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The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a social impact funder supporting nonprofits nationwide at the intersection of music and public space, announces the return of its annual, free Levitt National Tour this summer after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. “The New Respects”, a rising Nashville trio known for bright, feel-good tracks stacked with
propulsive beats and lush harmonies, will headline the tour scheduled to visit six Levitt venues.
After kicking things off in Bethlehem, PA, they tour continued to Dayton, Ohio, Denver, Sioux Falls, and San Diego. The Los Angeles stop is Saturday August 27 at 7:00 p.m. and concludes Labor Day weekend in Arlington, Texas.
Levitt National Tour presents this energetic family affair dubbed “New Artist You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone, for an electrifying evening of danceable pop, soul and rock & roll. Continuing the Foundation’s mission of building community through music, “The New Respects” will mark the return of the tour, which began in 2014 with the world-music fusion of “Playing For Change”.
Performing together since their youth, the Nashville-based trio uplifts audiences with their catchy hooks and fresh throwback sounds. Zandy Mowry leads funk-inspired grooves on guitar, her brother Darius Fitzgerald drives the beat with his retro rhythms and their cousin Jasmine Mullen brings it all together with soaring lead vocals. “The New Respects” debut 5-song EP, Here Comes Trouble (2017), launched them into the national spotlight with the breakout song, “Trouble,” which garnered over 2 million streams and received sync placements with Fox Sports, ESPN and TNT. Their sophomore album, Before the Sun Goes Down (2018), continued their rising star, followed by the release of their popular single, “No Drama,” with its positive message and feel-good tempo. With a halted touring schedule during the pandemic, “The New Respects” worked on new music and released their first acoustic EP, Don’t Panic (2022), and are wrapping up a new album due out this summer.
“Levitt brings people together through the power of free, live music. As each of our venue partners prepares for a full summer season of free music under the stars, we are thrilled their lineups will include this dynamic band with the return of the Levitt National Tour,” says Sharon Yazowski, executive director of the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. “From the first downbeat, people of all ages and backgrounds love “The New Respects”, drawn to their
positive vibe and upbeat grooves. Their shows are a celebration all-around and Levitt audiences are in for a super fun time.”
Veterans of the Levitt stage, “The New Respects” have dazzled Levitt venue audiences in Bethlehem and Dayton, as well as Levitt AMP sites in Ocala, Fla., Trenton, N.J. and in Middlesboro and Whitesburg, Ky. The group looks forward to returning to some of these Levitt stages as part of the tour. “What I really enjoy about Levitt is the community aspect that we feel from the audience. That is a really cool experience! We’ve played a few different Levitt shows, and it’s rare that you feel a sense of community in places where you haven’t been. We love that—because that’s a huge part of what we’re about. The Levitt venues are a perfect platform for what we want to share as a band,” says Zandy Mowry.
All Levitt National Tour performances with The New Respects are free and open to the public, providing family-friendly experiences for all ages to enjoy together. Lead vocalist Jasmine Mullen adds, “I think it’s beautiful. It gives people an opportunity to come and hang out where money isn’t an issue. We were fortunate to be exposed to so much music, so much arts, because of where we grew up. To expose people to live music in a new way is really important.”
The New Respects’ sets during the Levitt National Tour will be eclectic and electric, performing fan favorites along with a sneak peek of new songs from their upcoming record. A new component of the 2022 Levitt National Tour will be the introduction of the #LevittTour superfan campaign on the Foundation’s Twitter and Instagram channels. Levitt audiences will have the opportunity to win signed swag from The New Respects in each tour city. Inspired by The New Respects and the Levitt National Tour, fans are encouraged to capture the energy and excitement of the band by sharing photos and videos of their favorite moments from the concert. Additional details will be announced on Twitter and Instagram leading up to each performance date. Follow @TheNewRespects and @LevittFoundation
Levitt National Tour presents The New Respects in a free concert at Levitt Pavilion LA in MacArthur Park on Saturday, August 27th at 7 p.m. Pack your picnics and lawn chairs for a family-friendly evening featuring danceable fusions of pop, soul and rock & roll. More info at levittlosangeles.org.
