playlist and other for simply savoring life, at full blast.” Unity received much critical praise and debuted #1 on the iTunes World Music Chart and #3 on Billboard’s New Age Chart. In late 2021 they released their new album Mystery on Be Still Records, with 10 new songs. This collection of ten evocative songs addresses the current challenges of our time and offers inspiration to kindle the courage to move through the unknown. Mystery explores themes of doubt, sparks of faith, and evokes a sense of trust in the fertility of what cannot be seen or explained. The album honors the wild and mysterious ways of spirit, an often hidden and unnamable force that can feel so distant, and yet in time can secretly heal a wound, mend a broken heart, and restore our humanity. The album was named on of the best albums in Louisiana music by Offbeat Magazine, and includes premieres from Ghettoblaster Magazine and Look At My Records! In 2022 they released a series of remixes from some of their favorite artists including DJ Drez, Ben Leinbach, and Starita, premiered by Ear Milk. They co-released an EP with DJ Drez titled “Blue Easy Remixes.” and will be sharing more remix collaborations in 2024. Seán, Alvin, Gwendolyn, Narada, and Chris tour extensively and are a favorite headliner at music festivals, including many spiritual, yoga, and conscious music gatherings nationwide. In 2010 they were the first kirtan band to ever play The New Orleans Jazz Festival to a large and appreciative crowd. Their debut at Jazz Fest was noted by Offbeat Magazine , and chronicled in the international online magazine Elephant Journal. Since then, they have returned to the Jazz Fest stage, where GoNOLA.com named them “Top Pick For Day 2 Of Jazz Fest” along with Phish and Robert Plant, featured in Huffington Post, Bhakti Beat, and My Spilt Milk.